Flight evaluation of the CTAS descent advisor trajectory prediction

Since 1989, NASA's Langley Research Center and Ames Research Center have cooperated in investigating issues relating to application of air traffic control (ATC) automation. The particular system of interest is the Center TRACON Automation System (CTAS), a ground-based system for automated management and control of terminal area air traffic which was developed by NASA Ames. The goal of the joint, multi-year effort is to explore issues relating to integration of the automation with airborne flight management systems. This paper describes that follow-on flight test conducted in September, 1994. The test protocol including the test matrix, equipment, and procedure, and the collection of the weather, trajectory, and aircraft data are described.