Advanced Trajectory Modeling: Stakeholder Needs and Expectations

Abstract

Advanced air traffic control techniques require accurate predictions of aircraft trajectories. Such predictions rely on complex aircraft parameters which typically are unknown and must be estimated. These estimates can be improved with aircraft-to-ground data exchange methods. The Advanced Trajectory Modeling project is exploring such methods, and how they can improve the aircraft data available to the air traffic control trajectory models used by controller and traffic management decision support tools. The project has identified aircraft data, including current state and intent, which could be downlinked to ground automation systems. The project is exploring emerging technologies onboard the aircraft—such as Internet Protocol Data Link, Aircraft Interface Devices, and Electronic Flight Bags—that could be used to extract and downlink these data to ground automation systems. The project is evaluating advanced trajectory models to enable future synchronization of various ground automation trajectory models with aircraft-generated models to support Trajectory Based Operations, an effort that affects a wide range of stakeholders. Here we use a two-phase stakeholder engagement approach to insure the feasibility of the proposed concept.