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CAASD Fact Sheet Compilation File (3MB)
May 2, 2008
airspaceToolsuite
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Airspace design is the process of creating sector
boundaries and routes to support the safe and
expeditious flow of aircraft. This job has
historically been performed by air traffic controllers
acting as local airspace experts who identify problems,
consider options, and propose solutions multiple times
to refine the design. This is a mixture of art and science
that has worked well in the past, however it requires
significant time and staffing resources. Also, due to the
interconnectedness of the national airspace system,
controller solutions to local problems may have
unintended effects elsewhere in the system.
spectrumProspector™
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Managing the scarce and valuable frequency
resources of a nationwide air/ground (A/G)
radio system is an immensely complex task.
High-altitude airborne radios are mutually visible at very
long ranges, increasing their exposure to co-channel
interference and hindering frequency reuse. Groundbased
A/G radios often share crowded sites where the
threat of co-site interference greatly reduces the supply
of usable frequencies.
Airborne Delegation
January 15, 2006
View abstract [+]
Forecasts for traffic growth in Europe and the
United States over the next several decades
suggest that solely improving ground systems will
likely come at a high cost to achieve the required capacity and provision of services. The development of a close cooperation between ground and airborne
systems, the use of new procedures, and the shifting of
roles and responsibilities across system participants
provide several avenues to meet this challenge. One
promising option is airborne delegation-a procedure
that temporarily delegates separation responsibility
from ground air traffic control to the cockpit under
specific conditions.
Airports
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced
Aviation System Development (MITRE/CAASD),
a federally funded research and development
centers sponsored by the United States Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), has extensive
experience supporting efforts throughout the global
aviation community in addressing many of the issues
facing the planners and designers of tomorrow's
airports. In our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, we
use modeling, simulation, and rapid prototyping to
analyze problems and propose solutions to meet
customer requirements.
Airspace Management
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Modern, effective airspace is the foundation for
modern, effective air travel. Airspace design
and management are critical functions in
providing a robust system that meets the demands of
current and future air commerce. The MITRE
Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System
Development (MITRE/CAASD) is working with the
aviation community to ensure the airspace that
underlies and supports it, continues to operate at the
highest levels of safety, security, and efficiency.
Analyzing Current and Future National Airspace System Performance
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced
Aviation System Development (MITRE/CAASD),
Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Federally
Funded Research and Development Center, analyzes
current and future demand and capacity needs for
airports and airspace. In performing these analyses,
MITRE/CAASD works with the FAA and aviation
stakeholders and applies a wide range of simulation
tools.
Aviation Security
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
the efforts to manage the air transportation system
in the United States has become progressively
more complex. Adding to
this complexity has been
an increased need to
secure the transportation
system from aviation
related threats. These
threats can take many
forms and occur not only
on the aircraft and in
cargo areas, but in
airports, airspace, and
other areas adjacent to
aviation facilities as well.
Providing aviation
security requires a multilayered,
adaptive approach that starts with an integrated
understanding of the total threat vector, followed by
security of airports, people, baggage, cargo/mail, airspace,
and the aircraft. Over the last six years, The MITRE
Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System
Development (MITRE/CAASD) has become a close and
AviationSimNet
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Widely acknowledged as an effective way to
study many air traffic management (ATM)
issues, real-time human-in-the-loop
simulations can now be greatly enhanced with a flexible
laboratory networking system that allows faster, easier,
and more productive collaboration.
CNS/ATM Master Plan
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
A Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance/
Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) master plan
is a plan for a needs-driven, economically
justified, evolutionary system and modernization. The
Plan must: (1) sustain systems necessary to maintain
existing level of service; (2) introduce new operational
procedures, technologies, and automation concepts
necessary to meet user and operator needs; and (3)
introduce appropriate program management structures
for successful implementation of the Plan. Development
of the Plan is shown in the Planning Process figure.
Collaborative Air Traffic Management (ATM)
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The United States air transportation system is a
complex environment in which the actions of
thousands of people, combined with acts of
nature, ultimately determine the behavior of the system
as a whole. Human decision making is involved in
system operations at all levels, from the piloting of
individual aircraft to the planning and management of
air traffic flows regionally and nationally. In making
decisions and taking the appropriate actions, decision
makers draw on their own knowledge and expertise, as
well as on information available to them on the current
and predicted state of the air transportation system.
