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At least 289 records · Page 16

Evaluation of Flight Deck-Based Interval Management Crew Procedure Feasibility

Air traffic demand is predicted to increase over the next 20 years, creating a need for new technologies and procedures to support this growth in a safe and efficient manner. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration - 1 (ATD-1) will operationally demonstrate the feasibility of efficient arrival operations combining ground-based and airborne NASA technologies. The integration of these technologies will increase throughput, reduce delay, conserve fuel, and minimize environmental impacts. The ground-based tools include Traffic Management Advisor with Terminal Metering for precise time-based scheduling and Controller Managed Spacing decision support tools for better managing aircraft delay with speed control. The core airborne technology in ATD-1 is Flight deck-based Interval Management (FIM). FIM tools provide pilots with speed commands calculated using information from Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast. The precise merging and spacing enabled by FIM avionics and flight crew procedures will reduce excess spacing buffers and result in higher terminal throughput. This paper describes a human-in-the-loop experiment designed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the ATD-1 procedures used in a voice communications environment. This experiment utilized the ATD-1 integrated system of ground-based and airborne technologies. Pilot participants flew a high-fidelity fixed base simulator equipped with an airborne spacing algorithm and a FIM crew interface. Experiment scenarios involved multiple air traffic flows into the Dallas-Fort Worth Terminal Radar Control airspace. Results indicate that the proposed procedures were feasible for use by flight crews in a voice communications environment. The delivery accuracy at the achieve-by point was within +/- five seconds and the delivery precision was less than five seconds. Furthermore, FIM speed commands occurred at a rate of less than one per minute, and pilots found the frequency of the speed commands to be acceptable at all times throughout the experiment scenarios.

Wilson, Sara R.↗

Helicopter Flight Procedures for Community Noise Reduction

A computationally efficient, semiempirical noise model suitable for maneuvering flight noise prediction is used to evaluate the community noise impact of practical variations on several helicopter flight procedures typical of normal operations. Turns, "quick-stops," approaches, climbs, and combinations of these maneuvers are assessed. Relatively small variations in flight procedures are shown to cause significant changes to Sound Exposure Levels over a wide area. Guidelines are developed for helicopter pilots intended to provide effective strategies for reducing the negative effects of helicopter noise on the community. Finally, direct optimization of flight trajectories is conducted to identify low noise optimal flight procedures and quantify the magnitude of community noise reductions that can be obtained through tailored helicopter flight procedures. Physically realizable optimal turns and approaches are identified that achieve global noise reductions of as much as 10 dBA Sound Exposure Level.

Greenwood, Eric↗

Advanced Noise Abatement Procedures for a Supersonic Business Jet

Supersonic civil aircraft present a unique noise certification challenge. High specific thrust required for supersonic cruise results in high engine exhaust velocity and high levels of jet noise during takeoff. Aerodynamics of thin, low-aspect-ratio wings equipped with relatively simple flap systems deepen the challenge. Advanced noise abatement procedures have been proposed for supersonic aircraft. These procedures promise to reduce airport noise, but they may require departures from normal reference procedures defined in noise regulations. The subject of this report is a takeoff performance and noise assessment of a notional supersonic business jet. Analytical models of an airframe and a supersonic engine derived from a contemporary subsonic turbofan core are developed. These models are used to predict takeoff trajectories and noise. Results indicate advanced noise abatement takeoff procedures are helpful in reducing noise along lateral sidelines.

Berton, Jeffrey J.↗

Drawbar Pull (DP) Procedures for Off-Road Vehicle Testing

As NASA strives to explore the surface of the Moon and Mars, there is a continued need for improved tire and vehicle development. When tires or vehicles are being designed for off-road conditions where significant thrust generation is required, such as climbing out of craters on the Moon, it is important to use a standard test method for evaluating their tractive performance. The drawbar pull (DP) test is a way of measuring the net thrust generated by tires or a vehicle with respect to performance metrics such as travel reduction, sinkage, or power efficiency. DP testing may be done using a single tire on a traction rig, or with a set of tires on a vehicle; this report focuses on vehicle DP tests. Though vehicle DP tests have been used for decades, there are no standard procedures that apply to exploration vehicles. This report summarizes previous methods employed, shows the sensitivity of certain test parameters, and provides a body of knowledge for developing standard testing procedures. The focus of this work is on lunar applications, but these test methods can be applied to terrestrial and planetary conditions as well. Section 1.0 of this report discusses the utility of DP testing for off-road vehicle evaluation and the metrics used. Section 2.0 focuses on test-terrain preparation, using the example case of lunar terrain. There is a review of lunar terrain analogs implemented in the past and a discussion on the lunar terrain conditions created at the NASA Glenn Research Center, including methods of evaluating the terrain strength variation and consistency from test to test. Section 3.0 provides details of the vehicle test procedures. These consist of a review of past methods, a comprehensive study on the sensitivity of test parameters, and a summary of the procedures used for DP testing at Glenn.

