Sector Design and Boundary Change Considerations for Flexible Airspace Management

Abstract

In Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) operations, we expect that the demand-capacity balance can be achieved by selectively managing the airspace capacity in conjunction with managing the traffic demand. In Flexible Airspace Management (FAM), the airspace complexity can be assessed a few hours ahead in order to identify sectors that could exceed their defined traffic threshold as well as sectors that are under-utilized. Using various airspace optimization algorithms, airspace can be reconfigured to manage the existing traffic demand without moving aircraft away from their original user-preferred routes. A human-in-the-loop simulation study was conducted in 2009 to assess the impact of airspace reconfiguration on the controllers. The results from the objective data found that the acceptability of the boundary change and the associated workload were mainly affected by airspace volume change and aircraft that changed ownership. However, observations and subjective feedback have suggested that other cognitively-driven factors, such as spatial relationships between upstream/downstream sectors, may also play a role, especially in traffic situations where the airspace has only a few aircraft that change ownership but still has a high degree of airspace complexity associated with the reconfiguration. In this paper, we identify these factors and discuss the human factors issues that should be considered in designing the airspace and airspace transitions.

User selection criteria of airspace designs in Flexible Airspace Management

“…A previous study of airspace reconfiguration impact on air traffic controller workload indicated that a decrease in similarity between the original and reconfigured airspace was related to an increase in controller workload during the airspace reconfiguration [15,16]. The similarity between airspace configuration i and the original was calculated as a similarity distance, D i , where larger distance indicates less similarity.…”

“…Previous studies on airspace design indicated that increased number of flights with short dwell time in a sector was related to increased controller workload [15,16]. Let T i be the average number of flights with short dwell time in airspace configuration i, given by…”

“…Studies also indicated that a decrease in the average distance between traffic crossing points and airspace boundary was related to an increase in air traffic controller workload [15,16]. Let X i be the average traffic crossing point's distance to airspace boundary in airspace configuration i, given by …”

Human-In-the-Loop Evaluation of NextGen Concepts in the Airspace Operations Laboratory

“…Main contributors to controller workload during the boundary change were initially identified. 32 Both areas, mixed operations in the same airspace and flexible airspace management are described below.…”

“…Overall, the results and feedback from the study showed that Flexible Airspace is a promising concept worth further development and refinement. 32,43 A number of tradeoffs may be required in finding the most effective way to address the demand-capacity imbalance while keeping the human controller integrated and functioning meaningfully within the system. Based on the results from this study, further research can begin in addressing these issues.…”