Concept Formulation Studies of the Control Aspects of the Fourth Generation Air Traffic Control System

A concept formulation study of the control aspects of the fourth generation air traffic control system is presented. The results of this study are not strongly influenced by pre sent-day equipment. They are influenced by certain aspects of present airspace utilization and procedures which appear necessary for the design of an effective sYstem. The inputs to the control system design ticlude the fourth generation air traffic demand, characteristics of f~ed elements (types of aircraft, etc. ), and dis~rbances such as weather effects. The control system which has been formulated includes flight plan generation, flow control, cotiormance monitoring, and collision avoidance as control functions. A baseline control system is given as a first iteration of the fourth generation system, The baseline system is defined by classifying types of airspace, conformance requirements, and required segregation of classes of flight paths. The airspace is divided into three categories: positive control air space containtig only controlled aircraft, controlled (mixed) air space containtig both controlled and cooperative aircraft, and ~controlled air space containing wcontrolled aircraft. Cooperative aircraft must be able to accept IPC co-ands as well as simplified flight plans when flying in high density retied air space. The surveillance, navigation, ad commmications systems compiete the interacting parts of the control system. Cmdidate fourth generation system concepts ranging from the completely tactical to the highly strategic have been described both in this report and elsewhere. In order to characterize a proposed concept we have dram up a list of decisions which we find must be made in the course of a flight. We then consider where these decisions are made and thereby characterize the system. The feasibility of generating with the aid of analytical models. fluence the flight plamtig process conflict free flight plans is investigated A consideration of the factors which inis presented. Use is made of a generally