Airspace Operations Lab completed the Charlotte EDC Evaluation and Demonstration (CEED) study
From September 21-25, 2015, the Airspace Operations Lab in the Human Systems Integration Division successfully conducted the Charlotte EDC Evaluation and Demonstration (CEED) study. This was the first Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) experiment under the Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration-2 (ATD-2) project. The purpose of the study was fourfold: 1) to establish a simulation environment (Charlotte) for airspace operations for ATD-2 technology, 2) to simulate current-day departures and arrival operations, 3) to assess the impact of current Traffic Management Initiatives (TMI) on Charlotte (CLT) departure flows managed by Washington Center (ZDC) and Atlanta Center (ZTL), and 4) to assess the impact of departure takeoff time compliance on airspace operations. The experimental design compared 3 TMIs on CLT departures (Call for Release (CFR) managed by ZDC, CFR managed by ZTL, and Miles-In-Trail only) and 2 takeoff compliance levels (partial and full).
Fourteen FAA retired controllers, including seven with experience in the test positions, participated in the simulation. In addition, two Traffic Management Coordinators from ZTL and ZDC managed traffic flows. Surface and airborne delays, control efficiency, throughput, realism, workload, and acceptability were assessed and will be compared across the experimental conditions.
Participants rated the simulation as very realistic. Visitors including the ATD-2 leadership and team, NASA researchers and FAA collaborators observed the simulation. Results indicated that there were fewer airborne inefficiencies when ZDC scheduled CLT departures compared to when ZTL did, as well as when departures were subject to CFR rather than MIT restrictions. Compliant takeoff times partially contributed to the reduction of inefficiencies due to remaining uncertainty and unpredictable demand in the enroute airspace. This simulation provided an initial assessment of the tactical scheduling problems that the ATD-2 technology will address in the near term.
A follow-on HITL study will simulate and evaluate Surface Trajectory-based Operation (STBO), a tower Graphic User Interface (GUI) that predicts when departures are ready for takeoff and is used to schedule CFR departures in the TBFM system with more accuracy. Another series of studies will assess design options to improve traffic metering in ATD-2 test airspace.
Point of Contact: Eric Chevalley, Ph.D., eric.chevalley@nasa.gov, (650) 604-1182, Human Systems Integration Division, San Jose State University/NASA Ames Research Center
Thomas Prevot, Ph.D., thomas.prevot@nasa.gov, 650-604-2441, Human Systems Integration Division, NASA Ames Research Center
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