An Evaluation of Airport Traffic Airspace Use by Terminal Airspace Class

Abstract

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) pose a significant and increasing threat of collision with manned aircraft as they are further integrated into the National Airspace System (NAS). Current federal regulations for sUAS lay out rules for safe operation, including measures to prevent collision with manned aircraft under limited concepts of operation. However, these regulations are effective only to the extent that they are followed. While some sUAS have regulation-based limitations coded in their software (e.g., an altitude ceiling) to prevent violations, many regulations rely on the sUAS's operator's knowledge and compliance. Relying on regulation compliance to ensure safety is insufficient; multiple instances have occurred where initial detection of a trespassing sUAS was from a pilot visually spotting the sUAS. Visual detection additionally cannot be relied on during low visibility and low light conditions when visual detection of a sUAS would be extremely difficult. Instead, a surveillance system may be needed to identify trespassing sUAS to maintain safe distances between manned aircraft and sUAS to prevent loss of life or damage to property. This paper examines manned aircraft radar tracks from 2015 to quantitively evaluate and categorize airspace usage characteristics with regards to potential surveillance solutions.