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Improved Conflict Detection for Reducing Operational Errors in Air Traffic ControlAn operational error is an incident in which an air traffic controller allows the separation between two aircraft to fall below the minimum separation standard. The rates of such errors in the US have increased significantly over the past few years. This paper proposes new detection methods that can help correct this trend by improving on the performance of Conflict Alert, the existing software in the Host Computer System that is intended to detect and warn controllers of imminent conflicts. In addition to the usual trajectory based on the flight plan, a "dead-reckoning" trajectory (current velocity projection) is also generated for each aircraft and checked for conflicts. Filters for reducing common types of false alerts were implemented. The new detection methods were tested in three different ways. First, a simple flightpath command language was developed t o generate precisely controlled encounters for the purpose of testing the detection software. Second, written reports and tracking data were obtained for actual operational errors that occurred in the field, and these were "replayed" to test the new detection algorithms. Finally, the detection methods were used to shadow live traffic, and performance was analysed, particularly with regard to the false-alert rate. The results indicate that the new detection methods can provide timely warnings of imminent conflicts more consistently than Conflict Alert.
Document ID
20050156638
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Paielli, Russell A.
Erzberger, Hainz
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Administration And Management
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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