MATHEMATICAL APPROACHES TO EVALUATING AIRCRAFT VERTICAL SEPARATION STANDARDS

Above Flight Level 290, current regulations require aircraft to be separated vertically by at least 2000 feet. Because of increased traffic desiring to fly at these altitudes, the possibility of reducing the required separation (while maintaining acceptable safety levels) is under study. This report details many of the components of vertical position error and classifies them into three major categories: static pressure system error, altimeter instrument error, and pilot response error. Two models for use in evaluating separation standards, the root sum of squares (RSS) approach and the Reich collision risk model, are described together with their respective advantages and disadvantages. A final section includes recommendations for a carefully designed data collection effort and discusses potentially important considerations for such a design. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  National Bureau of Standards

  Institute for Basic Standards
  Washington, DC  United States  20234
• Authors:
  • GILSINN, J F
  • Shier, D R
• Publication Date: 1976-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 48 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Air traffic control; Air transportation; Altimeters; Atmospheric pressure; Aviation safety; Cruising flight; Errors; Flight paths; Hazards; Mathematical models; Range (Vehicles); Risk assessment; Standards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aircraft safety; Separation
• Old TRIS Terms: Barometric pressure; Level flight; Range distance; Response; Vertical orientation
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00147203
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FAA-EM-76-12 Intrm Rpt., NBSIR-76-1067
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FA76WAI-594
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 16 1977 12:00AM