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The impact of thunderstorm growth and decay on air traffic management in class B airspace

February 2, 1997
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Conference Paper
Author:
Bradley A. Crowe
…
Published in:
7th Conf. on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, ARAM, 2-7 February 1997.
Topic:
air traffic management
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Air traffic management is a challenging task, especially if the airspace involved is impacted by inclement weather. The high volume of air traffic which inundates the nation's major airports compounds the difficulties with which Air Traffic Control (ATC) specialists have to cope. When you add the unpredictability of thunderstorm growth and decay to the controllers workload, air traffic management becomes even more of a challenge. ATC specialists would benefit from reliable forecasts of thunderstorm growth and decay. To determine how they would use a Growth and Decay product, ATC specialists from the Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), Traffic Management Unit (TMU), and TRACON supervisors were interviewed while viewing five movie loops of Memphis weather cases. The movies consisted of the ASR-9 six-level reflectivity data, aircraft beacons, and storm motion vectors.
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Summary

Air traffic management is a challenging task, especially if the airspace involved is impacted by inclement weather. The high volume of air traffic which inundates the nation's major airports compounds the difficulties with which Air Traffic Control (ATC) specialists have to cope. When you add the unpredictability of thunderstorm growth...

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The impact of thunderstorm growth and decay on air traffic management in class B airspace

Beacon radar and TCAS reply rates: airborne measurements in the 1090 MHz band

January 29, 1997
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Project Report
Author:
William H. Harman III
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Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-256
Topic:
surveillance
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in the process of developing Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) techniques. In one candidate system, GPS-Squitter, each aircraft periodically broadcasts messages, called "squitters," that report the aircraft's identification, position, and velocity. The position and velocity information may be obtained from the Global Positioning System (GPS) or some other navigation device. Reception of squitters can be used for several purposes, including surveillance of airborne aircraft by a ground station, surveillance of aircraft on the airport surface, and air-to-air surveillance... In developing the new system, it is necessary to know the rates of existing signal transmissions in the 1030 and 1090 MHz frequency bands, which are the beacon-radar and TCAS interrogation channels. The GPS-Squitter would be transmitted in the 1090 MHz band, like a reply. A key issue is the possibility of interference to squitter reception from existing signals in the 1090 MHz band....To validate these initial calculations, Lincoln Laboratory has made direct measurements of the rates of existing transmissions in both bands. These signals consist mainly of interrogations in the 1030 MHz band and replies in the 1090 MHz band. This report focuses on airborne measurements that have been made at 1090 MHz. (Not complete)
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Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in the process of developing Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) techniques. In one candidate system, GPS-Squitter, each aircraft periodically broadcasts messages, called "squitters," that report the aircraft's identification, position, and velocity. The position and velocity information may be obtained from the Global Positioning System...

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Beacon radar and TCAS reply rates: airborne measurements in the 1090 MHz band

Report on product performance for the Terminal Doppler Weather Radars (TDWRs) at Washington National Airport and Memphis and Orlando International Airports

January 29, 1997
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Project Report
Author:
Diana L. Klingle-Wilson
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Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-246
Topic:
algorithms
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory provides support to the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) Program Office in the performance analysis of deployed TDWR systems, and resulting recommendations for systems enhancements. This report documents initial performance of the TDWR products at Washington National Airport (DCA), Memphis International Airport (MEM) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). This performance depends, in turn, on the site optimization performed for the specific radars. Therefore, an overview of site optimization process, using DCA as a concrete example, is included. After the sites were optimized, base data (Doppler velocity and reflectivity) and product data (algorithm detections) were collected to assess the quality of the base data and the performance of the microburst and gust front detection algorithms. It is assumed that the reader of this report has an extensive knowledge of the TDWR system. (Not Complete)
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Summary

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory provides support to the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) Program Office in the performance analysis of deployed TDWR systems, and resulting recommendations for systems enhancements. This report documents initial performance of the TDWR products at Washington National Airport (DCA), Memphis International Airport (MEM) and...

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Report on product performance for the Terminal Doppler Weather Radars (TDWRs) at Washington National Airport and Memphis and Orlando International Airports

Terminal area separation standards: historical development, current standards, and processes for change

January 16, 1997
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Project Report
Author:
Steven D. Thompson
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-258
Topic:
air traffic control
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

This paper gives an overview and summary of the separation requirements for air traffic control in the U.S. National Airspace System with emphasis on those relevant to terminal landing operations. These requirements are documented in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Air Traffic Control Order 7110.65J, as ammended, and various national and local Orders. These requirements are also addressed in the Aeronautical Information Manual, the International Civil Aviation Organization's Standards and Recommended Practices, and the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). The purpose of this paper is to assist those people involved with the introduction of new technologies and procedures in the terminal airspace by providing them with an understanding of the separation requirements, the need for those requirements, and the processes used to change the requirements.
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Summary

This paper gives an overview and summary of the separation requirements for air traffic control in the U.S. National Airspace System with emphasis on those relevant to terminal landing operations. These requirements are documented in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Air Traffic Control Order 7110.65J, as ammended, and various national...

