A Statistical Evaluation of Aircraft Collision-Hazard Warning System Techniques in the Terminal Area

The rapidly increasing density of air traffic has created a demand for instrumentation to reduce the possibility of air catastrophes due to collision. The incidence of reported near-collisions is now estimated to be over 2000 per year in the United States, and represents a serious threat to the future growth of air travel. Since mid-1967, research has been conducted by NASA and the Research Triangle Institute to develop techniques for evaluation of collision warning systems and to determine the characteristics of the operational environment. Actual aircraft traffic data have been obtained by the FAA from the radar system at the Atlanta Airport. These data have been analyzed to determine encounter statistics which would result with various forms of warning criteria. This paper reviews the definition of several proposed warning criteria and presents the results of the statistical analyses of the data. Probabilities of encounter, encounter rates, and average encounter durations are determined for various definitions of the encounter.     

Performance prediction and flowfield analysis of rotors in hover, using a coupled Euler/boundary layer method

The performance prediction of helicopter in hover is of key importance for manufacturers because hover is a design configuration for the definition of a rotorcraft. A lot of effort has been made for more than 10 years all over the world in order to develop and validate numerical methods based on CFD. An Euler method (WAVES) developed by ONERA and coupled with a boundary layer code (MI3DI) is presented, validated and applied to compute the total performance of rotors with different tip shapes. A new boundary condition for the Euler code has been tested and enables better calculation by eliminating ‘numerical' recirculation. The code has demonstrated its ability to rank two rotors with different planforms in good agreement with experiment. Under industrial requirements new grid strategies have been studied and should allow to reduce CPU time consumption. It is shown that WAVES/MI3DI can be efficiently used in the aerodynamic design process of a new rotor.     

An evolutionary computational framework for capacity-safety trade-off in an air transportation network

Airspace safety and airport capacity are two key challenges to sustain the growth in Air Transportation. In this paper, we model the Air Transportation Network as two sub-networks of airspace and airports, such that the safety and capacity of the overall Air Transportation network emerge from the interaction between the two. We propose a safety-capacity trade-off approach,using a computational framework, where the two networks can inter-act and the trade-off between capacity and safety in an Air Transport Network can be established. The framework comprise of an evolutionary computation based air traffic scenario generation using a flow capacity estimation module(for capacity), Collision risk estimation module(for safety) and an air traffic simulation module(for evaluation). The proposed methodology to evolve air traffic scenarios such that it minimizes collision risk for given capacity estimation was tested on two different air transport network topologies(random and small-world) with the same number of airports. Experimental results indicate that though airspace collision risk increases almost linearly with the increasing flow(flow intensity) in the corresponding airport network, the critical flow depend on the underlying network configuration. It was also found that, in general, the capacity upper bound depends not only on the connectivity among airports and their individual performances but also the configuration of waypoints and mid-air interactions among conflicts. Results also show that airport network can accommodate more traffic in terms of capacity but the corresponding airspace network cannot accommodate the resulting traffic flow due to the bounds on collision risk.     

Broadcasting of a Digitally Coded List of Transponder Equipped Aircraft Scanned by FAA Ground Radars as a Means of Collision Avoidance, Navigation, Air Traffic Structuring, and Airfield Approach

An air traffic control system is proposed in which 1) all aircraft are equipped wit transponders, 2) FAA radar sites broadcast a digitally coded list of the identity, altitude, and coordinates of aircraft scanned, 3) each aircraft on receiving this list converts it into a PPI display with the blip of that aircraft branded and blips of off-altitude aircraft blanked, and 4) superimposed on this display are projected maps of airways appropriate to the particular radar and the aircraft altitude. This system could provide a fairly complete capability for air traffic control, structuring, navigation, and collision avoidance at a cost of about 3000 dollars per aircraft. It would replace most navigational and communication equipment now in use and could be operational in several years.     

