Managing Criticality of ASAS Applications

What must happen to assure that some aspects of separation services can safely be performed in the cockpit? The ASAS concept proposes the transfer of responsibility for maintaining aircraft separation from the ground to the airborne side under specific conditions. With the emergence of an operational requirement for ASAS applications, their safety issues need to be addressed as soon as possible. MITRE and CENA, which have been involved in ASAS and safety studies for many years, are particularly interested in doing so. This paper presents the results of safety assessment work performed to date towards the prospect of developing and certifying ASAS applications, and indicates the direction foreseen for continuing work aimed at completing and introducing ASAS for useful operational service. Illustrative examples of criticality assessment of ASAS, including assessment for the aircraft segment and for the ground ATC segment, are presented using the Operational Safety Assessment (OSA) methodology developed by a joint committee of RTCA and EUROCAE.