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Terminal area separation standards: historical development, current standards, and processes for change

A comprehensive system for measuring wake vortex behavior and related atmospheric conditions at Memphis, Tennessee

January 1, 1997
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Journal Article
Author:
Timothy J. Dasey
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Published in:
Air Traffic Control Q., Vol. 5, No. 1, January 1997, pp. 49-68.
Topic:
aviation weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Models of vortex behavior as a function of atmospheric conditions are being developed in an attempt to improve safety and minimize unnecessary airport capacity restrictions due to wake vortices. Direct measurements of vortices and the relevant meteorological conditions in an operational setting, which would serve to improve the understanding of vortex behavior, are scarce and incomplete. A comprehensive vortex, meteorological, and aircraft measurement system has been constructed at Memphis International Airport and operated in two I-month periods during 1994 and 1995. A 10.6 um continuous-wave (CW) coherent lidar was used to measure vortex parameters with high fidelity. This lidar features a number of improvements over previous systems, including an automatic vortex detection and tracking algorithm to ensure efficient scanning. Meteorological data were collected from a 45 m instrumented tower, balloon soundings, a wind profiler/radio acoustic sounding system (RASS), sonic detection and ranging (SO DAR), and other sensors. This paper presents ensemble distributions of the conditions under which the over 500 aircraft were measured, and samples of vortex and atmospheric measurements. These data will be compared with theoretical predictions of vortex behavior as part of the development of an operational system designed to reduce aircraft spacings in the terminal area.
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Summary

Models of vortex behavior as a function of atmospheric conditions are being developed in an attempt to improve safety and minimize unnecessary airport capacity restrictions due to wake vortices. Direct measurements of vortices and the relevant meteorological conditions in an operational setting, which would serve to improve the understanding of...

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A comprehensive system for measuring wake vortex behavior and related atmospheric conditions at Memphis, Tennessee

The Terminal Weather Information for Pilots program

November 13, 1996
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Conference Paper
Author:
Andrew P. Denneno
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Published in:
Workshop on Wind Shear and Wind Shear Alert Systems,. Oklahoma City, 13-15 November, 1996.
Topic:
aviation weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently sponsoring programs such as the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) and the Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS) which will significantly improve the aviation weather information in the terminal area. Given the great increase in the quantity and quality of this information, it would be highly desirable to provide this data directly to pilots rather than having to rely on voice communications. Providing terminal weather information automatically via data link would both enhance pilot awareness of potential weather hazards and reduce air traffic controller workload. The Terminal Weather Information for Pilots (TWLP) program was created to address these needs. This paper will describe the philosophy behind the product, the format of the TWIP messages. and the system design. An interesting weather case from the operational demonstration currently underway will be shown, and plans for the national deployment of the TWIP capability at all TDWR-based airports will be discussed.
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Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently sponsoring programs such as the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) and the Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS) which will significantly improve the aviation weather information in the terminal area. Given the great increase in the quantity and quality of this information, it would...

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The Terminal Weather Information for Pilots program

A comparative performance study of TDWR/LLWAS 3 integration algorithms for wind shear detection

November 13, 1996
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Conference Paper
Author:
Rodney E. Cole
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Published in:
Workshop on Wind Shear and Wind Shear Alert Systems, Oklahoma City, 13-15 November, 1996.
Topic:
wind shear
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

This paper gives a brief overview of the history of the development of the TDWR/LLWAS 3 integration algorithms, a brief overview of the various algorithms, and a discussion of the comparative evaluation of the TDWR, LLWAS 3, and the three candidate TDWR/LLWAS 3 integration algorithms. This is followed by a more detailed description of the TDWR/LLWAS 3 integration algorithm chosen by the FAA for production, and a brief overview of the ITWS/LLWAS 3 integration algorithm.
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Summary

This paper gives a brief overview of the history of the development of the TDWR/LLWAS 3 integration algorithms, a brief overview of the various algorithms, and a discussion of the comparative evaluation of the TDWR, LLWAS 3, and the three candidate TDWR/LLWAS 3 integration algorithms. This is followed by a...

