Air traffic management: Class B airspace capacity for urban air mobility

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) integration into the National Airspace System (NAS) is a critical focus for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This dissertation examined the integration of UAM operations within Class B airspace. Class B airspace is highly congested and reserved for the largest airports in the US. The research assessed the impact of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and forecasts their potential strain on existing air traffic control (ATC) capacity. Utilizing a quantitative methodology, this research analyzed current and projected air traffic data. The research highlighted how future UAS operations will saturate NAS capacity in densely populated airspace sectors. The findings revealed that UAS activity is likely to exceed current capacity thresholds in high-demand regions, underscoring the need for policy interventions, infrastructure upgrades and technological innovations to maintain safe and efficient airspace operations. The research also contributes to the FAA’s strategic goals as outlined by Congress in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, by producing three key findings that can improve AAM integration.