Collaborative Routing Coordination Tools (CRCT)
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Collaborative Routing Coordination Tools (CRCT)
is an integrated collection of automation
functions that traffic flow management can use
to monitor traffic flows, develop strategies to alleviate
congestion and avoid severe weather, and analyze the
impact of proposed strategies. Using CRCT, a traffic
manager can visualize the impact of a proposed
strategy on sector loading or on individual aircraft.
Eventually, the traffic manager will be able to share this
information not only with traffic managers from other
facilities, but also with airspace users. Thus, CRCT
capabilities will help National Airspace System (NAS)
stakeholders develop strategies for meeting their
respective operating objectives when constraints in the
NAS require traffic flow management action.
End-Around Taxiways
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Why "End-Around Taxiways". In response to
increased air traffic, airports are constructing
additional parallel runways to expedite the flow
of landing and departing aircraft. In a typical parallel
runway configuration, departing aircraft use the inboard
runways and arriving aircraft use outboard runways.
Arriving aircraft need to cross the inboard departure
runways which can result in delays and risks of runway
incursions. To reduce both the delays and risk of
incursions, airports are proposing construction of
taxiways that go around the end of the runway often
referred to as "End-Around Taxiways" (EATs). These
EATs are intended to allow aircraft to taxi around the
end of the runway without interfering with operations on
the runway (as would be required when crossing the
runway). Because most cases involve EATs that would
allow arrivals to taxi beyond the end of a departure
runway, the initial focus was issues associated with
allowing aircraft to depart over those taxiing aircraft.
Enhancing the FAA's Airport Safety Analysis Capability
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
As new operational procedures, equipment, and
aircraft capabilities become available, the need
for a more robust, efficient, and easier way of
conducting complex safety analyses has been
identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Such a capability is needed to address the demand for
safety analyses as the FAA transitions to new types of
operations in all phases of flight.
Flight Deck-Based Merging and Spacing
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
A concept termed Flight Deck-Based Merging and
Spacing (FDMS) is under development by a joint
government/industry team led by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Surveillance and
Broadcast Services Program Office. With participation
from the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), the Air Line Pilots Association
(ALPA), Aviation Communication & Surveillance
Systems (ACSS), UPS, Boeing, Honeywell, MITRE,
and others, the team is conducting collaborative
research and development to ensure the viability and
safety of the FDMS concept. Based on past research
and development done in the U.S. and Europe, FDMS
gives flight crews the ability to use speed management
derived from on-board equipment to achieve and
maintain in-trail spacing. This operation is intended to
reduce the need for air traffic control (ATC)
interventions and provide for the delivery of accurate,
low-variance spacing for merging and arriving aircraft.
Global Positioning System for Civil Air Navigation
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
In December 1993, the Department of Defense
declared initial operational capability for a new hightechnology
radio navigation system, the Global
Positioning System (GPS). Based on studies done by
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation
System Development (MITRE/CAASD) and others, the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation
community recognize that while GPS provides a
beneficial operational capability to many users, aviators
operating under instrument flight rules require
augmentation.
Hazard Analysis
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced
Aviation System Development (MITRE/CAASD),
supports the Federal Aviation Administration's
(FAA) Federally Funded Research and Development
Center, in meeting its Safety Management System
(SMS) guidelines. MITRE/CAASD is involved in
evaluating safety risks associated with proposed
changes to National Airspace System (NAS)
automation, procedures, airspace, and facilities and
conducts Operational Safety Assessments (OSAs) to
define the safety requirements associated with those
proposed changes. Bow-tie models, are used to identify
and assess the safety risks of all potential operational
hazards. Hazards are identified based on a detailed
description of the change and the environmental
conditions under which the application will be operating.
Implementing TFM Reroutes: An Integrated Approach
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
In order to promote improved information exchange,
situational awareness, decision making, and strategy
implementation between traffic flow management
(TFM), air traffic control (ATC), and the airspace users,
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation
System Development (MITRE/CAASD) has developed
an operational concept for how TFM-derived reroutes
can be integrated between TFM, ATC, flight planning,
and flight deck capabilities.
