Air Traffic Management Technologies Research Articles

An agent-based model for technology adoption in Air Traffic Management

Technology adoption depends not only on the development of new technologies, but also on the existence of regulations able to foster the implementation of such technologies. To facilitate the exploration of different policy options aimed at accelerating the adoption of new Air Traffic Management (ATM) technologies, an agent-based model that represents the behaviour of the European ATM system has been developed. This model includes representations of the main stakeholders in the ATM ecosystem: regulatory bodies, technology providers, labour unions and technology adopters, including Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), airlines and airports. New ATM technologies, policies imposed, behavioural biases (e.g., loss aversion) and exogenous variables (e.g., fuel price) drive the actions of the agents, leading to the emergent global behaviour of the system. A calibration and validation process involving historical data, gaming experiments and participatory simulations was performed. The model was used to evaluate various policies that included economic incentives and penalties in two scenarios: one based on past events and another focused on the future. The results allow us to analyse which individual stakeholders benefit the most from each policy and to identify the mechanisms that emerge and drive the path of technology adoption, finding that a combination of economic incentives and penalties provides promising economical and operational results.

Aircraft Trajectory Prediction for Terminal Airspace Employing Social Spatiotemporal Graph Convolutional Network

Four-dimensional (4-D) trajectory prediction is the core of air traffic management technologies such as flow management, conflict detection and resolution, arrival and departure sequencing, and aircraft abnormal behavior monitoring. The airport terminal airspace has a complex airspace structure, and the flight status of aircraft is changeable, which poses a challenge to trajectory prediction. To this end, aiming at the problem of track prediction in airport terminal area, we propose a 4-D trajectory prediction model of social spatiotemporal graph convolutional neural network (S-STGCNN) based on pattern matching. For each type of flight pattern, an S-STGCNN is trained to improve the robustness. Taking each aircraft as a node of a graph, the spatiotemporal graph convolution is used to extract features of the graph so as to simultaneously characterize the time dependence of trajectories and the interaction between aircraft. The time extrapolation convolutional neural network is used to generate the predicted trajectory. Experimental results show that the trajectory prediction method proposed in this paper has a higher prediction accuracy and a generalization ability than other models.

Multi-Aircraft Trajectory Collaborative Prediction Based on Social Long Short-Term Memory Network

Aircraft trajectory prediction is the basis of approach and departure sequencing, conflict detection and resolution and other air traffic management technologies. Accurate trajectory prediction can help increase the airspace capacity and ensure the safe and orderly operation of aircraft. Current research focuses on single aircraft trajectory prediction without considering the interaction between aircraft. Therefore, this paper proposes a model based on the Social Long Short-Term Memory (S-LSTM) network to realize the multi-aircraft trajectory collaborative prediction. This model establishes an LSTM network for each aircraft and a pooling layer to integrate the hidden states of the associated aircraft, which can effectively capture the interaction between them. This paper takes the aircraft trajectories in the Northern California terminal area as the experimental data. The results show that, compared with the mainstream trajectory prediction models, the S-LSTM model in this paper has smaller prediction errors, which proves the superiority of the model’s performance. Additionally, another comparative experiment is conducted on airspace scenes with aircraft interactions, and it is found that S-LSTM has a better prediction effect than LSTM, which proves the effectiveness of the former considering aircraft interaction.

The Military Specifications of Remote Control Tower Technology

Nowadays the Remote Control Tower (hereafter RTWR) appears as a piece of modern ATM (Air Traffic Management) technology in many European countries, including Hungary. After a successful validation process at a medium-sized civilian aerodrome called Liszt Ferenc, co-operation began between HungaroControl1 and the Hungarian Ministry of Defence concerning the introduction of the RTWR in the military environment. The author makes an attempt to determine the safety and the security aspects of RTWR in the military environment, its specifications for the handling of military air traffic and makes suggestions for further installations at given military airfields.

