Market-Based Mechanisms for Efficient Allocation of NAS Resources

Both FAA and NASA research has highlighted the need for efficient and equitable allocation of NAS resources and increased operational flexibility. In particular, market-based mechanisms are needed for transferring system-imposed delay from more critical to less critical flights. In this SBIR, we will develop a National Airspace Resource Exchange System (NRES) that will provide the FAA and the aviation community with a means for trading scarce resources and priorities for ATM services. Today's airspace system has rudimentary market mechanisms in place. However, these are valid only for highly specialized circumstances: airport arrival slot trading in ground delay programs applied by FAA traffic managers. We propose to develop an infrastructure necessary to support secondary markets for the full spectrum of NAS resources and services.