CHALLENGES OF AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT RESEARCH: ANALYSIS, SIMULATION, AND FIELD TEST

Expected growth in air traffic over the next several decades has led to requirements for increased capacity and operational flexibility. NASA has entered into a joint program with the FAA to develop the technologies and procedures to meet these requirements. This paper reviews the programs in air traffic management being conducted within NASA and then illustrates the research challenges by focusing on recent work in the development of a set of automation tools, referred to as the Center TRACON Automation System (CTAS). The technical approach pioneered by the CTAS development which emphasized the use of live traffic data in the laboratory, user participation, and early field tests has become the accepted model for ATM research.