Ontology-Based Approach for Human Competency Gap Analysis in Air Traffic Management

Abstract The Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) is a flexible global engineering approach that allows all States to advance their Air Navigation capacities based on their specific operational requirements. Aviation professionals have an essential role in the transition to, and successful implementation of the GANP. The development of new air traffic control technology requires new competencies from operational and maintenance personnel under the circumstances. And this, in turn, requires new education curricula for initial, vocational and advanced training in this area. The paper is focused on the creation of methodology for the partial automation of the comparison of existing and required competences of Air Traffic Management (ATM) personal and synthesis of training courses and modules, using a formal, ontology-based approach as a tool to solve these problems. One of the problems in the implementation of the GANP is that, on the one hand, there are currently no unified requirements for all categories of ATM personnel, and on the other hand, the development of ATM technologies is far ahead of the pace of training of personnel of appropriate qualifications. This problem becomes even more noticeable in countries that have just started an active modernization of ATC systems and do not have enough experience in this field. The paper describes the general methodological approach based on the education ontology modelling for human competency gap analysis in ATM and for gap analysis between the university curricula outcomes and the ATM requirements. The ontology of key personnel competencies issues for the design and integration of large-scale future ATM programmes is proposed.

AHP-Entropy based priority assessment of factors to reduce aviation fuel consumption

With the projected air traffic growth, aviation fuel needs will grow by 3% globally per year. Considering this, aviation industry has set ambitious goals to enhance its fuel efficiency. This study presents an integrated framework for aviation fuel consumption reduction, which will also limit its CO2 emissions. Further, this research aims to categorize influential factors and examine their relative importance for fuel-efficient aviation. This study’s theoretical framework combines and reconciles eight major areas: alternative jet fuels, aviation infrastructure, aircraft operations, socio-ecopolitical environment, aircraft design, technology, environmental uncertainty, and strategic changes. In all, 37 sub-factors were identified. The priority ratings of these sub-factors with respect to ‘aviation fuel consumption reduction’ objective is measured by hybrid analytical hierarchy process-entropy method, using pair-wise comparison matrices. The findings attributed the highest importance to ‘technological innovations’, followed by ‘aircraft design’ and ‘aircraft operations’ for saving aviation fuel. Based on the obtained ranking ‘engine design’, ‘laminar flow technology’, and ‘air traffic management technology’ emerged as the three most important sub-factors. The robustness of priority rankings has been tested using sensitivity analysis. This study shows the path for continuous improvement in aviation fuel efficiency by directing efforts and investments on highly important factors.

Optimization of an aircraft flight trajectory in the GLONASS dynamic accuracy field

Advanced technologies in air traffic management assume the transition to flexible routing based on the use of the satellite navigation systems. However, the accuracy of these systems depends on the location of the navigation satellites in relation to the target object and will vary in the available airspace. Therefore, the designed optimal flight path of the aircraft should be built taking into account the accuracy of its keeping in the variable navigation-time field (accuracy field) of the satellite navigation system. The accuracy field of the satellite navigation systems can be characterized by the geometric factor (spatial, horizontal and vertical). The geometric factor of the satellite navigation system is determined by the relative position of the consumer and the satellites upon which the navigation problem is solved, and is a deterministic value. Due to the orbital motion of satellites and the movement of the consumer, the geometric factor will change in space and time. Knowing the laws of the satellites orbital motion it is possible to calculate the geometric factor for any point in the air space and for any moment of time according to the known almanac of the system. This allows predicting the expected accuracy of the navigation and time determination during the flight on a particular air route. Optimization methods based on the algorithms of A-star and Dijkstra graph theory are chosen for aircraft flight trajectories construction. Mathematical modeling is used for the optimal trajectory construction in the GLONASS dynamic accuracy fields with their various structures in static and dynamic problem setting.