民用机场及附近空域空中交通流量优化

针对民航客运需求快速增长所带来的航班延误和空域拥塞问题,提出一种优化民用机场及附近空域空中交通流量的方法。通过空中交通走廊容量评估方法,对经典优化模型进行了发展和改进,建立起综合性优化模型;将机场和附近空域视为一个整体系统,根据交通需求和容量的相互关系动态调整航班流量和机场起降容量;在优化计算时,提出一种兼顾效率和准确性的新型优化算法。通过算例对所述优化方法进行了验证,该方法可以为空中交通管制人员进行流量优化分配提供参考。     

正常类航空器进气条款适航符合性研究

正常类航空器包括正常类飞机和正常类旋翼航空器,是通用航空产业的主要机型,发动机进气系统是此类航空器的重要组成部分,其设计的优劣关系到发动机能否正常工作,在适航审定中需要重点加以关注。为了全面研究正常类航空器进气条款的适航符合性,对正常类飞机及正常类旋翼航空器的适航标准、符合性验证方法进行了分析,并结合某型农林飞机及某型直升机的适航审定案例开展了对比研究。研究结果表明：正常类飞机及正常类旋翼航空器进气条款均采用说明性文件及飞行试验来表明符合性;说明性文件需要对进气系统的设计原理和组成等进行介绍,在具体型号中,此部分内容可以单独给出,也可以包含在动力系统设计说明文件之中;飞行试验验证不必单独开展,一般可与动力装置工作特性检查结合进行;通过对比不同型号的审定案例,给出了正常类航空器进气条款的符合性验证方法与思路,可为后续同类型号的研制与适航审定工作提供参考。     

基于空中交通管制运行品质的扇区容量评估

扇区容量反映的是扇区空中交通管制运行品质诸多要素综合寻优下的流量水平,目前将扇区管制员工作负荷阈值映射为扇区容量的评估方法存在片面性。为改善扇区容量评估方法,以成都进近南扇为研究实例,采集198组实际运行数据建立样本集,确立了涵盖空中交通流密度、管制运行安全性能、管制运行效率性能及管制员工作负荷等4类因子的管制运行品质量化指标,并基于主成分分析法实现了扇区管制运行品质综合评价,经函数拟合确定扇区容量为29架次/h,新方法更具科学性、客观性。     

管制员信息处理能力模糊评价

信息处理能力是管制员能力和工作负荷的重要组成部分。针对此方面缺乏系统研究的实际，详细分析了管制员信息处理能力的影响因素，给出了评价指标体系，建立了多级模糊评价模型，实现了此能力的量化评价。通过对管制员的具体评价，符合管制员的自身情况，证明了方法的有效性。     

Assistant systems for aircraft guidance: cognitive man-machine cooperation

This paper presents the concept of cognitive assistant systems which represents an approach to ensure the highest degree possible of situation awareness of the flight crew as well as a satisfactory workload level. This concept offers the solution to counteract susceptibility to pilot errors typical of lack of attention or other cognitive limitations. It is founded on cognitive system engineering. This technology enables a cockpit design in order to systematically comply with the requirements of ‘Human-Centred Automation (HCA)’. The underlying approach behind the concept has become real with the development of the cockpit assistant system prototype family CASSY/CAMA as described in this paper. CASSY/CAMA has been extensively tested in a flight simulator and successfully field tested with the ATTAS (Advanced Technologies Testing Aircraft System) of the DLR. Some of the test results with CAMA will be presented in this paper.     

基于复杂网络的空中交通特征与延误传播分析

空中交通流量管理主要集中在尾随间隔、空中等待等局部战术空中交通流量调配,对空中交通流量整体运行规律、延误传播和整体解决的研究较少。航空运输网络是一个复杂系统,从复杂网络理论角度对航空运输网络进行研究很有必要。首先,分析了空中交通流量网络的度、度分布、权值、权分布、流量、容量、延误等静态特征;然后,提出了空中交通流量网络整体效能评估方法,使用选择性攻击和随机攻击方法分析了空中交通流量网络的抗毁性,基于负荷容量级联失效模型和病毒传播模型与空中交通延误传播的相似性建立了空中交通延误传播模型,最后,使用实际运行数据验证了空中交通流量网络的特征与延误传播模型的有效性,该研究可以为大范围空中流量管理提供决策支持。     

