PROJECTS and STUDIES

Aircraft Landing Lights Enhance Runway Traffic Safety (AL2ERTS):

The AL2ERTS simulation is sponsored by the Office of Runway Safety (ARI). The study was conducted in partnership with the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). The objective of the simulation is to investigate the safety effects of standardizing the use of aircraft lighting during taxi operations. The goal is to reduce the potential/severity of runway incursions at airports. The Simulation and Analysis Group supplied the research team and is acting as the Principal Investigator.

Advanced Controller Training in a Virtual Environment-1 (ACTIVE-1):

This project is sponsored by the Office of Runway Safety (ARI) and will involve the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Alaska Region, CAMI (AAM-510), the University of Alaska, and the Simulation and Analysis Group. The Simulation and Analysis Group will act as Principal Investigator and supply the research team. The simulation will investigate the effectiveness of using a high fidelity tower simulator as a training tool/technique for air traffic controllers. The simulation will be conducted in Anchorage, Alaska from April 5-16, 2004.

Copter Instrument Landing System (Copter ILS):

This activity is a collaborative effort with the flight testing group located in the hangar. The test team is conducted a simulation in a Level D Sikorsky 76 simulator at Flight Safety International in West Palm Beach, FL. The study is being performed to validate a procedure for helicopters to fly Category II approaches in Category I conditions to airports with CAT I lighting equipment. Thirty pilots will be recruited to fly instrument approaches in day, night, and dusk conditions to 100-ft decision heights, where they will be indicating when they see the runway lighting and when they decide to land or execute a go-around. The results will help validate the feasibility of conducting these approaches in the operational environment. The Simulation and Analysis Group will be performing data analysis for the partner organizations and is expected to be complete by the end of June 04.

Flight Tracking

The objective of this effort is to enhance the flight tracking radar data algorithm. In previous work, performed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), analysis was performed using radar track, Global Positioning System (GPS), and airborne sensor data to determine the dynamics of actual tracking errors in the horizontal and vertical planes. Concurrently the William J. Hughes Technical Center's (WJHTC's) Simulation and Analysis Group has been working on algorithms to analyze mass quantities of track recordings. A key aspect of the Technical Center's work has been the determination of when a flight is tracking its flight plan route (or amendment), and when it is not. A particular challenge is the sensing of actual turns (vs. noise in the track data). There is a need to jointly develop this work further by sharing some filtering/analysis algorithms for additional applications and publish the results.

En Route Evolution:

The objective of this work plan is to conduct human performance analysis and modeling in support of En Route evolution activity. This may include analysis of the human ability to process information in a timely manner along with information needed to accomplish tasks. This activity will provide feedback to enhance scenario development on the evolution of the En Route position and provide programmatic support for the FAA En Route Evolution Research Management Plan Manager.

Domestic RVSM

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) is the concept that reduces the vertical separation standard from 2000 to 1000 feet from flight level (FL) 290 to FL 410, inclusive. RVSM adds six flight levels which can increase airspace throughput and controller flexibility while reducing controller workload. RVSM is already implemented in North Atlantic and Pacific oceanic airspace and Domestic European airspace. However, the impacts of RVSM in Domestic USA airspace (hence DRVSM) need to be understood prior to implementation in 2005. Therefore, the En Route Procedures Branch and NATCA asked the Simulation and Analysis Group  to conduct a series of real-time simulations in the Technical Center's en route laboratories to investigate the operational impacts of DRVSM on en route controllers. The three real-time simulations have been completed and training has begun.

DRVSM Training

Training for DRVSM procedures has begun at the I2F lab at the FAA Technical Center

GPS Outage En Route Study (GOERS)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and is investigating potential implementation of the Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS). Both are intended to enhance the capabilities of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to enable its use as a navigation source for en route and terminal applications in the National Airspace System (NAS). More about GOERS..

GPS Outage Terminal Study (GOTS)

Conduct a HITL simulation to examine effects of a GPS/WAAS/LAAS outage situation on controller workload and identify any operational issues that may arise from a controller's ability to handle the outage situation. This study is in the planning stages.

Operational Evolution Plan (OEP)

The FAA and the aviation community have developed an operational concept built upon Free Flight that describes operational improvements the community desires. To meet these expectations, the FAA has introduced an initiative, called the Operational Evolution Plan (OEP), which is geared to meeting the capacity demands of the aviation system for the next ten years. More about OEP..

NASA: DFW International Airport Perimeter Taxiway Demo (DAPTD)

Dynamic Density (DD) – Metric Development and Validation

Measurement and prediction of Dynamic Density (DD) has been the subject of much interest in recent years. Subsequently, this has led to a number of organizations partaking in research studies to develop metrics and validate their utility in the ATC domain. In November 1997 the first DD technical exchange meeting was held with various organizations currently studying sector complexity. Representatives from the William J. Hughes Technical Center Simulation and Analysis Group, NASA Ames Research Center, Wyndemere, CSSI, CAMI, and CAN were present. Many of these organizations were already involved in developing tools and metrics to accurately determine and predict sector complexity based on various dynamic and static sector complexity characteristics. To accurately develop and validate these metrics, it was determined that each organization would require an extensive amount of data. To reduce costs and duplication of efforts, Simulation and Analysis was tasked to conduct a DD Study in conjunction with the interested organizations. More about Dynamic Density...

Conflict Probe Assessment Team Activities: More about Conflict Probe Activities

Common Trajectory Services Project

National Airspace System (NAS) Modeling

The Simulation and Analysis Group provides modeling support to ATO-P, Investment Analysis, by accessing the benefits of operational concepts. On-going and completed modeling activities include: 1. Corridor Integrated Weather System (CIWS) - Simulating a day where flights that normally would vector around convective weather used CIWS to fly through corridors in order to avoid costly reroutes around the weather. 2. En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) - Quantifying the benefit of ERAM by increasing sector capacities and comparing conflicts to flight duration. 3. Target System Description (TSD) - Simulated 9 scenarios providing measures of throughput and delay based on projected TSD benefits. 4. Departure Spacing Program (DSP) – Simulated 6 scenarios that accessed the impact of departure spacing changes to ZNY and ZBW Air Traffic Control Centers.

SUPPORT PROJECTS/ACTIVITES

The Simulation and Analysis Group prides itself in supporting multiple projects/programs/organizations, including, but not limited to:

• Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approach (SOIA)
• Parallel Runway Monitor (PRM)
• Federal Air Marshals (FAM)
• Sector Design Analysis Tool (SDAT) User Group
• New York Redesign Human Factors Simulations
• NASA's DAG-TM Project
• Civil Rights Office
• Aviation Education

Joint University Program (JUP) Activity

The FAA/NASA Joint University Program (JUP) is a long-term cooperative partnership between FAA and NASA to pursue common research goals by promoting research and education in selected aviation technologies. The program is dedicated to the principle that solutions to large-scale system problems in the National Airspace System (NAS) come only after the technological foundations have been laid through long-term basic and applied research. More about JUP

SMART Working Group:

The Simulation and Analysis Group is the WJH FAA Technical Center representative for the Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow (SMART) organization, specifically the Modeling and Simulation working group. More about SMART...

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