wheel↗

Standard Testing Procedure for Quantifying Breathing Gas Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure for Extravehicular Activity and Launch, Entry, Survival Pressure Suits

This standard test and analysis protocol establishes the procedure for determining the partial pressure of inspired carbon dioxide (PICO2) exposure level experienced by persons operating a pressurized suit. The purpose of this Standard Testing Procedure (STP) is to describe the test conditions and procedures necessary to acquire data in support of certification that manufacturer submitted Extravehicular Activity (EVA) and/or Launch, Entry, Survival (LES) suit designs maintain safe levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the helmet during suited operations. The STP shall be used to measure the in-suit inhaled and exhaled dry-gas partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2), followed by calculation of the water vapor saturated PICO2 during the inhalation portion of the breathing cycle, while a human test subject is performing work at levels anticipated during suited operations in ground and flight environments. The procedure is designed to test the evaluated suit on a human test subject as a dynamic system, generate repeatable results under defined laboratory conditions, and perform consistent analysis on acquired samples.This STP is used to evaluate space suits in a hyperbaric environment (above atmospheric pressure). Changes would need to be made to the test equipment/setup to accommodate a hypobaric environment. There is no specific EVA or LES suit performance requirement to meet or pass/fail criteria associated with this STP.

Bekdash, Omar↗

Identifying Common Coordination Procedures across Extensible Traffic Management (xTM) to Integrate xTM Operations into the National Airspace System

New categories of missions and vehicle types, such as drone delivery services, on-demand air taxi, and high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) vehicles are being proposed to operate using a novel, highly automated information exchange infrastructure and a community-based, cooperative traffic management concept. Collectively, these new operations are called Extensible Traffic Management (xTM). As these xTM vehicles become more prevalent, their operations will increasingly overlap with existing conventional aircraft and with each other. In order to seamlessly co-exist with current conventional aircraft operations, new coordination procedures, tools and services will be needed to integrate xTM into the future National Airspace System (NAS). In our prior work, we have identified a set of use cases for xTM interactions with air traffic control (ATC), categorized across different xTM operations based on trigger events. Events consisted of ones such as nominal xTM vehicle transition into the ATC environment or an off-nominal emergency landing situation. In this paper, we have extended the prior work to identify commonalities in the coordination procedures across xTM, as well as differences that are specific to the individual xTM operations. The overall results showed that two types of xTM-ATC interactions were prevalent: 1) xTM vehicles transitioning between xTM and ATC operational environments; 2) xTM vehicles being allowed to continue xTM operations in areas that are normally controlled by ATC. The results also suggested that emergency and rare off-nominal events may need specialized procedures for each vehicle type. The overall results suggest that there is a pathway to define a common method of handling and integrating diverse xTM operations in the future NAS, but there need to be procedures for individualized handling of xTM vehicles in infrequent, safety-critical events.

Extensible Traffic Management (xTM)↗

Performance and Health Test Procedure for Grid Energy Storage Systems: Preprint

A test procedure to evaluate the performance and health of field installations of grid-connected battery energy storage systems (BESS) is described. Performance and health metrics captured in the procedures are: Round-trip efficiency, Standby losses, Response time/accuracy, and Useable Energy/ State of Charge at different discharge/charge rates over the system's lifetime. The procedures are divided into Reference Performance Tests, which require the system to be put in a test mode and are to be conducted in intervals, and Real-time Monitoring tests, which collect data during normal operation without interruption. The procedures can be applied on a wide array of BESS with little modifications and can thus support BESS operators in the management of BESS field installations with minimal interruption and expenditures.can be applied on a wide array of BESS with little modifications and can thus support BESS operators in the management of BESS field installations with minimal interruption and expenditures.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Interplanetary Terminal Procedure Design Applied to Lunar Landing

The impending NASA Artemis mission to the Moon will enable deep space exploration. The planned cadence of crewed Moon missions under Artemis necessitates scalable, safe lunar landings. This paper describes the development of Interplanetary Terminal Procedure Design (iTERP) which leverages current terminal procedure design criteria augmented with lunar physics to support the exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond. The iTERPS model combines lessons learned from decades of commercial airspace operations with novelties of human space exploration on other worlds. This paper will highlight some of the key functional areas in procedure design safety, training, and operations reimagined for human space flight.

terminal procedure design↗

Improving the effectiveness of impact assessment pertaining to Indigenous peoples in the Brazilian environmental licensing procedure

