The U.S. air travel system is the safest in the world. How to make it even safer and more efficient is the challenge facing NASA researchers who are working to improve aviation.

One promising approach, the Distributed Air/Ground Traffic Management concept, uses new technology on board aircraft and on the ground to supplement overburdened air traffic control systems.

Image Left: Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Collage. Credit: NASA.

NASA researchers have integrated sophisticated computer software for 'autonomous flight management' with modern cockpit systems to give flight crews the ability to plot their best flight paths. The on-board system allows planes to maneuver safely around traffic and airspace hazards, such as weather, while still meeting traffic flow constraints issued by ground-based controllers.

To test this concept, real-life pilots and air traffic controllers joined forces with NASA researchers at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., and NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., for a coast-to-coast, joint simulation. The experiment employed air traffic control and flight deck laboratories at the two centers.

"This joint simulation tested our technology in an almost real-world environment," said project manager Mike Landis. "More than 20 pilots sat at computer workstations 'flying' simulated aircraft into a mock-up of the Dallas/Fort Worth airspace. Pilots also flew one of NASA?s high-fidelity, full- motion flight simulators in the joint experiment. The air traffic controllers were able to see all of these aircraft on displays, and the pilots used an autonomous flight management system to plan their own routes and safely and seamlessly fit into the traffic flow. Controllers were able to watch their progress on simulated air traffic control monitors."


The airborne portion of the simulation used emerging technologies that provided real-time air traffic and hazard information and scanned all aircraft and airspace hazards in the vicinity. Complex cockpit technology alerted pilots to any conflicts, using flight deck displays showing information broadcast by all aircraft. Computer software worked through hundreds of possible scenarios and advised pilots how to resolve conflicts, as well as how to prevent further problems when maneuvering. Solutions were provided automatically or by using manual flight path planning tools.

Image Right: Visual representation of the Distributed Air/Ground Traffic Management Concept. Credit: NASA.

On the ground, air traffic controllers used new computer software to work the mix of autonomous and conventional air traffic. NASA researchers developed experimental controller workstations for the joint simulation, integrating custom display enhancements with special planning, traffic flow management, and pilot-controller communication technologies. Special software assisted the air traffic controllers in managing the traffic flow and those aircraft that were not equipped with the autonomous flight management system. Air traffic control automation monitored all of the aircraft and warned the controller about potential conflicts between autonomous and managed traffic. Researchers also investigated how the pilots and air traffic controllers interacted with the new technology.

"Researchers measured how hard the pilots and controllers were working," said Parimal Kopardekar, human factors and operations sub-project manager. "It's important that they find this job relatively easy to do, even as traffic levels go up. We believe the computer automation technology will make a big difference."


The Distributed Air/Ground Traffic Management concept has great potential for the future of air traffic management. This approach could allow for the efficient planning of flights using the most efficient routes and flexibility in flight operations. Gradually, as air carriers equip aircraft with these new technologies, they can seamlessly integrate them into the system and reap immediate benefits.

Image Left: Pilot flying simulated aircraft during the DAG-TM simulation. Credit: NASA.

"As air travel rebounds in the coming years, additional traffic will tax the air traffic control system beyond its current capability," said Mark Ballin, aircraft systems and operations sub-project manager. "NASA is working to develop technologies to transform the way air traffic is managed."

The Distributed Air/Ground Traffic Management research is conduced through the Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Project under NASA's Airspace Systems Program.