Very Light Jets are coming! They will be arriving soon at an airport near you. Can they be safely integrated into our US National Airspace System (NAS)? The NAS is in charge of all aircraft that are in motion at any given moment, both U.S. civilian and military craft flying over domestic airspace.

Can the altitudes and airspace previously reserved for the exclusive use of our corporate jets and commercial airliners safely make space for these new planes? Can the system safely consolidate the VLJ pilots with their varying levels of experience? These questions are on our minds as aviators as we awaken to the dawn of this new day in air transport technology.

NBAA defines Very Light Jets (also known as Microjets, or VLJs), as "Jet aircraft weighing 10,000 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight and certificated for single pilot operations. These aircraft will possess at least some of the following features: (1) advanced cockpit automation, such as moving map GPS and multi-function displays; (2) automated engine and systems management; and (3) integrated autoflight, autopilot and flight-guidance systems." The definition is from the National Business Aircraft Association Training Guidelines for Single Pilot Operations of Very Light Jets and Technically Advanced Aircraft.

VLJs were spawned by the NASA lead Small Aircraft Transportation System or SATS program. This innovative initiative aimed to provide safe air travel in all weather, in new single-pilot aircraft, with advanced navigation systems. SATS proposed the utilization of 5400 smaller airports in the US so we could enjoy point-to-point travel in modern aircraft at affordable prices.

SATS observed that 75% of people and cargo passes through 29 hubs which were over- crowded. By using the public airports accessible to most everyone in the US instead of the hubs, the program promised many advantages: