Study to identify and begin to evaluate future communications candidates for the far-term National Airspace System (NAS): A forward looking study to identify candidates for meeting the communication needs of the NAS during a 50 year modernization time horizon

• An initial study to identify and begin to evaluate candidates for meeting future (post NextGen) NAS ATM data comm. needs has been completed — Several IEEE Conference Papers on the study have been published, and NASA is planning to publically release the final comprehensive study report — Before any candidate would seriously be considered for NAS operations, further analysis, stakeholder vetting, additional cost/benefits, etc. is needed • It is hoped that NAS architects consider the results of this study to ensure that planned investments to upgrade the NAS systems are on a path that is consistent with meeting the long-term needs.