Accession Number:

ADA063726

Title:

ATARS/ATC Simulation Tests with Site-Adaptation Logic.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Dec 77-Apr 78,

Corporate Author:

NATIONAL AVIATION FACILITIES EXPERIMENTAL CENTER ATLANTIC CITY N J

Personal Author(s):

• Windle,James R.
• Morfitt,Gary
• Devine,P. J.
• Rossiter,Sidney B.
• Fillius,Arthur W.

Report Date:

1979-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

38.0

Abstract:

The objective of this project was to assess the effectiveness of proposed Automatic Traffic Advisory and Resolution Service ATARS site-adapted logic designed to reduce unnecessary alarms in a terminal air traffic control environment. The tests were conducted at the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center NAFEC at Atlantic City, New Jersey, using the Air Traffic Control Simulation Facility ATCSF. Test results indicated tha the site-adapted logic reduced the numerous unnecessary alarms experienced in previous simulation tests. In fact, no ATARS alarms were generated in any of the tests involving instrument flight rules IFR separation procedures. Under IFR andvisual flight rules VFR separation rules, a total of seven ATARS controller alerts was issued over four 1-hour data runs. One aircraft received a positive vertical command, and four received negative horizontal commands the remaining aircraft received flashing proximity warning indicators FPWIs. The majority of the eight controllers participating in these tests favored ATARS use and indicated that ATARS with site-adapted logic did not impact control procedures. Recommendations are made for further improvement in ATARS desensitization in the terminal ATC area, for additional studies to improve tracker performance and ATARS performance under reduced VFR ATC separation criteria, and for additional tests to evaluate ATARS performance in a terminal environment with uncontrolled aircraft flying in proximity to controlled aircraft. Author

Descriptors:

• *AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
• *COLLISION AVOIDANCE
• *AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TERMINAL AREAS
• AUTOMATION
• FALSE ALARMS
• COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
• AVIATION SAFETY
• FLIGHT PATHS
• AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
• VISUAL FLIGHT RULES
• WARNING SYSTEMS
• CONTROL SIMULATORS

Subject Categories:

• Air Navigation and Guidance
• Command, Control and Communications Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE