Finding Precursory Air Traffic Management Safety Metrics Using Exploration of Trajectory Radar Tracks
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 31, Issue 1
Abstract
The definition of a set of precursory safety metrics is critical to detect when an airspace is degrading in terms of safety and thus undesired effects are becoming more likely. Furthermore, safety metrics are paramount in the measurement of the impact of new operational procedures or technical improvements in the air traffic control system. The study presented in this paper introduces three safety metrics (reaction time performance indicator, time to closest point of approach performance indicator, and time to closest point of approach critical limit ratio) derived from a given airspace and a sizable, assorted traffic sample extracted from traffic surveillance track data. The metrics are used to characterize the airspace as a function of the safety outcome, which can be continuously overseen. The final goal of the safety metrics is to be used as an airspace safety warning system, where precursory metrics would signal the need to act to maintain the air traffic control system safety target in the face of operational, organizational, technical, or legal changes.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their gratitude to Cranfield University for its openness and hospitality, providing the corresponding author the opportunity to join its team and work along with the research group on ATM. Along with the continuous support from the UPM Air Navigation Research Group (GINA-UPM), an excellent environment has been created for the developing of this research work, hopefully the first of many collaboration between both research groups. Also, the authors would like to thank Consejo Social of UPM for its financial support to Rocío Barragán during her stay at Cranfield University. Special thanks to Nicolás Suárez Tetzlaff and Alan Ross Groskreutz for their selfless help building the paper, particularly reviewing the use of English.
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©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 12, 2016
Accepted: Jun 23, 2017
Published online: Nov 15, 2017
Published in print: Jan 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Apr 15, 2018
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