The number of environmental licence applications for projects affecting Indigenous peoples in Brazil has increased since the implementation of a major infrastructure program (Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento) in 2007. This increase has caused problems for Brazilian agencies involved in environmental licensing procedures (IBAMA, FUNAI and others). We analyze the Brazilian environmental licensing procedure for situations involving Indigenous peoples, Maroons (Quilombolas) or other traditional communities in order to identify potential improvements for Brazil and potentially other countries. Although Brazilian procedures are consistent with international best practice in environmental licensing, in practice social impacts are inadequately addressed, mitigation measures are poorly implemented, and there is a lack of enforcement and compliance. The paper is based on document analysis and interviews with key actors in governmental and non-governmental organizations and Indigenous leaders. We suggest that Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes need to be conducted at the earliest stages of project planning, and that Indigenous peoples should actively participate in impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation processes. In order to achieve a social licence to operate, there needs to be full recognition of traditional knowledge and acceptance of Indigenous values and concepts. We also recommend increased involvement of social experts and mediators as well as improved accountability, enforcement and grievance mechanisms in the licensing process. - Highlights: • The Brazilian environmental licensing system needs to address social impacts better. • Communities need to be consulted at the earliest stage possible. • Indigenous peoples need to be invited to participate in impact assessment teams. • Independent Indigenous committees to monitor implementation of mitigation measures. • Accountability, enforcement and grievance mechanisms need to be improved.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Lagoon Seepage Testing Procedures for Central Facilities Area (CFA) Sewage Lagoons at Idaho National Laboratory Butte County, Idaho April 2014

The lagoon seepage testing procedures are documented herein as required by the Wastewater Rules (IDAPA 58.01.16.493). The Wastewater Rules and Wastewater Reuse Permit LA-000141-03 require that the procedure used for performing a seepage test be approved by IDEQ prior to conducting the seepage test. The procedures described herein are based on a seepage testing plan that was developed by J-U-B ENGINEERS, Inc. (J-U-B) and has been accepted by several IDEQ offices for lagoons in Idaho.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Determination of Total Lipids as Fatty Acid Methyl Esters: Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP)

This Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP) covers the determination of total lipids expressed as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Results are reported as the percent FAME content based on the dry weight of the sample. The procedure is based on a whole biomass transesterification procedure of lipids to FAME, which eliminates the need for extraction and therefore is able to access all fatty acids in the biomass and represent an accurate reflection of the biofuels potential.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Optimizing Procedures

Procedures designs are usually done in a well-lit, air conditioned, comfortable room under idealized assumptions. The reality of the operation is very different. For designers to be able to design procedures that work well under realistic dynamic work conditions, they must understand the reality of the operation and of the operators. The talk discusses the gap between the idealized design and the real operation and proposes a framework, THE Model, The 4Cs and the 4Ps, for designing procedures fit for real operations.

design↗

Interplanetary Terminal Procedure Design Applied to Lunar Landing

The impending NASA Artemis mission to the Moon will enable deep space exploration. The planned cadence of crewed Moon missions under Artemis necessitates scalable, safe lunar landings. This paper describes the development of Interplanetary Terminal Procedure Design (iTERP) which leverages current terminal procedure design criteria augmented with lunar physics to support the exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond. The iTERPS model combines lessons learned from decades of commercial airspace operations with novelties of human space exploration on other worlds. This paper will highlight some of the key functional areas in procedure design safety, training, and operations reimagined for human space flight.

lunar approach procedures, Artemis Moon base, inte↗

Thinking About Procedures

Procedures and checklists form the backbone of all operations. But a given procedure does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a large system, and it must fit well within it. For all procedures to fit well, we must take a comprehensive approach to their design. We present such an approach and the results we got when we applied it.

procedures↗

Development of Candidate Airspace Procedures for Urban Air Mobility in the Dallas Area

As the concept of on-demand electric air taxis gains popularity and begins to take shape, many research efforts are underway to address the challenges of integrating this new class of passenger-carrying air vehicles into the already congested U.S. National Airspace System. Through collaborations between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Aviation Administration, and industry, this concept, commonly referred to as Urban Air Mobility (UAM), envisions a safe, reliable, and efficient mode of transportation traversing metropolitan and urban areas. Among the many challenges being tackled, airspace procedures and information requirements are critical areas of research that need to be addressed. In a joint effort between NASA and Joby Aviation, a human-in-the-loop study was conducted at the NASA Ames Research Center to evaluate initial and midterm operations with air traffic controllers and on-board UAM pilots in the Dallas area. This area was chosen due to its complex Class Bravo Airspace that extends to the surface over a relatively large area. To achieve the goals and objectives of the study, multiple preceding efforts were conducted to develop the candidate procedures and information requirements. This paper provides an overview of the operational concept used for the study, the process that was followed, and the findings from the two tabletop meetings and a shakedown activity. The combination of these led to a set of airspace procedures, letters of agreement, and information requirements that were evaluated in the human-inthe-loop study.

