UAS in the NAS Air Traffic Controller Acceptability Study-1: The Effects of Horizontal Miss Distances on Simulated UAS and Manned Aircraft EncountersThis study examined air traffic controller acceptability ratings based on the effects of differing horizontal miss distances (HMDs) for encounters between UAS and manned aircraft. In a simulation of the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) East-side airspace, the CAS-1 experiment at NASA Langley Research Center enlisted fourteen recently retired DFW air traffic controllers to rate well-clear volumes based on differing HMDs that ranged from 0.5 NM to 3.0 NM. The controllers were tasked with rating these HMDs from "too small" to "too excessive" on a defined, 1-5, scale and whether these distances caused any disruptions to the controller and/or to the surrounding traffic flow. Results of the study indicated a clear favoring towards a particular HMD range. Controller workload was also measured. Data from this experiment and subsequent experiments will play a crucial role in the FAA's establishment of rules, regulations, and procedures to safely and efficiently integrate UAS into the NAS.
Document ID
20160005977
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ghatas, Rania W. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Comstock, James R., Jr. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Consiglio, Maria C. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Chamberlain, James P. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Hoffler, Keith D. (Adaptive Aerospace Group, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 9, 2016
Publication Date
May 4, 2015
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-19763
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Symposium on Aviation Psychology