Enabling User Preferences Through Data Exchange

This paper describes the application of data exchange, for integrating user and air traffic management (ATM) systems, to enable user preferences for en-route flights. User preferences may be defined in terms of a fourdimensional (4D) user-preferred trajectory, or a series of profile constraints (e.g., speed, routing, time), depending on user capability. Deviations from the user’s preference are often required to meet ATM-system constraints related to capacity, weather, and conflicting preferences of other flights. Progress in reducing these deviations is considered progress toward free flight. This paper describes a process, via user-ATM data exchange, for enabling user preferences in an ATM-based system. An emphasis is placed on determining the minimum deviations necessary to ensure a safe and efficient flow of traffic. Several key system-integration issues are identified and explored in terms of their impact on the data to be exchanged and the roles of the user and ATM systems. Three categories of key data are proposed for exchange, including: user preferences, for one flight or a group of flights; calibration data, to improve trajectory predictions (airborne and ground-based); and ATMsystem state data, to improve the basis for user decision making and preference selection. The paper concludes with a brief description of two experimental evaluations designed to explore data-exchange applications involving current and future systems for flight management and data link.