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Wind information requirements for NextGen applications phase 7 report

February 12, 2020
  |
Project Report
Author:
Christopher Edwards
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-444
Topic:
air traffic control
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

This report details the Required Time of Arrival (RTA) performance of B757 aircraft arriving at various meter fixes across a range of altitudes from 33,000' down to 3,000' above ground level (AGL). The system tested demonstrated less than ±10 second arrival error in at least 95% of flights at meter fixes down to 7,000' AGL regardless of the forecast quality provided. Below 7,000' AGL, RTA performance significantly degraded demonstrating around 80% compliance under the best forecast and operating conditions. This report also provides a comprehensive lexicon of aviation and air traffic control related "wind" terms.
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Summary

This report details the Required Time of Arrival (RTA) performance of B757 aircraft arriving at various meter fixes across a range of altitudes from 33,000' down to 3,000' above ground level (AGL). The system tested demonstrated less than ±10 second arrival error in at least 95% of flights at meter...

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Wind information requirements for NextGen applications phase 7 report

Wind information requirements for NextGen operations, phase 5 report

August 22, 2017
  |
Project Report
Author:
Christopher Edwards
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-439
Topic:
air traffic control
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

NextGen applications with time-based control elements, such as required time of arrival (RTA) at a meter fix under 4D trajectory-based operations (4D-TBO)/time of arrival control (TOAC) procedures or assigned spacing goal between aircraft under Interval Management (IM) procedures, are subject to the quality of the atmospheric forecast utilized by participating aircraft. The work described in this report summarizes the major activities conducted in the current phase of this program which builds upon prior work. The major objectives were: 1. Support RTCA Special Committee-206 Aeronautical Information and Meteorological Data Link Services and co-chair a sub-group responsible for developing the document "Guidance for Data Linking Forecast and Real-Time Wind Information to Aircraft." 2. Analyze the performance of publicly available forecast as compared to in-situ reported atmospheric conditions, specifically comparing Global Forecast System (GFS) and High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) forecast data to recorded in-flight weather Meteorological Data Collection and Reporting System (MDCRS) data. 3. Analyze current and future Flight Management Systems (FMSs) to conduct operations at significantly lower altitudes than previous studies. 4. Evaluate potential sources of aircraft-derived winds to better support 4D-TBO activities. 5. Provide recommendations for high-value future work.
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Summary

NextGen applications with time-based control elements, such as required time of arrival (RTA) at a meter fix under 4D trajectory-based operations (4D-TBO)/time of arrival control (TOAC) procedures or assigned spacing goal between aircraft under Interval Management (IM) procedures, are subject to the quality of the atmospheric forecast utilized by participating...

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Wind information requirements for NextGen operations, phase 5 report

Aircraft laser strike geolocation system

June 5, 2017
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Erin M. Tomlinson
…
Published in:
17th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conf., 5-9 June 2017.
Topic:
detection systems
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Laser strikes against aircraft are increasing at an alarming rate, driven by the availability of cheap powerful lasers and a lack of deterrence due to the challenges of locating and apprehending perpetrators. Although window coatings and pilot goggles effectively block laser light, uptake has been low due to high cost and pilot reluctance. This paper describes the development and testing of a proof-of-concept ground based sensor system to rapidly geolocate the origin of a laser beam in a protected region of airspace and disseminate this information to law enforcement to allow a timely and targeted response. Geolocation estimates with accuracies of better than 20 m have been demonstrated within 30 seconds of an event at a range of 8.9 nmi with a 450 mW laser. Recommendations for an operational prototype at an airport are also described.
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Summary

Laser strikes against aircraft are increasing at an alarming rate, driven by the availability of cheap powerful lasers and a lack of deterrence due to the challenges of locating and apprehending perpetrators. Although window coatings and pilot goggles effectively block laser light, uptake has been low due to high cost...

