Air and Ground Simulation of Terminal-Area Traffic Management with Airborne Spacing

Controller and pilot decision support tools for operations with airborne spacing in the terminal area were evaluated in a simulation conducted at NASA Ames Research Center as part of the NASA Advanced Air Transportation Technologies project Distributed Air Ground Traffic Management element. The results indicate that airborne spacing improves spacing accuracy and may help reduce go-arounds. Controller workload is acceptable and spacing clearances containing lead aircraft callsigns are clear. Expected operational benefits depend on traffic flow coordination and predictable spacing guidance and support tool behavior.