Air traffic control system—digital simulation facility

Abstract

The Federal Aviation Administration, at its National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center, has recent ly completed a new air traffic control system Digital Simulation Facility. The facility allows for improved real-time systems simulation and is currently being used to support two important pro jects aimed at improving control and safety of air traffic: It is being used to evaluate the inter action between a proposed airborne collision avoidance system and the air traffic control system, and to validate the various levels of automation in the air-terminal automation development program. The facility was developed for simulating present and proposed air traffic control systems and has twelve digital displays, five used as pilot consoles and seven as controlleer consoles. Each is equip ped with data entry devices for communicating with the computer which controls the simulation. This article describes the operation of the system, the hardware which comprises it, and the software required to control the equipment, to simulate air craft flights, and to collect and reduce data. Advantages of the new simulation facility over prior ones are discussed, as are plans for its use and expansion. The new facility provides an environment for con ducting simulations required in developing improved air traffic control systems to meet the needs of our increasing air traffic.