Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Berkeley

The Virtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation (VAMS) project developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) presents a detailed plan for increasing National Airspace System capacity. Interviews with aviation experts regarding the VAMS project led to lessons learned which can inform current modernization plans and processes, as the current system prepares for modernization. According to experts consulted, development should include a small number of project developers who provide periodic opportunities for wide stakeholder feedback; roadmaps should incorporate uncertainly and provide project guidance on a high level; and simulation tools are valuable to modernization efforts, yet assumptions should be documented and their sensitivity understood.