Small Aircraft Transportation System, Higher Volume Operations Concept And Research Summary

摘要

The ability to conduct concurrent, multiple aircraft operations in poor weather at virtually any airport offers an opportunity to increase the rate of flight operations, an improvement in passenger convenience, and the potential to foster the growth of small airports. The small aircraft transportation system, higher volume operations concept will increase capacity at the 3400 nonradar, nontowered airports in the United States where operations are currently restricted to a "one-in, one-out" procedural separation during low visibility or ceilings. The concept's key feature is that pilots maintain their own separation from other aircraft using the air-to-air data link and onboard software within the self-controlled area, an area of flight operations established during poor visibility and low ceilings around an airport without Air Traffic Control services. While pilots self-separate within the self-controlled area, an airport management module located at the airport assigns arriving pilots their sequence based on aircraft performance, position, and Air Traffic Control intent. The higher volume operations concept uses distributed decision making and safe procedures designed to minimize pilot and controller workload and integrates with today's Air Traffic Control environment. This paper summarizes the higher volume operations concept, procedures, research, and results, as well as outlines areas in which future higher volume operations research is required.