基于EVENT模型的垂直间隔碰撞风险研究

空中交通流量逐年快速增长,迫切需要提高空域容量和空域利用率,缩小间隔标准可以快速有效地缓解流量增长和减少延误,因此必须研究不同间隔标准下的碰撞风险,从而确定缩小间隔标准的安全性。建立了基于EVENT的垂直碰撞风险模型,推导出了相应的计算方法;并运用该模型分析了垂直间隔对碰撞风险的影响。结果证明,高空空域缩小垂直间隔标准后的碰撞风险满足安全目标等级的要求,而且随着流量的增长,缩小垂直间隔标准后的碰撞风险在最近15年内保持稳定的安全水平。     

Evaluation of airborne data link communication

An experimental prototype of a cockpit data link communication interface (modified Navigation Display (ND) and Multi-purpose Control and Display Unit (MCDU)) was developed and tested in an Airbus A340 Full Flight Simulator. 8 crews (16 professional pilots) performed simulator flights in a mixed voice and data link scenario. After each experiment video recordings were presented to the pilots and they were asked to estimate subjective strain (NASA task load index) and situational aspects retrospectively. Results show an increase in subjective strain and a decrease of ‘feeling of sovereignty’ and situation awareness under data link conditions. The effect is similar to the one caused by higher workload.     

Man-machine-interface in modern transport systems from an aviation safety perspective

The early long-range-jets were operated by five cockpit crew members: Captain, Copilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator and Radio-Operator. Nowadays even the big jets are flown by only two pilots. This development could only be achieved by introducing new technologies to the airline industry and automating aircraft systems. Due to the scientific progress made in the last decades today's aircraft are most reliable – a fact which is clearly reflected by accident statistics. Technical failures became more and more unlikely and the lack of manpower on the flight deck was more than compensated. However, starting in the late 80s a number of accidents occurred to highly automated aircraft, which alarmed accident investigators worldwide. In most of the cases automation was a factor or at least one link in the accident chain of events. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched a study on “The Interfaces Between Flight Crews and Modern Flight Deck Systems” and came up with numerous findings. In the following article I like to discuss the topic ‘Man-Machine-Interface in modern Transport Systems’ from an Aviation Safety Perspective.     

基于运动捕捉系统的多旋翼飞行器实时测姿算法

旋翼飞行器的室内自主飞行是目前研究的热点之一。在室内飞行过程中,飞行器姿态和位置信息可以通过运动捕捉系统（Motion Capture System,MCS）来进行实时测量,从而为机载低成本MEMS惯性导航系统提供校正信息。结合四旋翼飞行器的结构特性,提出了一种五点实时测姿算法。相对于目前MCS常用的测姿算法,该算法可以降低标记点安装引起的测姿误差。室内实验结果表明,该算法测姿精度高,并且能够有效实现四旋翼飞行器室内动态实时姿态测量,具有较好的工程应用价值。     

基于不安全事件等级的空管风险管理研究

空中交通管制是航空安全的重要保障,为有效避免空管不安全事件的发生,找出导致不同等级空管不安全事件的风险因素并提出针对性的控制措施,根据某管制中心发生的不安全事件信息,结合其严重性等级进行风险管理研究。首先对该管制中心进行风险识别,在统计并分析其2001—2010年不安全事件的数据后,选择SHELL模型按照人员（L）、人员与人员（L-L）、人员与软件（L-S）、人员与硬件（L-H）和人员与环境（L-E）方面系统地识别出风险因素集;在此基础上,运用灰色关联分析进行定量评价,得出不同等级不安全事件风险因素评价结果;最后根据评价结果制定出不同等级不安全事件相应的风险控制措施。     

Future air traffic management: technology,operations, and human factors implications

