On the Feasibility of Small, Transcontinental Commuter Aircraft

Air travelers between medium sized coastal cities in the USA are faced with a major inconvenience: they are forced by existing airline schedules to make at least one stop in a major hub with a change of airplane and, sometimes even a change in air carrier. This inconvenience translates into lost time, missing of a connection due to delays and possible loss of luggage. These inconveniences could be alleviated if non-stop, coast-to-coast small jet commuters could be designed such that they can compete with the existing transcontinental transports on a DOC per passenger seat-mile basis. It is shown that significant advances in aerodynamic and propulsion design technology will be needed to enable the profitable development of such airplanes.