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TRANSPORTATION - BTS - Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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facilities and launch complexes that they lease or license from the Air Force. The FAA hasissued a space-launch site operator’s license for commercial spaceports at Vandenberg AirForce Base, California; Spaceport Florida at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida; the VirginiaSpace Flight Center at Wallops Island, Virginia; and Spaceport Alaska at Kodiak Island,Alaska. The FAA has also licensed launches from the Sea Launch venture, which had its firstsuccessful launch in 1999 from a sea-based platform near the equator in the Pacific Ocean.These spaceports focus on small to medium rockets used primarily to launch low Earth orbit(LEO) communications satellites. LEO satellites orbit at altitudes ranging from 100 to22,300 miles—the distance required for geostationary orbit. Demand for this type <strong>of</strong> launch isincreasing, and a number <strong>of</strong> firms are competing to establish constellations <strong>of</strong> LEO satellitesproviding global mobile communications systems. All <strong>of</strong> the numerous proposed LEOsystems use varying numbers <strong>of</strong> evenly spaced satellites circling the globe, so that one isalways within reach <strong>of</strong> Earth-bound communications devices. They essentially allow anyone,anywhere on Earth, to communicate with anyone anywhere else, using a special handheldtelephone (Big LEO) or other, nonvoice communications device, such as a pager oralphanumeric messaging receiver (Little LEO).Keys to the FutureFAA estimates show that commercial airlines will continue to benefit from moderate to strongeconomic growth. The forecasts also expect a combination <strong>of</strong> technological improvementsand continued cost containment efforts to benefit the overall financial performance <strong>of</strong> bothU.S. and foreign flag carriers.In addition, the operation <strong>of</strong> a fleet consisting entirely <strong>of</strong> Stage 3 aircraft (aircraft with reducednoise level), which are more fuel-efficient, will result in further cost savings and increasedindustry productivity. These productivity improvements should strengthen overall industryfinancial performance, reduce air-carrier marginal costs, and benefit the traveling public withlower airline fares. Further, we are working with our international partners to develop a Stage4 aircraft and schedule it for future deployment.Domestic enplanements arepredicted to increase3.4 percent per year from2000 to 2025 (figure 2-27).To accommodate thegrowth in traffic over thisperiod, the large air carrierjet passenger fleet isexpected to increase3.6 percent per year,expanding from 4,355aircraft in 2000 to anestimated 9,941 aircraft in2025 (figure 2-28). Withcongestion alreadyapparent at airports and inthe skies, capacity issuesmust be addressed toaccommodate futuregrowth.Figure 2-27Domestic Enplanements on U.S. Commercial Air Carriers:Projected – 2000-25Millions1,6001,4001,2001,000800600400200020002005 2010 2015 2020 2025Source: U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>Transportation</strong>, Federal Aviation Administration, Working Paperon Aerospace Capacity and Demand (Washington, DC: 2000).2-27

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