EPAS Member Update
Fellow Members,Experienced Pilots Advancing Safety (EPAS) continues advancing through the next phases of our work—at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), within industry, and across all levels of our government.
We understand the timeline and keep time expediency at the forefront of every effort.We have prepared three focused narratives outlining how EPAS views today’s aviation environment and the issues that must be addressed to strengthen safety and system integrity. These articles will be released in sequence following this update to help educate policymakers, industry leaders, and the public on the critical challenges shaping our aviation ecosystem.
As always, we count on you—the line pilot—as the subject matter experts (SMEs) in the field. Your perspective from the Cockpit is vital to ensure our message reflects real-world experience and practical understanding.Your input is welcome and encouraged as we move forward.
Get in the Fight!
EPAS Leadership Team
Airspace Integration and Technology — Managing Complexity at Scale
Defining the System
The National Airspace System (NAS) is the world’s most intricate operational network, integrating commercial, cargo, general aviation, and emerging airspace users. Its reliability depends on synchronized infrastructure, real-time data exchange, and human performance. As traffic volume and technology advance faster than governance, maintaining safe throughput demands new strategies of integration and resilience (Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) NAS Modernization Report, 2024).
Modernization and Controller Capacity
The FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) aims to replace radar-based tracking with satellite surveillance, digital flow management, and predictive analytics. Progress remains uneven. Persistent controller shortages—approximately 3,000 below authorized strength—strain workload and elevate fatigue. Systemic modernization requires sustained investment in automation, staffing, and cybersecurity to ensure reliability during peak and degraded operations (FAA NAS Modernization Report, 2024; EPAS Strategic Talking Points, 2024).
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility vehicles are entering controlled airspace rapidly, challenging traditional separation protocols. Detect-and-avoid technology and command-and-control frequency management remain inconsistent. A unified regulatory framework combining safety certification, traffic management, and operator accountability is essential to avoid midair conflicts and minimize disruption to conventional operations (EPAS Strategic Talking Points, 2024).
Commercial Space Launch and Reentry Integration
The surge in commercial launches and reentries temporarily closes airspace segments and disrupts flight routes. Coordination gaps between the FAA and the Department of Defense (DoD) create inefficiencies. Real-time common operating pictures and shared launch windows will minimize cascading delays. Future integration models must align orbital operations with NAS flow management rather than treat them as exceptions (FAA Space Integration Report, 2024; International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidance, 2025).
Sustainability Without Safety Debt
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), hydrogen propulsion, and electrified systems represent environmental progress but introduce new chemical, mechanical, and procedural risks. Training, maintenance protocols, and emergency procedures must evolve alongside technology. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) report warns that decarbonization without parallel safety investment produces “sustainability debt” that undermines reliability (IATA LTAG Progress Report, 2024; ICAO Working Paper 349, 2025).
Dangerous Goods and Lithium Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries now constitute one of the most common hazardous materials in cargo transport. In-flight fires aboard freighters have revealed the limits of existing containment systems. Stricter packaging standards, active thermal monitoring, and enhanced crew training in fire suppression and emergency descent procedures are immediate needs (National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Hazardous Materials Bulletin, 2024; EPAS Strategic Talking Points, 2024).
Cargo Security and E-Commerce Growth
Rapid expansion of e-commerce logistics has overwhelmed traditional cargo-screening infrastructure. Strengthening biometric access controls, harmonizing international screening standards, and securing data exchanges across customs and airline networks are critical steps to maintain safety and supply chain integrity (EPAS Strategic Talking Points, 2024).
Digital Avionics and Interoperability
Mixed-fleet operations across airlines create interoperability challenges between legacy and digital avionics systems. Software assurance, configuration discipline, and version control must be treated as safety functions, not IT tasks. Cyber-induced discrepancies in navigation and communication data require cross-platform validation at both the aircraft and ATC levels (FAA Cyber Safety Bulletin, 2024).
Recovery Engineering and System Resilience
Disruptions from weather, software outages, or GPS interference can ripple through the entire NAS within hours. A resilient network must include dynamic rerouting algorithms, real-time coordination between regional command centers, and contingency playbooks that reestablish flow in minutes rather than hours (EPAS Board of Directors Policy Manual, 2025).
Implementation Roadmap
The transition to a data-centric, integrated NAS should follow a clear sequence:
Each action strengthens a layer of defense in an increasingly complex and interconnected airspace.
Conclusion
Airspace modernization and integration represent the new frontier of aviation safety. Progress demands synchronized technology, governance, and human oversight. Building resilience into every node of this system ensures that innovation enhances, rather than endangers, public safety. This is the fastest and most direct action to address the immediate dangers to our aviation ecosystem.