FAA Air Traffic Control Facility
Air traffic management research and development continues to be a
critical element of full modernization of the NAS as we move beyond
FFP1. In both the near- and the long-term, the FAA is working to expand
FFP1 capabilities geographically and to increase functionality. Building
on the framework of FFP1, the FAA also seeks to increase the level of
integration among various FFP1 components to achieve greater
efficiencies, redesign the airspace, and add further procedural
enhancements. Among current research and development efforts under way
are:
Flight Management System/Area Navigation Routing (FMS/RNAV)
FMS/RNAV will provide shorter paths to the runway to minimize flight
time variations caused by vectoring and airport delays. This program
utilizes advanced equipment in aircraft cockpits. (The figure below
illustrates the route definition tool under development.)
Flow Management Restriction Reduction
Designed to reduce the level of restrictions in place in the NAS at any
time. Analyses are being performed to determine which restrictions can
be safely eliminated.
Enhanced En Route Conflict Resolution Capabilities
To assist controllers in constructing flight plans more quickly,
especially in situations of heavy workload or complex traffic patterns.
Work is under way to develop and evaluate this logic, building on
existing URET capability.
Collaborative Decision Making (CDM)
Continued research to better provide common information that enables
traffic flow managers and airspace users to make more informed
decisions. Multiple activities are under way to develop tools that will
be needed beyond FFP1.
Operational Concept Development
Provides a structural set of relational responsibilities and actions for
controllers, traffic flow managers, pilots, and users' operations
centers, for achieving a desired operational enhancement. The concept is
used to define required procedures, information flows, communication
bandwidths, and decision support systems required for the successful
evolution of the NAS.
Traffic Flow Management Impact Assessment
Will assist traffic flow managers and airspace users in understanding
the potential results of proposed TFM actions on a NAS-wide basis. A
fast-time simulation capability is under evaluation to identify
requirements and to develop a prototype capability.
Collaborative Routing Coordination Tools (CRCT)
Provides information for traffic flow managers and airspace users so
they can recognize, analyze, and resolve traffic flow problem
situations.
FAA POC:
Diane E. Boone
703-883-5861
dboone@mitre.org
