Flight Plan 21

For more than 60 years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has worked to make sure the vehicles and operations powering the network are safe, efficient, and ever evolving. FAA continues to grow, while building from our past success. FAA has launched our FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, known as Flight Plan 21 (FP21). FP21 focuses on four pillars—Safety, People, Global Leadership, and Operational Excellence—to build the 21st century FAA.

View the full flight plan 21 here

FAA Mission

To provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

FAA Vision 2050

We strive to reach the next level of safety and efficiency and to demonstrate global leadership in how we safely integrate new users and technologies into our aviation system. We are accountable to the American public and our aviation stakeholders. 

The strategic work described in this document continues to build on the FAA core mission to operating the safest and most efficient aerospace system in the world. The Strategic Plan is a living document—it will evolve as we continue to learn and gain experience in this dynamic operating environment. It is my sincere hope that this plan will help us to write the next great chapter in the FAA’s story.
- Billy Nolen, former Acting FAA Administrator

Flight Plan 21 Pillars

The Four Pillars set a course for the future of the agency and align resources and processes to better enable the FAA to provide exceptional service to the flying public.

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Safety

Oversee and operate the safest aerospace system in the world, all with a culture of continuous improvement.

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People

Strengthen our current and future aviation workforce through accountability, development, and planning.

Looking Forward

Flight Plan 21 provides the framework that guides our approach to the challenges and opportunities of the future. The demands placed on the National Airspace System constantly change. In response, the FAA must proactively adopt the latest innovations in technology, people management, and strategy while remaining disciplined in safety and consistent on sustainability.

How We Will Get There

  • We will be resilient and responsive when integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into commercial activities. 
  • We will embrace the latest advances in predictive and near-real-time data reporting to ensure our service levels accurately match supply and demand. 
  • We will reaffirm our international partnerships and strengthen our training and educational offerings to our partners across the globe. 

The mission of the FAA will always remain firmly established; to provide the safest and most efficient system in the world. The pillars and initiatives that comprise the FAA Strategic Plan represent the practical steps to achieve this mission while remaining faithful to our duty to future generations of the traveling public.

Learn more about what we've done so far to accomplish our goals

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map of faa domestic offices and locations

The FAA operates from locations across the U.S. and around the world. The agency is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and maintains nine regional offices, Air Route Traffic Control Centers and Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities across the nation, and other key facilities. In addition, the FAA maintains a presence in every major and regional airport in the United States and has several international offices around the globe.

Resources