Completion of UTM Technology Capability Level (TCL)-2 Checkout #1
September 9, 2016
The first in a series of two checkout/shakedown activities for the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) subproject was completed August 24, 2016. During the shakedown, which took place at the Reno-Stead Airport (Reno, Nevada) UAS test site, the UTM team was able to successfully fly 3 simultaneous operations up to 1.8 miles from their ground control stations in an “extended visual-line-of-sight” configuration. The team also validated several test scenarios and logistics, including communications protocols, and a situation awareness display, for the planned full demonstration in late October 2016. Several partner organizations participated in this test. A number of environmental conditions, including the heat and the altitude, were found to contribute to unexpected behavior for some of the vehicles. The next UTM checkout is scheduled for Oct. 3-7, 2016, and is anticipated to have the participation of the same partners. (POC: Marcus Johnson)
NASA Weather re-routing tool deployed at American Airlines Integrated Operations Center
September 9, 2016
NASA Airspace Technology Demonstration-3 (ATD-3) project leads, as well as research and development staff, traveled to the American Airlines (AA) Integrated Operations Center (IOC) August 30 - September 1, 2016 to deploy NASA's NAS-based single flight rerouting advisory software, NASCENT (National Airspace System Constraint Evaluation and Notification Tool). During this visit, two AA senior air traffic control (ATC) Coordinators were trained on NASCENT functionality, and both indicated their eagerness to evaluate time-saving opportunities for the AA flights across many Centers. The NASA team also provided an overview of the ATD-3 sub-project to AA management team members, including Lorne Cass (VP, IOC), Scott Ramsay (Managing Director, IOC), Marc Gross (Managing Director, Air Traffic Management (ATM)), Tim Niznik (Director, ATM & Airport Operations), and John Nash (Director, Information Technology). Mr. Cass expressed his appreciation of the time and effort the team made to discuss this work and showed strong support towards this collaboration. AA indicated their intent to use NASCENT more once their single Flight Operating Service (FOS) certification is complete on October 1, 2016. (POC: Kapil Sheth)