Piloted simulation of NextGen time-based taxi clearances and tailored departures

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a mediumfidelity piloted flight deck simulation of future surface operations. Sixteen commercial transport pilots conducted time-based taxi-out operations at DFW airport under two Next Generation Airspace (NextGen) implementations. In the Limited NextGen implementation, time-based operations were defined by providing a taxi clearance with a commanded average speed to the pilot. In the Advanced NextGen implementation, advanced avionics allowed for time-based taxi operations to be conducted with speed error-nulling algorithms and arrival time information. Results indicated that the Advanced NextGen implementation substantially improved pilots' ability to arrive at airport traffic flow points at the required time. An additional "tailored departure" (i.e., NextGen 4-D departure) clearance verification task assessed the impact of time-based taxi on the departure phase of flight. Results indicated that time-based taxi operations in general, and specifically the Advanced NextGen implementation, might add to pilot workload during taxi out. Future research regarding the assessment and the impact of timebased taxi operations is required.

Safely conducting airport surface trajectory-based operations

“…Surface movement management tools will utilize improved surveillance, environmental and operational conditions, and other information to sequence aircraft for departure, issue conflict-free time-based taxi routes, monitor taxi conformance, and revise taxi plans as necessary [2,3]. The taxi routes are intended to be transmitted through data communications protocols and displayed to the flight crew on a flight deck surface movement display [4][5][6][7][8].…”

Information Requirements for Pilots to Execute 4-D Trajectories on the Airport Surface

“…Foyle et al 26,27 have conducted a series of FD human factors studies aimed at determining information requirements for execution of 4D taxi clearances using manual FD speed control. Their results suggest that in order to effectively conduct surface 4D-trajectory clearances under pilot manual control, the future FD may likely require displays to allow pilots to "close the loop" on the aircraft's 4DT speed/time error, as well as indicating the value of both speed-based and time-based information displays.…”

Eye-Tracking Analysis of Next Generation Air Transportation (NextGen) Taxiing and Departure Concepts

“…Commanded speed without bounds. Foyle, Hooey, Kunkle, Schwirzke, and Bakowski (2009) conducted a study that replicated the Williams, Hooey, and…”

“…However, the advanced implementation may have increased overall workload, as indicated by pilot responses on a post-study questionnaire. Therefore, the results of the Foyle, et al (2009) study indicated that the challenge is to implement these algorithms without resulting in adverse effects on pilot workload, situation awareness, and other flight deck tasks. Their study led into the current study, which examined eye tracking among pilots who participated in a NextGen concepts study with the introduction of conformance bounds.…”

“…The current study examined pilots' situation awareness and workload while performing NextGen taxiing and departure concepts through eye tracking data. This study was built on previous research investigating taxiing from the gate to the runway based on speed and time commands (e.g., Williams et al, 2006;Foyle et al, 2009) to include speed-based taxiing with bounds. This study adds the important element of eye tracking, which Foyle et al lacked in their study.…”