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Airspace Operations Lab Completes ATD-1 Terminal Sequencing and Spacing Interface Study

From June 11-18, 2015, the Airspace Operations Lab in the Human Systems Integration Division successfully conducted the Terminal Sequencing and Spacing Computer-Human Interface (TSS-CHI) study. The purpose of the study was to investigate interactions among three new capabilities that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is introducing for terminal-area controllers. The three capabilities are (1) terminal scheduling and controller-managed spacing tools developed by NASA under the Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration-1 (ATD-1), now collectively referred to as 'TSS', (2) Automated Terminal Proximity Alert (ATPA), and (3) wake-separation re-categorization, or 'RECAT'. The study first collected data on seven possible schemes for integrating these tools, then engaged the controller participants in an agile design process to refine the design space and provide further recommendations to the FAA. Two controller teams participated in the study, one composed of retired controllers from Northern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) and the other of retired controllers from Phoenix TRACON. The study was observed by key FAA and NASA personnel, including the NASA Ames Center Director, the FAA's Chief Scientist for NextGen, the head of the FAA's National Airspace System Programming & Financial Management Division, the FAA's TSS lead, personnel from the FAA's Procedures office, and NASA's ATD Project Manager. Initial observations and debrief discussions indicate that the three new capabilities can be integrated in an acceptable and beneficial manner. Participants also repeatedly affirmed the value of TSS, in particular, for efficiently managing complex, high-throughout arrival operations. They also noted that the FAA's controller workforce will require substantial re-education and training in order to realize the benefits of these new applications to the best possible extent.

Points of Contact: Tom Prevot (ARC-TH), Thomas.Prevot@nasa.gov, (650) 604-2441; Todd Callantine (ARC-TH), Todd.Callantine@nasa.gov, (650) 604-2631

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Curator: Phil So
NASA Official: Joey Mercer
Last Updated: August 15, 2019