Evaluation of an ERAM Prototype to Improve Restriction Modeling by Refining Altitude Transition Rate

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently implementing a number of improvements to the National Airspace System (NAS) in the United States under a multi-agency initiative called the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Program. The Separation Management and Modern Procedures Project is a NextGen initiative and its objective is to implement the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) strategic conflict probe on the radar controller display utilizing ERAM’s Trajectory Modeling(TM) and Conflict Probe (CP) sub-systems. The FAA Air Traffic Organization’s En Route Program Office (ATO-E) has employed the FAA’s Concept Analysis Branch (ANG-C41) to conduct a series of independent evaluations on prototype enhancements to the TM and CP sub-systems and has contracted the prime contractor of ERAM, Lockheed Martin, under FAA Task Orders 45 and 51 to develop these prototypes within the ERAM architecture. This paper details an experiment that consists of simulated runs using the ERAM system with and without a prototype enhancement designed to improve restriction modeling and climb/descent modeling. Recorded data from real flights in Chicago (ZAU) and Washington (ZDC) centers are used to generate experimental scenarios which provide realistic air traffic scenarios, for a total of 4 scenario runs. For each scenario, prototype Trajectory Modeler (TM) and Conflict Probe (CP) performance is compared to that of the baseline scenarios. In both ZAU and ZDC scenarios, slight improvements are indicated with regard to the CP. There is no indication of trajectory improvement or degradation. Since the net effects are positive, particularly for false alerts, the prototype is considered to be an improvement to the system.

• Record URL:
  http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/tctn13-42.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport
  Atlantic City, NJ  United States  08405

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Schnitzer, Brian S
  • Fabian, Andrew
  • Young, Christina M
  • Yao, Chu
• Publication Date: 2013-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Technical Note
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 27p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Evaluation; Prototypes; Radar displays; Simulation; Subsystems
• Identifier Terms: En Route Automation Modernization; National Airspace System; Next Generation Air Transportation System
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01534423
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT.FAA/TC-TN13/42
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 12 2014 3:03PM