A Proposed Framework for the National Airspace System (NAS) Optimizer

摘要

The paper proposes a functional framework to support the National Airspace Optimizer (NAO) concept recommended by the Joint Planning and Development Office Enterprise Architecture. The NAO is aimed at optimizing key National Airspace System (NAS) parameters, such as capacity-demand equilibrium, user intentions, and controller workload. The functions contained in this functional framework have been identified and studied previously both in academic and operational environments. The benefit of the proposed framework lies in its interconnections and correlations between these functions. The framework reconciles uncertainty, safety, workload, and user equity with the ultimate goal of supporting a significant capacity increase in the NAS. The proposed framework does not yet contain operational concepts, or implementation considerations. These will have to be developed in subsequent work. The framework is composed of three fundamental functions, as follows: (1) a response function, (2) a traffic density and pattern objectives function, and (3) an equity function. The response function gauges uncertainty in the NAS environment to recommend an optimal response for a given NAS congestion problem. The traffic density and pattern objectives function ensures that the response suggested by the response function maximizes use of available airspace capacity, while minimizing human workload. The equity function is employed as the feedback mechanism that enables a closed loop operation for the NAS. This in turn facilitates a self-regulating, ever-improving NAS. Each of the described functions helps the efficiency of the NAS individually, but, when combined, what emerges is more than the sum of the parts, and forms the basis for the NAO.