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A comparative performance study of TDWR/LLWAS 3 integration algorithms for wind shear detection

ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor (WSP): wind shear algorithms performance assessment

November 13, 1996
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Conference Paper
Author:
Joseph A. Cullen
…
Published in:
Workshop on Wind Shear and Wind Shear Alert Systems,. Oklahoma City, 13-15 November, 1996.
Topic:
aviation weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Under Federal Aviation Administration sponsorship, Lincoln Laboratory has developed a prototype Airport Surveillance Radar Weather Systems Processor (ASR-WSP). This prototype has been used for field measurements and operational demonstrations since 1987. Measurements so acquired provide an extensive database for development and validation of the algorithms used by the WSP to generate operational wind shear information for Air Traffic Controllers. In this paper we assess the performance of the current versions of the WSP's microburst and gust front wind shear detection algorithms on data from each of the locations at which our prototype system has operated. Evaluation of the associated environmental characteristics (e.g., storm structure, radar ground clutter environment) allows for generalization of these results to the major U.S. climatic regimes where the production version of WSP will be deployed.
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Summary

Under Federal Aviation Administration sponsorship, Lincoln Laboratory has developed a prototype Airport Surveillance Radar Weather Systems Processor (ASR-WSP). This prototype has been used for field measurements and operational demonstrations since 1987. Measurements so acquired provide an extensive database for development and validation of the algorithms used by the WSP to...

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ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor (WSP): wind shear algorithms performance assessment

Analysis of the 12 April 1996 wind shear incident at DFW airport

November 13, 1996
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Conference Paper
Author:
Cynthia A. Meuse
…
Published in:
Workshop on Wind Shear and Wind Shear Alert Systems, 13-15 November, 1996.
Topic:
aviation weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Wind shear detection algorithms that operate on Doppler radar data are tuned to primarily recognize the velocity and reflectivity signatures associated with microbursts and gust fronts. Microbursts produce a divergent pattern in the velocity field that is associated with a descending column of precipitation. Gust fronts produce a convergent pattern that is often associated with a thin-line reflectivity feature. On April 12, 1996 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) three pilots reported encounters with wind shear in a five minute period (2329-33 GMT). The third pilot (AA 1352) reported an encounter with "severe wind shear", which we refer to as "the incident" throughout the paper. He used maximum throttle to keep the MD-80 in the air and reported that it was only "by the grace of God" that the aircraft did not crash (Dallas Morning News, 4/19/96). The plane, originally bound for Pittsburgh, was diverted to Tulsa where the passengers were offloaded to another aircraft, the black box was removed, and the engines were checked according to procedures required whenever maximum throttle is utilized.
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Summary

Wind shear detection algorithms that operate on Doppler radar data are tuned to primarily recognize the velocity and reflectivity signatures associated with microbursts and gust fronts. Microbursts produce a divergent pattern in the velocity field that is associated with a descending column of precipitation. Gust fronts produce a convergent pattern...

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Analysis of the 12 April 1996 wind shear incident at DFW airport

Discussion of the impact of data contamination on TDWR algorithm performance

November 13, 1996
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Mark A. Isaminger
…
Published in:
Workshop on Wind Shear and Wind Shear Alert Systems, 13-15 November, 1996.
Topic:
aviation weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently deploying Terminal Doppler Weather Radars (TDWRs) at key airports in the continental U.S. that experience high volumes of traffic and high frequencies of thunderstorm impact. The TDWR is designed to display the location and intensity of storm cells as well as the location and intensity of wind shear events in the airport vicinity. The TDWR system uses clutter filters and four data quality editing techniques: point target removal, clutter residue editing maps (CREMs), range obscuration editing, and velocity dealiasing in an attempt to reduce base data contamination prior to wind shear algorithm processing. The performance of the wind shear detection algorithms is directly related to the quality of the base data. In particular, failures of the data quality editors can seriously degrade the wind shear detection algorithm's performance. It will be shown that these failures can lead to both undetected and false events. In addition, clutter contamination from nonmeteorological sources such as birds can produce false wind shear signatures in the radar data. This paper will examine the impact of data contamination on algorithm performance at key TDWR sites where base and products data have been collected. The severity of these failures will be discussed, along with possible solutions to the most significant problems.
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Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently deploying Terminal Doppler Weather Radars (TDWRs) at key airports in the continental U.S. that experience high volumes of traffic and high frequencies of thunderstorm impact. The TDWR is designed to display the location and intensity of storm cells as well as the location...

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Discussion of the impact of data contamination on TDWR algorithm performance
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