What is the National Airspace System?
The National Airspace System (NAS) is the most complex aviation system in the world-consisting of thousands of people, procedures, facilities, and pieces of equipment-that enables safe and expeditious air travel in the United States and over large portions of the world’s oceans. The NAS requires 14,500 air traffic controllers, 4,500 aviation safety inspectors, and 5,800 technicians to operate and maintain services. It has more than 19,000 airports and 600 air traffic control facilities. In all, there are 41,000 NAS operational facilities. In addition, there are over 71,000 pieces of equipment, ranging from radar systems to communication relay stations. On average, about 50,000 flights use NAS services each day.
