Significant discussion has occurred in the Air Transportation Management (ATM) community over the last year about the concept of "Free Flight." The motivation behind this call to action is the clear need to improve the efficiency of the current ATM system. However, to effectively and safely implement a new system, it is critical that the limitations of the current system be understood. This proposed effort will address the direct relationship that exists between the human Air Traffic Specialist (ATS), the division of airspace into `sectors,' and the route and altitude restrictions that are used in the ATM system today. To date, the Free Flight concept has not recognized this relationship.Wyndemere Incorporated proposes a new set of procedures for dynamic resectorization and coordination of aircraft routings that will allow the desired flexibility of the Free Flight concept while still providing the necessary cues, information and organization of the traffic situation such that the ATS can maintain situational awareness and provide the separation assurance function necessary for Free Flight.
Potential Commercial Applications:As this effort is focused on the development of innovative techniques for Air Traffic Management, the primary sources for non-SBIR funding are the organizations and agencies that maintain and improve the ATM systems of the United States, and of the world. Wyndemere Incorporated has previous involvement in many areas of development of the National Airspace System (NAS) of the United States.The high level of interest displayed by the FAA and the Airline Industries to expedite the implementation of a free flight system requires that we begin examining, as soon as possible, the types of procedures and tools to support those procedures that controllers will need to maintain a proper level of awareness of system state for effective control. This research will provide Wyndemere with system requirements that can be used in the development of future ATC systems (such as CTAS, DSR, STARS, and other international systems). We plan to use the results from this study, combined with our existing capabilities in ATC software development, to obtain subcontracts for the development of future ATC systems. Initial discussions with FAA representatives about the Dynamic Resectorization concept have already been conducted.
