Simulation Evaluation of Conflict Resolution and Weather Avoidance in Near-Term Mixed Equipage Datalink Operations

Abstract

The pilot-and controller-in-the-loop simulation described in this paper demonstrates the potential benefits of a near-term trajectory-based operations concept with datalink communications. Near-term operations with datalink are characterized by a fleet of which not all aircraft are equipped with datalink communications (i.e., mixed equipage). The objectives of this simulation were to continue to develop capabilities such as the conflict resolution algorithm, as well as evaluate new capabilities and concepts such as tactical conflict detection and trajectory-based weather avoidance with feedback from experienced pilots and controllers. Conflict resolutions and tactical conflict detections were compared to controller actions. The direction of the conflict resolution maneuver advised by the algorithm agreed with controller actions 79% of the time when both chose to apply the same type of resolution maneuver to the same aircraft. Comparing controller actions to conflicts detected by the tactical conflict detection function revealed no missed alerts and a false alert rate of 11%. Trajectory-based weather avoidance functions received high ratings from the controllers for usefulness and ease of use. In particular, controllers noted weather avoidance reroutes originating from a simulated traffic management coordinator position alleviated their concerns about potentially disrupting traffic flow management plans, thus expediting the issuance of the reroutes.

Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation of Coordination by Airline Operations Control

“…ABMS has proven to be of great use in identifying emergent behavior in the complex socio-technical air transport system [12]. Key ABMS application examples are in non-nominal air traffic response to air traffic control instructions [13], network-wide air traffic delay analysis [14,15], agent-based safety risk analysis [16,17], and artificial phase transitions in air traffic [18]. However, to the best of the author's knowledge, using ABMS for gaining a better understanding of the role of coordination in the socio-technical air transport system is novel.…”

Dynamic Weather Routes: Two Years of Operational Testing at American Airlines

“…CPDLC is operational in parts of Europe [13], and some operations have been conducted in the US [14,15]. Weather avoidance in a CPDLC datalink environment has been effectively demonstrated in pilot and controller in-the-loop simulations [16]. Any other means for the pilot to see a graphic display of the proposed route change with relevant weather and traffic, via Electronic Flight Bag automation for example, would likely help the flight crew and streamline the process [17].…”

Exploratory Study of Interoperability Between Tactical and Strategic Separation Assurance Functions

“…Its shorter-range counterpart, the Tactical Separation-Assured Flight Environment (TSAFE), operates on a time frame of 0 to 3 minutes. Human-in-the-loop simulations demonstrated that Autoresolver could be used simultaneously with TSAFE conflict detection 4 and/or TSAFE conflict resolution 5 as decision support tools for air traffic controllers in near-term operations. However, the interactions between these systems were not analyzed.…”

“…15 In addition to this, a recent human-in the-loop simulation tested Autoresolver conflict detection and resolution and TSAFE conflict detection using three scenarios of 30-45 minutes each in 3 sectors of Fort Worth Center. 4 Post-simulation analysis of the 124 TSAFE alerts found that 14 were false alerts, with all but one involving at least one climbing flight. By comparison, this paper evaluates both systems in multi-Center (fast-time) simulations using 3 hours of aircraft takeoff data (about 4800 flights total).…”

“…AAC is a multi-layer, ground-based separation assurance system that has been adapted in previous work for both near-term operations as a controller decision support tool [4][5] as well as further-term operations as a highly automated system. [2][3] Autoresolver and TSAFE independently generate trajectory predictions, perform conflict detection, and issue conflict resolution maneuvers on time frames that overlap.…”