• Dr. Lesley Weitz
  • The MITRE Corporation
  • 108 Surge Building
  • 4:00 p.m.
  • Faculty Host: Dr. Craig Woolsey

The FAA is in the midst of NextGen, which is a major overhaul of the nation’s air traffic system.  A key part of NextGen is the deployment of Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B), which is a surveillance technology that relies on a satellite-based navigation source and a datalink to broadcast an aircraft’s state information.  That information will be used by air traffic control on the ground and may be used by ADS-B-IN-equipped aircraft in the surrounding airspace.  Avionics applications that take advantage of this increased information on the flight deck are currently being developed through avionics standards activities in the US and Europe. 

Interval Management (IM) is just one of a number of efficiency- and safety-enhancing applications that are enabled by ADS-B.  IM is a near-term operational concept that will provide more precise spacing between aircraft pairs. In an IM operation, the air traffic controller will instruct an “IM aircraft” to achieve and maintain a desired spacing interval relative to a “target aircraft”. The IM aircraft is equipped with avionics that provide the flight crew with speed commands to achieve and maintain the specified spacing interval relative to the other aircraft. IM operations are envisioned in a variety of environments where more precise spacing between aircraft will help the air traffic controller to meet operational goals (e.g., higher throughput at busy airports).  IM is also expected to increase the opportunity for aircraft to fly more fuel-efficient trajectories. 

This presentation will describe the IM application and some of the technical challenges that are being addressed in the ongoing development of avionics standards and ground automation to support Air Traffic Controllers.