What's New

Highlights for the week of September 12 - 16, 2005

Delivery of Project-level Milestone 14a: Virtual Airspace Simulation Technologies Real-Time Multi-Facility Capability 2a Software

The Virtual Airspace Simulation Technologies Real-Time (VAST-RT) element completed Interim Test 8, which is the final integration and regression testing of the VAST-RT Capability 2a software. The new software includes significant upgrades to numerous components in the areas of model fidelity and usability, such as the Airspace Traffic Generator (ATG) improvements in ground simulation capability, datalink processing, air to ground dynamics transition, and ground station user interface. Also, the distributed simulation data collection capabilities were improved to allow direct comparison and correlation of data across facilities with different variable names, units, data collection rates, and time stamp mechanisms. This dramatically improves the usability of research data and reduces the time required for analysis. Interim Test 8 also demonstrated Airline Operations Center (AOC) tools and displays linked to the VAST-RT environment. Responding to requirements from the VAMS System Evaluation and Assessments element and previous research done at Ames and Langley, VAST-RT developed graphical displays of airline specific information showing the current position of flights and detailed flight planning information. The Surface Management System (SMS) decision support tool developed by NASA was also integrated. NASA will be assisting the FAA and airlines to deploy SMS into Airline Operations Centers in the future. This new AOC simulation capability allows airlines to participate directly in real time air traffic management simulations for the first time.

Airspace Concepts Evaluation System (ACES) support for the Federal Aviation Administration's Operations Planning Services Office

The Airspace Concepts Evaluation System (ACES) will play a part in the current agreement between the Virtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation (VAMS) Project and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Operations Planning Services Office (OPS) to model a current FAA problem. Researchers at NASA-Ames from the Aerospace Operations Modeling Office are teaming with analysts from the FAA to examine air traffic issues in the Chicago Region. The direct physical air traffic simulation tool, ACES, is being used to look at the interactions between the major Chicago area airports and Chicago enroute air traffic, with special attention being given to the effects of the expected growth of demand. Staff from the OPS Office would like to use ACES data from this problem to provide information for presentation at the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) conference this October. Having the FAA use ACES data to help solve or illuminate a current FAA problem and then present it at the ATCA venue will build the case that the ACES tool is an important decision support tool for the FAA decision makers. This provides a unique opportunity to work with the FAA strategic planners and explore the nearer term applications of ACES.

Past VAMS highlights are available in the What's New Archive.

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