Statistical engineering approach to improve the realism of computer-simulated experiments with aircraft trajectory clustering

ABSTRACTThis article presents a statistical engineering approach for clustering aircraft trajectories. The clustering methodology was developed to address the need to incorporate more realistic trajectories in fast-time computer simulations used to evaluate an aircraft spacing algorithm. The methodology is a combination of Dynamic Time Warping and k-Means clustering, and can be viewed as one of many possible solutions to the immediate problem. The implementation of this statistical engineering approach is also repeatable, scalable, and extendable to the investigation of other air traffic management technologies. Development of the clustering methodology is presented in addition to an application and description of results.

Cross-entropy-based cost-efficient 4D trajectory generation for airborne conflict resolution

Considering the transformation in roles of existing air traffic management technologies, future flight operations and flight deck systems will need additional avionics and operational procedures that involve adaptive algorithms and advanced decision support tools. The main purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical framework for tactical 4D-trajectory planning and conflict resolution of an aircraft equipped with novel automation tools. The proposed 4D-trajectory-planning method uses recent algorithmic advances in both probabilistic and deterministic methods to fully benefit from both approaches. We have constructed an aircraft performance model based on Base of Aircraft Data 4 with high-level hybrid flight template automatons and low-level flight maneuver automatons. This multi-modal flight trajectory approach is utilized to generate cost-efficient local trajectory segments instead of solving complex trajectory-generation problems globally. The proposed sampling-based trajectory planning algorithm spatially explores the airspace and provides proper separation through local trajectory segments and guarantees asymptotic optimality under certain conditions. Moreover, we have integrated the cross-entropy method, which transforms the sampling problem into a stochastic optimization problem, rapidly converges on the minimum cost trajectory sequence by utilizing available flight plans, and reduces the amount of sampling. The integration of the proposed strategies lets us solve challenging, real-time in-tactical 4D-trajectory planning problems within the current and the envisioned future realm of air traffic management systems.

Hybrid Communication Protocols and Control Algorithms for NextGen Aircraft Arrivals

Capacity constraints imposed by current air traffic management technologies and protocols could severely limit the performance of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). A fundamental design decision in the development of this system is the level of decentralization that balances system safety and efficiency. A new surveillance technology called automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) can be potentially used to shift air traffic control to a more distributed architecture; however, channel variations and interference with existing secondary radar replies can affect ADS-B systems. This paper presents a framework for managing arrivals at an airport by using a hybrid centralized/distributed algorithm for communication and control. The algorithm combines the centralized control that is used in congested regions with the distributed control that is used in lower traffic density regions. The hybrid algorithm is evaluated through realistic simulations of operations around a major airport. The proposed strategy is shown to significantly improve air traffic control performance under various operating conditions by adapting to the underlying communication, navigation, and surveillance systems. The performance of the proposed strategy is found to be comparable to fully centralized strategies, despite requiring significantly less ground infrastructure.

Advanced air traffic management technologies: the ADS-B impact over ATM concepts. The case for Portugal

ADS-B is a very useful system to solve surveillance precision problems mainly if installation, operation and maintenance costs of alternative ones are too expensive when they are based on air traffic figures. This paper begins with some remarks about ADS-B technology, precisely to introduce the case study of Azores archipelago within Santa Maria FIR, in Portugal. On the basis of real scenarios of Pescara, Trabzon and Rhodes, and using EMOSIA model, a study is conducted to understand costs and return on investment on such equipment in Azores area. Finally, the paper concludes with some highlights of future research.