Integrated ATM Laboratory
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
To enable improvements to today's air traffic
management systems, and to envision the needs and
possibilities for tomorrow, analysts need an
experimental setting in which concepts can be matured and
vetted with key stakeholder groups. This environment must be
robust enough to handle a range of exploratory concepts, and
yet realistic enough to provide a quality user experience. It is
with these needs in mind that The MITRE Corporation's
Center for Advanced Aviation System Development
(MITRE/CAASD) developed its Integrated Air Traffic
Management (ATM) Laboratory. The Integrated ATM
Laboratory is an extensible, scalable, real-time distributed
simulation environment based on an open, layered
architecture. It brings together a broad set of integrated air
traffic management capabilities for human-in the-loop
simulation and visualization.
Integrating Common Flight Data Processing in the National Airspace System
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
To address the future needs of the Federal Aviation
Administration's (FAA) National Airspace System (NAS)
infrastructure, The MITRE Corporation's Center for
Advanced Aviation System Development (MITRE/CAASD) has
employed a standardized architecture analysis technique to
define a potential evolution of NAS Flight Data Processing (FDP)
capabilities. Taking advantage of its broad aviation expertise,
MITRE/CAASD analyzed and documented the current FDP
architecture encompassing major FDP systems across the
domains of the NAS, assessed the impact of future concepts on
this architecture, and is taking steps to define a more costeffective
and efficient integrated Air Traffic Management system
for handling future air traffic demands.
Integration of Advanced Simulation Technologies into Controller Training
April 2, 2008
View abstract [+]
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Faces the challenge of training approximately 12,000 new enroute and terminal air traffic controllers over the next decade to fill the void left by retiring controllers. In addition, evolution of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) will require training innovations to effectively transition to new Air Traffic Control (ATC) capabilities and operational procedures. Currently, training and certifying a controller is a lengthy and subjective process that requires significant human resources. The current system cannot effectively meet the near-term or the mid-to-far-term training needs.
International Aviation Safety Assistance Program
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
All nations are concerned for the safety of their
traveling citizens. This concern has manifested
itself in increased oversight of civil aviation
authorities (CAAs) by various foreign and international
agencies. International programs, such as the
International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO)
Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program, the
European Union Safety Assessment Foreign Aircraft
Program, and the U. S. Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) International Aviation Safety Assistance (IASA)
Program, are designed to evaluate the adequacy of
CAA's safety oversight of its operators. Audits and
assessments carried out to date indicate many states
are having difficulty fulfilling their safety oversight
obligations, which can have far-reaching economic and
political consequences for the country, the CAA, and
the airlines. Starting in 2004, ICAO will expand its
safety oversight program to include Air Traffic Control
(Annex 1, 11), Aerodromes (Annex 14), and Accident
Investigation (Annex 13).
MITRE Aviation Institute (MAI)
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The MITRE Aviation Institute (MAI) provides
professional development opportunities to the
global aviation community. Synthesizing a broad
spectrum of aviation expertise, the MAI draws on
almost 50 years of worldwide corporate knowledge in
aviation research and engineering to deliver a unique
learning experience. The MAI helps to cultivate an
industry-wide collaborative culture via interactive
hands-on courses in key areas. MAI courses are
designed to help the global aviation community bring
the best it has to bear on future challenges.
NAS Performance Analysis
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced
Aviation System Administration (MITRE/CAASD)
has developed an array of innovative diagnostic
tools to help assess the performance of the National
Airspace System. The two examples above detail the
progress of thunderstorms around Chicago O'Hare
airport over the course of a day. The Federal Aviation
Administration uses this information to help optimize
system performance especially during severe weather.
Performance-Based Air Traffic Management: Validation Activities Toward OEP/NextGen
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Aviation is a critical part of the U.S. economy.
Increases in air traffic volume and complexity,
combined with projected budget constraints over
the coming years, will create challenges for our nation's
Air Traffic Management (ATM) system. The safety,
capacity, and productivity of the National Airspace System
(NAS) can be significantly improved through the
Operational Evolution Partnership (OEP) that comprises
an integration of enhanced ground and air automation
technologies and procedures, enabling operational
demands on the NAS to be met in a safe and more
efficient manner.
Portable Aviation Visualization Environment (PAVE)
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The Portable Aviation Visualization Environment
(PAVE) is a 3D rendering system used to
visualize multiple data sets in real-time. The
basic environment is a collection of digital terrain, aerial
photography, and AutoCAD surveys, that are combined
to create a realistic 3D representation of an airport and
its surroundings.