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Aircraft laser strike geolocation system

Wind information requirements for NextGen applications phase 4 final report

March 6, 2017
  |
Project Report
Author:
Christopher Edwards
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-431
Topic:
weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The success of many NextGen applications with time-based control elements, such as Required Time of Arrival (RTA) at a meter fix under 4D-Trajectory Based Operations (4D-TBO/Time of Arrival Control (TOAC) procedures or compliance to an Assigned Spacing Goal (ASG) between aircraft under Interval Management (IM) procedures, are subject to the quality of the atmospheric forecast utilized by participating aircraft. Erroneous information derived from provided forecast data, such as the magnitude of future headwinds relative to the headwinds actually experienced during flight, or forecast data that is insufficient to fully describe the forthcoming atmospheric conditions, can significantly degrade the performance of an attempted procedure. The work described in this report summarizes the major activities conducted in Fiscal Year 2015.
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Summary

The success of many NextGen applications with time-based control elements, such as Required Time of Arrival (RTA) at a meter fix under 4D-Trajectory Based Operations (4D-TBO/Time of Arrival Control (TOAC) procedures or compliance to an Assigned Spacing Goal (ASG) between aircraft under Interval Management (IM) procedures, are subject to the...

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Wind information requirements for NextGen applications phase 4 final report

Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) environmental benefits assessment

November 10, 2016
  |
Project Report
Author:
Thomas G. Reynolds
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-420
Topic:
air traffic control
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

This work monetizes the environmental benefits of Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) capabilities which reduce fuel burn and gaseous emissions, and in turn reduce climate change and air quality effects. A methodology is created which takes TFDM "engines-on" taxi time savings and converts them to fuel and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions savings, accounting for aircraft fleet mix at each of 27 TFDM analysis airports over a 2016-2048 analysis timeframe. Total fuel reductions of approximately 300 million U.S. gallons are estimated, resulting in monetized benefits from all TFDM capabilities of $65m-$582m undiscounted, $23m-$310m discounted, depending on the Social Cost of CO2 (SCC) and discount rate used. A similar methodology is used to estimate monetized benefits of reduced air quality emissions as well.
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Summary

This work monetizes the environmental benefits of Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) capabilities which reduce fuel burn and gaseous emissions, and in turn reduce climate change and air quality effects. A methodology is created which takes TFDM "engines-on" taxi time savings and converts them to fuel and carbon dioxide (CO2)...

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Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) environmental benefits assessment

Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) runway balancing capability assessment

February 6, 2015
  |
Project Report
Author:
Adan E. Vela
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-421
Topic:
air traffic control
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Under the Terminal Flight Data Manager program, new operational improvements are envisioned at a number of large airports. One operational improvement manifests through the Airport Resource Management tool, which seeks to balance departure demand at runways. Another related operational improvement is runway balancing, which is expected to provide greater flexibility in tactical runway assignments. Both improvements are expected to reduce surface delays for departing aircraft. This report provides a study into the potential delay-reduction benefits of both capabilities at three case-study airports (DFW, LAX, and MCO). Through a series of simulation studies, it is found that the benefits associated with each operational improvement are closely linked to departure demand and imbalances in demand across filed aircraft departure procedures. So, while large delay-reduction benefits are expected at LAX--which exhibits both large demand and departure imbalances--smaller benefits are expected at DFW where departure operations are already well-balanced. Meanwhile at MCO, the operational improvements are not expected to reduce delays due to limited departure demand at the airport.
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Summary

Under the Terminal Flight Data Manager program, new operational improvements are envisioned at a number of large airports. One operational improvement manifests through the Airport Resource Management tool, which seeks to balance departure demand at runways. Another related operational improvement is runway balancing, which is expected to provide greater flexibility...

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Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) runway balancing capability assessment

Wind Information Requirements for NextGen Applications - Phase 3 Final Report(3.98 MB)

December 15, 2014
  |
Project Report
Author:
Christopher Edwards
…
Published in:
Project Report ATC-422, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Topic:
weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Many NextGen applications depend on access to high accuracy wind data due to time-based control elements, such as required time of arrival at a meter fix under 4D-Trajectory-Based Operations/Time of Arrival Control procedures or compliance to an assigned spacing goal between aircraft under Interval Management procedures. The work described in this report summarizes the activities conducted in FY14, which builds upon prior work.
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Summary

Many NextGen applications depend on access to high accuracy wind data due to time-based control elements, such as required time of arrival at a meter fix under 4D-Trajectory-Based Operations/Time of Arrival Control procedures or compliance to an assigned spacing goal between aircraft under Interval Management procedures. The work described in...

