Preliminary Evaluation of the Basic Experimental Active Beacon Collision Avoidance System (BCAS).

This data report provides information on the testing of a basic Active Beacon Collision Avoidance System ABCAS. The system tests were initiated in February of 1980 and were conducted in a test-evaluate-design improvement iterative process. As a result, the data in this report generally is restricted to tests which were conducted after July 13, 1980. This date is considered the point at which the design of the tracking and threat evaluation and resolution software was frozen. The flight program consisted of conducting planned encounters and operational familarization flights in terminal areas. Two hundred and twenty-five 225 hours of instrumented flight were conducted which included 255 planned encounters and 131 operational and demonstration landings and approaches into 18 major cities. During the test period following July 13, 114 hours of instrumented flight were conducted which included 110 planned encounters and all of the operational and demonstration landings and approaches. During this period of instrumented flight, 23 unplanned encounters were experienced with random targets. Initial evaluations were performed on target acquisition range, computer utilization, track continuity, and advisory verification and appropriateness of planned and unplanned encounters.