Prevention of Runway Incursions
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
In response to FAA's Flight Plan Objective 4 and
NTSB safety recommendations, The MITRE
Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System
Development (MITRE/CAASD), in cooperation with the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln
Laboratories, is developing operations concepts and a
ground movement safety system designed to provide
direct warning to pilots on the flight deck that a runway
incursion threat exists. The system consists of six
components, passive, low technology elements, and
active, surveillance-driven elements, which in
combination provide pilots with enhanced situation
awareness regarding runway proximity and both actual
and predicted runway occupancy.
RNP RNAV Route Coordination
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The current terminal area airspace design
philosophy centers on defining point-to-point
area navigation (RNAV) routes. For arriving
aircraft, these routes extend the Standard Arrival
Routes (STARS) farther into the terminal area with the
routes terminating on the downwind or at an initial
approach fix-a benefit which takes advantage of the
predictability and repeat ability of RNAV equipped
aircraft flying the routes, resulting in a reduction of
needed controller vectoring of aircraft aidless required
air-to-ground communications. This results in increased
safety and efficiency in the terminal area.
Runway Safety Simulation
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Through its Integrated Air Traffic Management (ATM)
laboratory capability, MITRE's Center for Advanced
Aviation System Development (MITRE/CAASD) has
combined the newest information technology with
systems engineering, modeling, and simulation to produce
results that are operationally viable. MITRE/CAASD is
dedicated to improving aviation system safety, security,
and performance and has created a cockpit simulation that
incorporates several runway safety technologies that have
been fielded or are currently being researched. This
simulation provides users the ability to interact with these
systems and includes many runway safety technologies
(including the Ground Marker Beacon System).
TARGETS Noise Screening Tool
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development, under sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has developed the Terminal Area Route Generation, Evaluation and Traffic Simulation (TARGETS) Noise Screening Tool that integrates noise impact screening directly into the design process for procedures and airspace. By enabling procedure designers to consider noise impacts early in the design process, the TARGETS Noise Screening Tool saves time and money. The tool uses the Integrated Noise Model (NIM) noise computation engine, which is the FAA and internetional standard for assessing noise impacts in the vicinity of airports.
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced
Aviation System Development (MITRE/CAASD)
is a federally funded research and development
center (FFRDC) sponsored by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). The MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit national resource provides systems
engineering, research and development, and
information technology support to governments around
the globe. MITRE/CAASD supports the FAA and other
civil aviation authorities from its facilities in McLean,
UnManned Aircraft Systems
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) have the potential to transform air transporation in the United States. The unique characteristics of the Vehicles themselves (size, speed, endurance) will enable entirely new users of the national airspace system (NAS) to emerge. However the transformational nature of UASs extends beyond the unmanned vehicles themselves
User Request Evaluation Tool
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The User Request Evaluation Tool (URET) is a
system developed by The MITRE Corporation's
Center for Advanced Aviation System
Development (MITRE/CAASD). It provides decision-support
capabilities for en route air traffic control,
including aircraft trajectory modeling, aircraft and
airspace conflict detection, flight data management, and
strategic planning capabilities. Under the Federal
Aviation Administration's Free Flight Program, URET
has been deployed to several Air Route Traffic Control
Centers and will complete National deployment by
Using RTA for Arrival Sequencing
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
As the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
heads towards the Next Generation Air
Transportation System (NGATS), aircraft will be
assigned to Required Navigation Performance (RNP)
area navigation (RNAV) routes and have modern
avionics that include Flight Management Computers
(FMCs) that are capable of executing Required Time of
Arrival (RTA) instructions. The FMCs will also be able
to downlink Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) and 4D
Intent information.
WakeViewer Data Visualization Tool
January 15, 2008
View abstract [+]
The WakeViewer Data Visualization Tool,
developed at The MITRE Corporation's Center for
Advanced Aviation System Development in
collaboration with The Volpe National Transportation
Systems Center, is a data analysis and scenario
presentation software application that plots and visually
queries wake turbulence data collected by the Federal
Aviation Administration. By combining several plots of
measured pulsed lidar data with associated weather
and operating environment data, it enables a
multidimensional illustration of these factors and a
better understanding of wake turbulence behavior. This
tool assists the user in developing and responding to
research questions in identifying and analyzing outlier
data.
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