Single European Sky - a possible regulatory framework for System Wide Information Management (SWIM)

Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) is the modernization programme of the European air traffic control infrastructure designed for the development of a new generation of air traffic management (ATM) technologies and procedures that will constitute the Single European Sky (SES) technologies and procedures. These will allow SES to cope with the increasing air traffic service demand predicted for the next twenty years. System Wide Information Management (SWIM) is a key part of SESAR; its objective is to create a new system of aeronautical information to increase efficiency and improve air transport safety. SWIM involves a group of independent users (Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP), airlines, airports, etc.) that will exchange aeronautical information to ensure a safe gate-to-gate movement of an aircraft (flying object). SWIM architecture has many similarities with today's Internet. SWIM, as with any other system created to provide a public service, needs a regulatory framework for governance and to establish the identification of responsibilities and liabilities of the parties involved in the programme. The conclusions of different debates regarding the governance of such organizations have led to the wide acceptance of the principle that for every organization where many parties operate with a certain degree of freedom, it is advisable to set up a system of guidelines, with mechanisms to encourage participating parties to conform, for example, to a code of conduct. In short, this article examines a possible system for regulating the relationships between all the parties involved, offering a comprehensive description of the SWIM programme, its possible governance, and the main elements for designing a regulatory framework.

Reducing environmental impacts of aviation with innovative air traffic management technologies

AbstractCommercially-driven air traffic management (ATM) innovations typically aim to increase air space capacity and/or reduce delays. Here, their potential application for environmental mitigation is discussed. Both carbon dioxide (CO2) and non-CO2 climate impacts are considered, as are noise and air quality issues. We outline the technological, scientific and political barriers to an integrated approach to applying ATM technologies to environmental mitigation. These issues highlight the need to improve comparison and prioritisation of the emissions and effects of aviation.

A model of air traffic controllers' conflict detection and conflict resolution

A model of the mental activities of en route controllers in air traffic control (ATC) is outlined. As an example of the psychological research rendering the basis for this model, the methods and results of an experiment with experienced controllers is sketched which is concerned with conflict detection in ATC. Further, a procedure for conflict resolution is described, supplementing the general model. This procedure is designed to be transformed into a computer based assisting system in ATC. Problems and functions of operator models in the development of new technologies in air traffic management are discussed.

Effect of T-TMA on Capacity and Delay at Los Angeles International Airport

Free Flight Phase 1 (FFP1) is an FAA program for improving the performance of the National Airspace System (NAS) through the deployment of advanced technologies for air traffic management. In addition to the deployment activities, FFP1 includes a significant evaluation component, which faces a significant hurdle. A plethora of factors—weather, demand, enhancements to the NAS infrastructure not related to FFP1, facility outages, and so on—may also cause changes in NAS performance. It is necessary to normalize for these factors in order to determine the effect of FFP1. Normalization procedures to isolate the impact of the implementation of an FFP1 technology—the Terminal Area Traffic Management Advisor (T-TMA)—are documented at the Southern California TRACON, where it is used for controlling traffic into Los Angeles International Airport. Two examples of normalization are presented. One examines the effect of T-TMA on airport arrival capacity, and the other looks at arrival delay. The results, although preliminary given the short time since implementation, are consistent: it appears that capacities have increased and delays decreased as a result of the deployment of the tool. Moreover, the magnitudes of the delay reductions and capacity increases are consistent.

Identification of Error Patterns in Terminal-Area ATC Communications

Advancing air traffic management technologies have enabled a greater number of aircraft to use the same airspace more effectively. As aircraft separations are reduced and final approaches are more finely timed, there is less room for error. The present study examined 122 terminal-area, loss-of-separation and procedure violation incidents reported to the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) by air traffic controllers. Narrative description codes were used for the incidents for type of violation, contributing factors, recovery strategies, and consequences. Usually multiple errors occurred prior to the violation. Error sequences were analyzed and common patterns of errors were identified. In half of the incidents, errors were noticed in time to correct mistakes. Of these, almost 43% committed additional errors during the recovery attempt. This analysis shows that redundancies in the present air traffic control system may not be sufficient to support large increases in traffic density. Error prevention and design considerations for air traffic management systems are discussed.

Use Of Advanced Technologies In ATM (airTraffic Management) Domain

Use Of Advanced Technologies In ATM (airTraffic Management) Domain