NGATS Reports on Its Progress and Future Plans

The JPDO (Joint Planning and Development Office), the U.S. government interagency organization charged with coordinating an effort to define and promote a Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS) in America, says that it made "significant progress" in 2005.

The JPDO's "solid foundation" includes a roadmap of high-level capabilities, timelines, and key transitions, leading to the 2025 system.  Based on the roadmap, the JPDO said it developed an initial portfolio of needed policy, research and transformational efforts, and established the NGATS Institute, which will allow for full private sector participation in the transformation process.

In 2006, the JPDO plans to (1) provide planning and programming guidance to each participating agency, (2) expand industry participation, (3) establish enterprise engineering integration discipline, (4) implement portfolio management, and (5) ensure a more international focus.

NGATS Key Technology Capabilities

The JPDO has identified eight "key capabilities" that will play a major role in increasing the efficiency, capacity, accessibility, convenience and capabilities of the Next Generation System.  Each is described in general terms below, but more details are provided in the NGATS 2005 Progress Report.

Network-Enabled Information Access

The Next Generation System will be network-centric, meaning the right information will be given to the right person at the right time.  Aircraft will become mobile "nodes" integral to this information network, not only using and providing information, but also capable of routing messages or information sent from another aircraft or a ground source.  Information will be "pushed" to known users and "pulled" by others.

Performance-Based Services

All categories of aircraft will be able to operate based on their inherent capabilities and performance, meaning that highly capable aircraft will get greater operating flexibility then less capable aircraft.  Service "tiers" will be created where aircraft are rewarded for their high-tech capabilities with a wider range of tailored services.

Weather Assimilated Into Decision Making

In the network-centric Next Generation System there will be a common weather picture to support decision making, based on more accurate forecasts and tens of thousands of real-time global weather observations will be integrated into a distributed virtual national weather information source and automatically updated.  Better ways to plan around the disruptive weather will be developed, including decision algorithms and processes that bypass the need for human interpretation.  And computer-based decision-making will take advantage of improved probabilistic weather information, making more airspace available to system users.

Layered, Adaptive Security

Security will be embedded and interwoven in layers that adapt to changing situations.  Risk assessments of passengers and cargo will begin well before each flight.  Screening will become unobtrusive and increasingly transparent to the individual.

Broad-Area Precision Navigation

Precision satellite navigation and Internet-like access to critical information will allow pilots to make precision landings at airports that do not have control towers, radar, or ILS.  This capability will likely include a next generation of GPS satellites with non-terrestrial navigation augmentation for Category I-type approaches, as well as hybrid GNSS (global navigation satellite system)/inertial avionics for operations to Category III minimums.

Aircraft Trajectory-Based Operations

Air traffic management will be based on 4-dimensional (4D) aircraft trajectories, and rely on automation for separation assurance.  Information about planned trajectories will be exchanged among system participants.

Equivalent-Visual Operations

Through sensors, satellites, and technology such as ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast), the system will allow for more precise navigation and critical information to be sent directly into the cockpit, thereby providing pilots with the information needed to navigate without visual references and maintain safe distances from other aircraft during non-visual conditions.

Super Density Operations

Airport throughput will be changed to meet future demand by: safely reducing aircraft separation; using closely-spaced and converging approaches; having new tools to detect and avoid hazardous wake vortices;  better runway and taxiway configuration; and with "landside" systems that improve passenger and cargo flows.  04-09-2006.

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