UAS Integration in the NAS via NextGEN and Human Factors Issues

           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