Airline Economic Requirements for 1975 STOL and VTOL Systems

The economic factors are discussed, which affect the need for metroflight service in the Northeast Corridor, the problems of developing the system, and a practical solution.

The basic problem is the enormous cost and the lack of confidence felt by those who must build the landing facilities and buy the aircraft. The proposed solution is an evolutionary development process, starting with a short term metroflight demonstration, using existing 40-60 passenger propeller-driven STOL aircraft operating from simple, interim city-center STOLports between Manhattan, and Washington, D. C. or Boston. Such an evolutionary development is essential if a mature metroflight system is to be realized without large federal subsidies.