Key Capabilities
The JPDO has defined specific capabilities of NextGen. These capabilities appear below.

Network-Enabled Information Access:  Usable, secure information will be immediately available to all necessary parties.  Greater accessibility of information improves the speed, efficiency, and quality of decisions.   

Performance-Based Operations and Services:  Procedures and regulations will be described in terms of performance, rather than specific technology or equipment.  This will benefit both service providers and users by allowing the former to define capability improvements in terms of users’ existing equipment.  Users will be able to continue using their existing equipment as long as it meets certain requirements.  This maximizes the value of the users’ investments. 

Weather-Assimilated Decision-Making: Real-time weather information will be available to pilots, controllers, etc., to improve decision making.  Directly applying weather information into tools used to make air traffic management decisions increases the effective use of weather information.  This minimizes the adverse effects of weather on the National Airspace System. 

Layered Adaptive Security: Security will be built upon “layers of defense,” technology, procedures, and policies that help reduce the overall risk of a threat causing harm to the system.   NextGen security will adapt its systems and procedures to the current risk level, depending on the situation rather than being bound to an inflexible “one-size-fits-all” approach.  This approach minimizes risk.

Broad-Area Precision Navigation:  Pilots will receive services where and when they are needed, in nearly all conditions.  Geographic and weather constraints will no longer be factors in the system.  Instead, pilots will have the ability to define their desired flight paths based on their own objectives. 

Aircraft Trajectory-Based Operations: Pilots will have the ability to tailor individual flight paths based on the four-dimensional trajectories, 4DT, which includes altitude, longitude, and latitude, plus time, of other aircraft.  Each aircraft will both transmit and receive precise positioning information, telling it where and when it and others will cross key points along its path. 

Equivalent Visual Operations:  With improved information tools and displays, aircraft will have the ability to know where other planes are without having to physically see each other.  This capability in combination with PNT services increases accessibility, both on the ground and during arrivals and departures.  Service providers also will have the ability to manage traffic in all visibility conditions, leading to more predictable and efficient operations. 

Super Density Operations:  New procedures will maximize the amount of traffic through both the busiest airports and airspace.  There will be improved airport ground movement, and reduced spacing and separation standards between aircraft in the sky, while maintaining safety and security.  Controller and pilots will better manage the flow of traffic in and around busy metropolitan areas, maximizing use of all airspace.