Publications
Enhanced regional situational awareness
June 1, 2007
Journal Article
Published in:
Lincoln Laboratory Journal, Vol. 16, No. 2, June 2007, pp. 355-380.
Topic:
R&D area:
Summary
Airspace protection in the capital area is provided by an Integrated Air Defense System (IADS) created through the coordinated response of U.S. government and local law-enforcement agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Capitol Police. The IADS includes U.S. Coast Guard helicopters, fighter aircraft, and airborne early-warning aircraft cued by surveillance radars. Under Operation Noble Eagle, the response to a threat includes warning flares deployed from fighter aircraft and, ultimately, the use of surface and air-launched missiles. Selecting the appropriate response requires a means for rapidly assessing the aircraft threat. New and existing sensors must be simultaneously cued to the target of interest and integrated with existing sources of information to display a common-air-picture display to support the decision makers. This article describes the development of an Enhanced Regional Situation Awareness system, an integrated sensing and decision support system developed for the complex and busy airspace surrounding the National Capital Region.
Summary
Airspace protection in the capital area is provided by an Integrated Air Defense System (IADS) created through the coordinated response of U.S. government and local law-enforcement agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Capitol Police. The IADS includes U.S. Coast...
READ MORE
Airbus 320 performance during ATC-directed breakouts on final approach
November 20, 1998
Project Report
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-265
Summary
An evaluation of Airbus 320 (A320) performance during ATC-directed breakouts was conducted in a two-part study during 1995. Phase 1 tested the combined effect of proposed ATC phraseology, pilot situational awareness training, and an A320-specific breakout procedure on performance. Pilot training included a briefing and viewing a videotape, but no simulator practice. Turn performance statistics from the Precision Runway Monitor Demonstration Program were used as the test criteria. Pilot preferences regarding procedures and the training material were also elicited. Three conclusions were: (1) breakout performance given the tested combination of pilot training and proposed ATC phraseology did meet the test criteria; (2) breakout performance given existing procedures did not meet the test criteria; and (3) the tested breakout procedure should be refined because it conflicted with other cockpit procedures and increased the transition time to a positive climb rate. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that a combination of pilot situational awareness training, A320 breakout procedure, and modified ATC breakout phraseology equivalent to that tested in Phase 2 be employed for simultaneous parallel approach operations in instrument meteorological conditions.
Summary
An evaluation of Airbus 320 (A320) performance during ATC-directed breakouts was conducted in a two-part study during 1995. Phase 1 tested the combined effect of proposed ATC phraseology, pilot situational awareness training, and an A320-specific breakout procedure on performance. Pilot training included a briefing and viewing a videotape, but no...
READ MORE
Evaluation of Boeing 747-400 performance during ATC-directed breakouts on final approach
January 7, 1998
Project Report
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-263
Summary
The effects of three different levels of pilot training on the breakout response of pilots and the Boeing 747-400 aircraft were studied. The study examined response during ATC-directed breakouts on final approach and was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 tested performance during manual and autopilot-coupled approaches given current procedures and pilot training. Phase 2 tested the effect of increased pilot situational awareness and proposed ATC breakout phraseology on breakouts during manual and autopilot-coupled approaches. Phase 3 tested the effect of two B747-400-specific breakout procedures on breakouts during autopilot-coupled approaches. Pilot preferences regarding procedures and the tested training materials were also solicited.
Summary
The effects of three different levels of pilot training on the breakout response of pilots and the Boeing 747-400 aircraft were studied. The study examined response during ATC-directed breakouts on final approach and was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 tested performance during manual and autopilot-coupled approaches given current procedures...
READ MORE
The effects of compression-induced distortion of graphical weather images on pilot perception, acceptance, and performance
November 21, 1997
Project Report
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-243
Summary
The Graphical Weather Service (GWS) is a data link application that will provide near-real-time graphical weather information to pilots in flight. To assess the effect GWS, as well as to aid in the proper design, implementation and certification of the use of GWS in aircraft, two human factors studies have been conducted. The second study conducted (Phase Two) is the topic of this report. Phase Two was conducted to determine the maximum level of compression-induced distortion that would be acceptable for transmission of weather images to the cockpit. To make this determination the following data were collected and analyzed: pilot subjective ratings of the perceived amount of distortion of a compressed image, pilot subjective ratings of the acceptability of a compressed image for use in the flight task, and pilot route selections as a function of the amount of compression presented in an image. Results indicated that images of low to moderate compression levels were generally acceptable for transmission to the cockpit, while images that were highly compressed were generally unacceptable. In addition, computed measures of image quality have been identified to enable the establishment of a criteria for transmitting images to aircraft.
Summary
The Graphical Weather Service (GWS) is a data link application that will provide near-real-time graphical weather information to pilots in flight. To assess the effect GWS, as well as to aid in the proper design, implementation and certification of the use of GWS in aircraft, two human factors studies have...
READ MORE
A human factors approach to the development and evaluation of the Graphical Weather Service
November 5, 1995
Conference Paper
Published in:
14th AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conf., 5-9 November 1995, pp. 264-269.
