Airspace is an important resource and its proper or improper utilization will have a profound effect upon the future welfare of the United States. The use of airspace will have an impact not only on transportation, public safety, economics and military posture, but also on the public's convenience and pleasure. It was in recognition of this that the Federal Aviation Agency was directed by the President of the United States in 1961 to conduct a scientific, engineering review of our aviation facilities and related research and development and to prepare a practicable long-range plan to insure efficient and safe control of all air traffic within the United States. This plan must provide for an orderly and economic evolution of the present system of air traffic control in pace with continuing advances in technology and national needs. The resultant Project Beacon Report completed in October 1961 and approved by the President November 7, 1961, provided the scientific, engineering review and guidelines for the practicable long-range plan. Accordingly, a System Design Team was formed within the Systems Research and Development Service of the Federal Aviation Agency to carry forward the guidelines of the Project Beacon Report into a detailed and comprehensive system plan. On June 30, 1962, the first edition of this long-range plan for the National Airspace Utilization System was completed. Because the problems are complex and extensive, the plan itself is voluminous and the details on which it is based are highly technical. Yet it is important that the essence of this plan be understood by many people who cannot afford the time to study the details of the plan. This summary describes all essential elements of the plan.

This report contains a limited description of the present FAA system for measurement of the Nation al Airspace System. It suggests that measures of operational effectiveness be added to the present system to provide inputs for cost/benefit studies and to assist top management in dm1ision making functions. (Author).