Checklist - An Integrated Program Plan Template. Version 1.0

Abstract : The National Airspace System (NAS) is a complex, sophisticated collection of hardware, software, and trained personnel. Over many decades, this system has matured to the point where it can handle, safely and reasonably efficiently, many millions of flights on an annual basis. Nonetheless, the FAA and Industry must find ways to improve NAS safety and efficiency while meeting the constantly increasing demand for capacity. The Safe Flight 21 program (a Government/Industry partnership dedicated to developing, demonstrating, and evaluating various 'applications' that could provide operational enhancements to the NAS) represents a major component of this effort. In order to minimize the inherent tension between the need to examine proposed NAS changes thoroughly and the need to implement NAS changes expeditiously, the Safe Flight 21 program has initiated the development of application 'Checklists'. The purpose of each Checklist is to identify all the 'level 2' tasks required to develop and implement an application in the NAS, and to: (1) Plan and track program activities, schedules, and responsibilities for the application; (2) Address stakeholder resource needs and build agreements between stakeholders/activities; (3) Educate all involved parties and manage expectations; and (4) Achieve buy-in from stakeholders and participants (FAA, Industry, and other Federal agencies). This document presents a generic Checklist to be used as a program plan template for developing various Checklists for specific Safe Flight 21 applications and applications sets.