(Dec 20, 2019)

On December 12 and 13, a joint NASA-FAA tabletop event was hosted at NASA Ames Research Center on the topic of Upper Class E Traffic Management (ETM). Approximately 20 members from industry representing a diverse set of vehicle types and use cases targeting high altitude airspace operations were present along with a complement of operational and policy personnel from the FAA. The event provided an opportunity to solicit direct feedback from participants regarding planned operations, challenges, and potential solutions through the development of a safe, scalable, and cooperative approach to the management of operations in high altitude airspace. The tabletop participants walked through a number of scenarios that included flight planning, ascent/descent, operations straddling Upper E, and contingency management. The final day of the event was reserved for a NASA-Industry discussion on plans going forward. Jeff Homola from the Human Systems Integration Division co-led the event with an FAA counterpart.