SIMULATOR EVALUATION OF THE FINAL APPROACH SPACING TOOL

T. J. Davis, H. Erzberger, S. M. Green


Abstract

The design and simulator evaluation of an automation tool for 
assisting  terminal radar approach controllers in sequencing and 
spacing traffic onto the final approach course is described. The 
automation tool, referred to as the Final Approach Spacing 
Tool (FAST), displays speed and heading advisories for arrivals as 
well as sequencing information on the controller's radar display. 
The main functional elements of FAST are a scheduler that schedules 
and sequences the traffic, a 4-D trajectory synthesizer that 
generates the advisories, and a graphical interface that displays 
the information to the controller. FAST was implemented on a high 
performance workstation. It can be operated as a stand-alone in 
the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Facility or as an 
element of a system integrated with automation tools in the Air 
Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). FAST was evaluated by 
experienced TRACON controllers in a real-time air traffic 
control simulation. Simulation results show that FAST 
significantly reduced controller workload and demonstrated a 
potential for an increase in landing rate.