Summary
With the sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration, MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing the Graphical Weather Service (GWS), a data link application that provides near-real-time ground-based weather information to pilots. Through the use of GWS, the pilot will be able to access both graphical and text weather information for any location in the contiguous United States. In-cockpit access to near-real-time weather information may substantially affect the situational awareness and subsequent decision making of pilots. In developing and evaluating this service, a human factors approach has been taken. This paper is an overview of the human factors activities performed in the development and evaluation of GWS.
Summary
With the sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration, MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing the Graphical Weather Service (GWS), a data link application that provides near-real-time ground-based weather information to pilots. Through the use of GWS, the pilot will be able to access both graphical and text weather information for any...
READ MORE
The influence of data link-provided graphical weather on pilot decision-making
April 6, 1994
Project Report
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-215
Summary
This report documents the findings of a human factor study conducted to estimate the effects of the Graphical-Weather Service (GWS) on general aviation (GA) aircraft utility, pilot situational awareness, and the weather dissemination workload on ground personnel. GWS is a data link application, being developed at MIT Lincoln Lbaoratory through the sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration, that will provide near-real time graphical weather information to the General Aviation pilot in the cockpit. Twenty instrument-rated pilots participated in the study. Subjects were presented with recorded actual weather information in the context of a series hypothetical pre-flight briefings and accompanying "flights." GWS images were accessible on a Macintosh TM Computer. The study design enabled the analysis of the effects of GWS and the determination of whether those efforts were influenced by the experience level of the pilot/user. Objective and subjective measures of effectiveness were collected. Results indicate that GWS had a substantial effects on weather-related decision-making. This was true for pilots with varying levels of instrument experience. Subject confidence in the ability to assess the weather situation was markedly increased when GWS was used. Subjects with GWS made fewer calls for weather information to weather dissemination ground personnel, thus indicating a potential decrease in ground personnel workload. Subjects found GWS to be very useful and were enthusiastic about receiving data link services in the GA cockpit in the future.
Summary
This report documents the findings of a human factor study conducted to estimate the effects of the Graphical-Weather Service (GWS) on general aviation (GA) aircraft utility, pilot situational awareness, and the weather dissemination workload on ground personnel. GWS is a data link application, being developed at MIT Lincoln Lbaoratory through...
READ MORE
Two simulation studies of precision runway monitoring of independent approaches to closely spaced parallel runways
March 2, 1993
Project Report
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-190
Summary
This report documents the findings of two simulation studies of air traffic controller reaction to the Precision Runway Monitor (PRM). The PRM is a new system for monitoring independent approaches, to closely spaced parallel runways. It consists of a radar which has higher accuracy and a faster update interval than the current system. The PRM radar is accompanied by a high-resolution color display which provides automated visual and vocal warnings to alert controllers of impending and actual penetration of a 'No Transgression Zone' between parallel runways. The studies, were conducted in order to determine the effects of key variables on controller reaction time and to determine controller opinion on system acceptability. Study I examined the use of the PRM when the runway separation was both 3,400 ft and 4,300 ft. Study II examined the use of the PRM when the runway separation was 3,000 ft. Real-time simulated approach blunders were presented to controllers, and measurements of their reaction times were recorded and analyzed. Independent variables studied included sensor update interval, runway separation, deviation angle, deviation range, flight path condition, approach blunder type, and controller experience level. In addition, controller opinions of the PRM were surveyed. Findings regarding the effects of each of the variables are reported. Survey results of controller opinion are reported. Recommendations for enhancing the realism of the simulation and recommendations of issues for future study are discussed.
Summary
This report documents the findings of two simulation studies of air traffic controller reaction to the Precision Runway Monitor (PRM). The PRM is a new system for monitoring independent approaches, to closely spaced parallel runways. It consists of a radar which has higher accuracy and a faster update interval than...
READ MORE
Results of simulation studies of precision runway monitoring of independent approaches to closely-spaced parallel runways
January 1, 1993
Journal Article
Published in:
J. ATC, January-March 1993, pp. 18-24.
Summary
Increased air travel in recent years has resulted in a steady increase in the number and duration of flight delays. In an attempt to increase airport capacity, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, under the sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has supported the development of a Precision Runway Monitor (PRM). The PRM is an advanced radar monitoring system designed to increase utilization of closely-spaced, multiple, parallel runways during adverse weather conditions. The PRM consists of radar which has higher accuracy and a faster update interval than the current system, and a high resolution, color display that informs the Monitor Controller of the occurrence of hazardous flight path deviations by means of automated visual and vocal warning alerts. Studies of air traffic controller reaction to the PRM were conducted at Memphis Airport and Raleigh-Durham Airport in order to evaluate system effectiveness and to assess the effects of key variables on controller reaction time. This paper documents the results of the controller studies conducted at Memphis by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The testing consisted of the presentation of real-time simulations, and measurement of air traffic controllers were surveyed regarding the acceptability of the PRM.
Summary
Increased air travel in recent years has resulted in a steady increase in the number and duration of flight delays. In an attempt to increase airport capacity, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, under the sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has supported the development of a Precision Runway Monitor (PRM). The...
READ MORE