Urban Air Mobility↗

Complications in CT-guided Procedures: Do We Really Need Postinterventional CT Control Scans?

Purpose: The aim of this study is twofold: to determine the complication rate in computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsies and drainages, and to evaluate the value of postinterventional CT control scans. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 1,067 CT-guided diagnostic biopsies (n = 476) and therapeutic drainages (n = 591) in thoracic (n = 37), abdominal (n = 866), and musculoskeletal (ms) (n = 164) locations. Severity of any complication was categorized as minor or major. To assess the need for postinterventional CT control scans, it was determined whether complications were detected clinically, on peri-procedural scans or on postinterventional scans only. Results: The complication rate was 2.5 % in all procedures (n = 27), 4.4 % in diagnostic punctures, and 1.0 % in drainages; 13.5 % in thoracic, 2.0 % in abdominal, and 3.0 % in musculoskeletal procedures. There was only 1 major complication (0.1 %). Pneumothorax (n = 14) was most frequent, followed by bleeding (n = 9), paresthesia (n = 2), material damage (n = 1), and bone fissure (n = 1). Postinterventional control acquisitions were performed in 65.7 % (701 of 1,067). Six complications were solely detectable in postinterventional control acquisitions (3 retroperitoneal bleeds, 3 pneumothoraces); all other complications were clinically detectable (n = 4) and/or visible in peri-interventional controls (n = 21). Conclusion: Complications in CT-guided interventions are rare. Of these, thoracic interventions had the highest rate, while pneumothoraces and bleeding were most frequent. Most complications can be detected clinically or peri-interventionally. To reduce the radiation dose, postinterventional CT controls should not be performed routinely and should be restricted to complicated or retroperitoneal interventions only.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Percutaneous Treatment of Simple Hepatic Cysts: The Long-Term Results of PAIR and Catheterization Techniques as Single-Session Procedures

PurposeThe purpose of our study is to evaluate results of percutaneous aspiration with alcohol sclerotherapy in symptomatic patients with simple hepatic cysts by employing single-session techniques either by a needle or a catheter.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively included 39 simple hepatic cysts in 35 patients treated via percutaneous aspiration and single-session alcohol sclerotherapy between years 1993 and 2012. Indications were pain (n = 28) or ruling out cystic echinococcus (CE) disease (n = 7). 29 cysts in 26 patients were treated by needle technique (Group A) and ten cysts in nine patients were treated by single-session catheter technique (Group B). Patients were followed for 4–173 months (median: 38 months).ResultsAll patients were successfully treated. Before procedure, cyst volumes were 21–676 cc (median: 94 cc). Post-procedure cyst volumes at last follow-up were 0-40 cc (median: 1 cc). The mean decrease in cyst volume was 95.92 ± 2.86 % in all patients (95.96 ± 3.26 % in Group A and 95.80 ± 6.20 % in Group B). There was no statistically significant difference between the volume reduction rates of Group A and Group B. Only one patient, in Group B, developed a major complication, an abscess. Hospitalization period was 1 day for all patients.ConclusionsFor patients with symptomatic simple hepatic cysts smaller than 500 cc in volume by using puncture, aspiration, injection, and reaspiration (PAIR) technique with only needle, single-session alcohol sclerotherapy of 10 min is a safe and effective procedure with high success rate.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Optimizing Travel Time to Outpatient Interventional Radiology Procedures in a Multi-Site Hospital System Using a Google Maps Application

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a custom Google Maps application can optimize site selection when scheduling outpatient interventional radiology (IR) procedures within a multi-site hospital system. The Google Maps for Business Application Programming Interface (API) was used to develop an internal web application that uses real-time traffic data to determine estimated travel time (ETT; minutes) and estimated travel distance (ETD; miles) from a patient’s home to each a nearby IR facility in our hospital system. Hypothetical patient home addresses based on the 33 cities comprising our institution’s catchment area were used to determine the optimal IR site for hypothetical patients traveling from each city based on real-time traffic conditions. For 10/33 (30%) cities, there was discordance between the optimal IR site based on ETT and the optimal IR site based on ETD at non-rush hour time or rush hour time. By choosing to travel to an IR site based on ETT rather than ETD, patients from discordant cities were predicted to save an average of 7.29 min during non-rush hour (p = 0.03), and 28.80 min during rush hour (p < 0.001). Using a custom Google Maps application to schedule outpatients for IR procedures can effectively reduce patient travel time when more than one location providing IR procedures is available within the same hospital system.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