Tactical Conict Resolution using Vertical Maneuvers in Enroute Airspace

An algorithm is presented for computing vertical resolution maneuvers to resolve imminent air trac conicts in which loss of separation could occur within two minutes. Several procedures are used, including rejection of altitude amendments that could cause a conict, temporary altitudes, step altitudes, and critical-levelo conrmation. These methods are tested on archived data from 100 actual operational errors (loss of separation due to controller error), which tend to be more dicult to detect and resolve than routine conicts that get resolved successfully. Successful resolution was achieved in simulation for 84 of them using vertical maneuvers only. Augmented altitude amendments are then added to the input les to simulate altitude amendments that should have been entered by the controller but were not, or to correct amendments to make them consistent with the pilot’s understanding. The number of successful resolutions increased to 94 of the 100 cases. The reasons for the failures are discussed.