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Wind Information Requirements for NextGen Applications - Phase 3 Final Report

Wind information requirements for NextGen applications, phase 3 final report

December 15, 2014
  |
Project Report
Author:
Christopher Edwards
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-422
Topic:
weather
R&D area:

Summary

Many NextGen applications depend on access to high accuracy wind data due to time-based control elements, such as required time of arrival at a meter fix under 4D-Trajectory-Based Operations/Time of Arrival Control procedures or compliance to an assigned spacing goal between aircraft under Interval Management procedures. Any errors in the ground and/or aircraft wind information relative to the truth winds actually flown through can significantly degrade the performance of the procedure. Unacceptable performance could be mitigated by improving wind information in the aircraft, for example, by using higher accuracy wind forecast models to generate wind inputs for the ground or airborne systems, updating wind information more frequently, or to upgrade the way winds are handled in the avionics systems. The work described in this report summarizes the activities conducted in FY14, which builds upon prior work. It (1) establishes the relationship of wind information accuracy to 4D-TBO and IM performance for a selection of operationally relevant scenarios to identify wind needs to support them, and (2) presents examples of what wind information content and update rate to the aircraft will deliver a given target performance level to help inform concept of operations development and datalink technology needs.
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Summary

Many NextGen applications depend on access to high accuracy wind data due to time-based control elements, such as required time of arrival at a meter fix under 4D-Trajectory-Based Operations/Time of Arrival Control procedures or compliance to an assigned spacing goal between aircraft under Interval Management procedures. Any errors in the...

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Wind information requirements for NextGen applications, phase 3 final report

Wind information requirements for NextGen applications - phase 2 final report - framework refinement and application to four-dimensional trajectory based operations (4D-TBO) and interval management (IM)

May 20, 2014
  |
Project Report
Author:
Thomas G. Reynolds
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-418
Topic:
weather
R&D area:

Summary

Accurate wind information is of fundamental importance to some of the critical future air traffic concepts under the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative. Concepts involving time elements, such as Four-Dimensional Trajectory Based Operations (4D-TBO) and Interval Management (IM), are especially sensitive to wind information accuracy. There is a growing need to establish appropriate concepts of operation and target performance requirements accounting for wind information accuracy for these types of procedure, and meeting these needs is the purpose of this project. In the first phase of this work, a Wind Information Analysis Framework was developed to help explore the relationship of wind information to NextGen application performance. A refined version of the framework has been developed for the Phase 2 work that highlights the role stakeholders play in defining Air Traffic Control (ATC) scenarios, distinguishes wind scenarios into benign, moderate, severe, and extreme categories, and more clearly identifies what and how wind requirements recommendations are developed from the performance assessment trade-spaces. This report documents how this refined analysis framework has been used in Phase 2 of the work in terms of: -Refined wind information metrics and wind scenario selection process applicable to a broader range of NextGen applications, with particular focus on 4D-TBO and IM. -Expanded and refined studies of 4D-TBO applications with current Flight Management Systems (FMS) (with MITRE collaboration) to identify more accurate trade-spaces using operational FMS capabilities with higher-fidelity aircraft models. -Expansion of the 4D-TBO study using incremental enhancements possible in future FMSs (with Honeywell collaboration), specifically in the area of wind blending algorithms to quantify performance improvement potential from near-term avionics refinements. -Demonstrating the adaptability of the Wind Information Analysis Framework by using it to identify initial wind information needs for IM applications.
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Summary

Accurate wind information is of fundamental importance to some of the critical future air traffic concepts under the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative. Concepts involving time elements, such as Four-Dimensional Trajectory Based Operations (4D-TBO) and Interval Management (IM), are especially sensitive to wind information accuracy. There is...

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Wind information requirements for NextGen applications - phase 2 final report - framework refinement and application to four-dimensional trajectory based operations (4D-TBO) and interval management (IM)

Wind Information Requirements for NextGen Applications - Phase 2 Final Report(7.63 MB)

May 1, 2014
  |
Project Report
Author:
Thomas G. Reynolds
…
Published in:
Project Report ATC-418, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Topic:
weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Accurate wind information is of fundamental importance to some of the critical future air traffic concepts envisioned under the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative. In the first phase of this work, a Wind Information Analysis Framework was developed to help explore the relationship of wind information to NextGen application performance. A refined version of the framework has been developed for the Phase 2 work.
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Summary

Accurate wind information is of fundamental importance to some of the critical future air traffic concepts envisioned under the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative. In the first phase of this work, a Wind Information Analysis Framework was developed to help explore the relationship of wind information to...

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Wind Information Requirements for NextGen Applications - Phase 2 Final Report
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