NextGEN is a new system that is
being implemented by the FAA in 2018 that will be an end to end aircraft
controller that uses advanced algorithms that optimize not only flight routes,
but also ground taxi procedures and possible unmanned aerial system (UAS) integration
into national airspace (NAS) (Faa,2016). The system utilizes new hardware at
the ATC level as well as new aircraft based systems called ADS-B (Automatic
Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast). ADS-B utilizes satellite navigational aids
to determine precise data about an aircraft’s position, speed, direction,
altitude, and planned route and sends it to a corresponding air traffic
controller agency. This information is integrated into a model that contains
all aircraft flying in NAS. NextGEN takes all the precise data and uses
advanced algorithms to optimize traffic, taxing, and route planning better than
any human can (MacNeil, 2015). The communication between the controlling agency
and aircraft is also able to provide weather data, traffic data, and important
alerts like notice to airmen in the local area. Overall, the system will make
the skies safer, increase pilot situational awareness, and save billions in
fuel costs and environmental impacts due to efficient routing (FAA, 2016).
One
of the biggest issues facing current FAA policy is related to the integration
of UAS into NAS. The current issue is that UASs cannot “see and avoid”
according to the regulations set forth by the FAA. Additionally, UASs can lose
link, which can cause unpredictable and uncontrolled flight within NAS. These
two factors provide major safety hurtles for the integration of UAS into NAS.
In order to ameliorate these issues, companies have been working to build
airborne sense and avoid systems to increase safety, reduce pilot error, and
increase trust amongst both general public and FAA. The DJI Phantom 4 is one of
the newest UASs offered by DJI and provides one of the most well integrated and
well-designed sense and avoid systems to come standard in any commercial UAS
(DJI Inc., 2016). The issue with this system is that is helps keep the UAS
clear of obstacles, but it’s not robust enough to provide the type of sense and
avoid ability the FAA desires in NAS. NextGEN may provide solution to many off
the sense and avoid issues associated with UAS flight due to its ability to
monitor, predict, and deconflict flight of all aircraft. Another positive
aspect to the use of NextGEN for UAS integration is that it standardizes UAS
sense and avoid equipment, and methodologies. One major human factor issue that
effects the integration of UASs into NAS has to do with the lack of operator
training, certification, and licensing (Al Shibli, 2015). Due to the fact that
current regulations have minimal requirements for training and certification,
getting the quickly growing population of UAS operators to understand,
participate, and coordinate with NextGEN requirements may be the hardest
challenge.
Another
complicating factor for UAS integration has to do with lost link situations. If
UAS integration does rely on ADS-B and NextGEN integration, there will be three
separate possibilities for lost link. The aircraft could lose link with the
controlling agency, the aircraft could lose link with the operator, or the
controlling agency could lose link with the operator. These three separate
scenarios could quickly cause many of the safety parameters offered for NextGEN
to quickly disappear. This could be even more problematic when it occurs in
busy airspace. Similar to what happens when pilots lose communications, there
are many crew coordination steps that need to take place quickly that are not
typical in order to account for the emergency situation. If untrained or
minimally trained UAS operators experience a lost link, it may be even more
dangerous due to their lack of training and standardization. Overall, UAS
integration into NAS offers complex problems ranging from pilot training and
standardization, to aircraft equipment and capabilities.
References
Al
Shibli, M. (2015). Towards global unification of UAS standardization:
Regulations, systems, airworthiness, aerospace control, operation, crew
licensing and training.International Journal of Unmanned Systems
Engineering., 3(2), 32-74.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.14323/ijuseng.2015.7
DJI
Inc. (2016). Phantom 4 - DJI's smartest flying camera ever. Retrieved
December 06, 2016, from http://www.dji.com/phantom-4
FAA.
(2016). Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Retrieved December
06, 2016, from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/aspx
MacNeil,
J. (2015, June 3). Air Traffic Services Brief -- Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). Retrieved December 06, 2016, from https://www.aopa.org/advocacy/advocacy-briefs/air-traffic-services-brief-automatic-dependent-surveillance-broadcast-ads-b