The NASA, the FAA and Eurocontrol have initiated programs of research and development to provide flight crew, air line operators and air traffic managers with automation aids to increase capacity in enroute and terminal areas, to support the goals of safe, flexible, predictable and efficient operations, and to ensure, and to enhance the safety of operations in the response to demands for capacity enhancement. Achievement of these goals is enabled by increased precision of knowledge of aircraft and asset position in space and time, by increased density and bandwidth of transmitted information among the airspace assets and users, and by increased service and information to the flight deck, ATC and airline operations centers. These aiding technologies are intended to support exploitation of timely and dynamic information on atmospheric hazards, traffic fluctuations, and airspace utilization. These systems are intended to support the human operators who maintain the authority and responsibility for safe, efficient operations through cognitive aiding technologies, to serve as cognitive orthoses (Reason, 1988) [12].     

成都双流机场航线市场机会分析

通过对成都双流机场始发和到达OD运量及中转运量进行分析,结合计划航班数据,找出现有航线中的市场机会,同时对一些航线上的运营机型给出优化建议。     

对流天气下空域通行能力短缺预警及响应综述

对流天气是空域通行能力短缺的主要原因之一。为了解决这一问题,需要通过理论和实践创新,建立对流天气条件下空域通行能力短缺的预警和应急响应机制,提高空域资源配置效率。从对流天气影响信息解释转换、容量评估与预警及空域响应预案三个方面梳理了国内外研究现状,总体趋势是:对流天气逐渐通过各种解释转换模型被量化为对空域和航路的影响;对流天气下空域通行能力主要受管制员工作负荷的限制,只有准确评估对流天气下的工作负荷,才能做出正确的通行能力短缺预警;对流天气响应方案,逐渐由地面等待、增加同航迹间隔、返航、备降等高耗能的流量控制措施,转向以灵活使用空域预案确保改航方案的实施方向发展。课题的应用前景是可以化解对流天气下交通需求与空域通行能力不平衡的矛盾,提高预警准确度,减少响应前置时间,提高流量管理与容量管理协同运行的效率,减轻对流天气造成的航班延误,减少航空器运行成本,实现节能减排的要求。     

Air route network optimization in fragmented airspace based on cellular automata

Air route network optimization,one of the essential parts of the airspace planning,is an effective way to optimize airspace resources,increase airspace capacity,and alleviate air traffic con gestion.However,little has been done on the optimization of air route network in the fragmented airspace caused by prohibited,restricted,and dangerous areas (PRDs).In this paper,an air route network optimization model is developed with the total operational cost as the objective function while airspace restriction,air route network capacity,and non-straight-line factors (NSLF) are taken as major constraints.A square grid cellular space,Moore neighbors,a fixed boundary,together with a set of rules for solving the route network optimization model are designed based on cellular automata.The empirical traffic of airports with the largest traffic volume in each of the 9 flight information regions in mainland China is collected as the origin-destination (OD) air port pair demands.Based on traffic patterns,the model generates 35 air routes which successfully avoids 144 PRDs.Compared with the current air route network structure,the number of nodes decreases by 41.67％,while the total length of flight segments and air routes drop by 32.03％ and 5.82％ respectively.The NSLF decreases by 5.82％ with changes in the total length of the air route network.More importantly,the total operational cost of the whole network decreases by 6.22％.The computational results show the potential benefits of the model and the advantage of the algorithm.Optimization of air route network can significantly reduce operational cost while ensuring operation safety.     

基于云模型的空管安全运行保障能力评价

空管安全运行保障能力对空管安全运营具有非常重要的影响。考虑影响空管安全运行保障能力的各种因素的模糊性和随机性,引入云模型理论对空管安全运行保障能力实现定量评价;基于空管安全运行管理的特点,构建空管安全运行保障能力的评价指标体系,应用排队理论对评价指标进行权重赋值,以克服主观因素对权重赋值的影响;通过逆向云发生器计算空管安全运行保障能力评价指标的云数字特征,得到安全运行保障能力的评价云。通过实例应用进行验证,结果表明：云模型能够对空管安全运行保障能力进行整体准确评价,并能找出影响保障能力的主要环节,有助于空管部门采取针对性措施提高保障能力。