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At least 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

An overview of aviation weather services

Safety of flight is the first concern of the aviation weather service, the economics of air transportation is a second major interest. Weather is a significant causal factor impacting on the efficiency of air transportation. A discussion is presented on the functions of various weather service agencies as they relate to one another in the dissemination of information to the pilot and to the air traffic controller. Improvements in the aviation weather service and weather knowledge are cited as future goals. The weather service at the present time is an efficient system but future aviation objectives dictate more improvements are needed (especially in automation technology) to enhance flight planning and for safe and efficient flight execution.

Connolly, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

NASA aviation safety reporting system

Reports describing various types of communication problems are presented along with summaries dealing with judgment and decision making. Concerns relating to the ground proximity warning system are summarized and several examples of true terrain proximity warnings are provided. An analytic study of reports relating to profile descents was performed. Problems were found to be associated with charting and graphic presentation of the descents, with lack of uniformity of the descent procedures among facilities using them, and with the flight crew workload engendered by profile descents, particularly when additional requirements are interposed by air traffic control during the execution of the profiles. A selection of alert bulletins and responses to them were reviewed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1978

Adaptation of time line analysis program to single pilot instrument flight research

A data base was developed for SPIFR operation and the program was run. The outputs indicated that further work was necessary on the workload models. In particular, the workload model for the cognitive channel should be modified as the output workload appears to be too small. Included in the needed refinements are models to show the workload when in turbulence, when overshooting a radial or glideslope, and when copying air traffic control clearances.

Hinton, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Aircraft developments that hold promise for increased compatability with an advanced ATC system

In terms of an advanced air traffic control environment, consideration is given to a wake vortex advisory system and V/STOL aircraft. The terminal configured vehicle program is described. Procedures for all-weather operations are reviewed and the search and rescue satellite system is described. Predictions are made concerning an advanced national aviation system, digital communications, integrated control technology, and cockpit avionics. Human factors in both general and civil aviation are discussed.

Hodge, K. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Test-configuration identifiers

Distributed computer system, which allows great deal of interaction within totally synchronized environment, comprises test system that presents systematic approach for identifying test configurations for large complex systems such as submarines, aircraft, or air traffic controllers.

Sumrall, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Operational benefits from the terminal configured vehicle

The NASA Terminal Configured Vehicle is a flying laboratory used to conduct research and development on improved airborne systems (including avionics) and operational flight procedures, with particular emphasis on utilization in the terminal area environment. The objectives of this technology development activity, focused on conventional transport aircraft, are to develop and demonstrate improvements which can lead to increased airport and runway capacity, increased air traffic controller productivity, energy efficient terminal area operations, reduced weather minima with safety, and reduced community noise by use of appropriate procedures. This paper discusses some early results of this activity in addition to defining present efforts and future research plans.

Reeder, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Sixty years of aeronautical research, 1917-1977

The history of Langley Research Center and its contributions to solving problems related to flight over the past six decades is recounted. Technical innovations described include those related to air craft construction materials, jet and rocket propulsion, flight testing and simulation, wind tunnel tests, noise reduction, supersonic flight, air traffic control, structural analysis, computational aerodynamics, and fuel efficiency.

Anderton, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Operational benefits from the Terminal Configured Vehicle

The objective of Terminal Configured Vehicle (TCV) research activity is to provide improvements which lead to increased airport and runway capacity, increasing air traffic controller productivity, energy efficient terminal area operations, reduced weather minima with safety, and reduced community noise by use of appropriate measures. Some early results of this research activity are discussed, and present and future research needs to meet the broad research objectives are defined. Particular consideration is given to the development of the TCV B-737 aircraft, the integration of the TCV with MLS, and avionics configurations, flight profiles, and manually controlled approaches for TCV. Some particular test demonstrations are discussed.

Reeder, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Simulation study of the effect of fuel-conservative approaches on ATC procedures and terminal area capacity

Fuel-conservative procedures have been investigated using real-time air traffic control simulations linked to two piloted simulators. The fuel-conservative procedures studied were profile descents and two types of landing approaches. The investigation determined the effect of these procedures on the ATC system and terminal area capacity. It examined the mixing of aircraft executing fuel-conservative approaches with those executing conventional approaches. The results indicate a systems fuel savings for the landing approaches under all tested conditions except at, or near, maximum system capacity. Also, there is a fuel savings and reduced controller workload for the profile descent procedures.

Tobias, L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Can low-cost VOR and Omega receivers suffice for RNAV - A new computer-based navigation technique

It is shown that although RNAV is particularly valuable for the personal transportation segment of general aviation, it has not gained complete acceptance. This is due, in part, to its high cost and the necessary special-handling air traffic control. VOR/DME RNAV calculations are ideally suited for analog computers, and the use of microprocessor technology has been suggested for reducing RNAV costs. Three navigation systems, VOR, Omega, and DR, are compared for common navigational difficulties, such as station geometry, siting errors, ground disturbances, and terminal area coverage. The Kalman filtering technique is described with reference to the disadvantages when using a system including standard microprocessors. An integrated navigation system, using input data from various low-cost sensor systems, is presented and current simulation studies are noted.

Hollaar, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Laser aircraft

The concept of a laser-powered aircraft is discussed. Laser flight would be completely compatible with existing airports and air-traffic control, with the airplane using kerosene only power, up to a cruising altitude of 9 km where the laser satellite would lock on and beam laser energy to it. Two major components make up the laser turbofan, a heat exchanger for converting laser radiation into thermal energy, and conventional turbomachinery. The laser power satellite would put out 42 Mw using a solar-powered thermal engine to generate electrical power for the closed-cycle supersonic electric discharge CO laser, whose radiators, heat exchangers, supersonic diffuser, and ducting will amount to 85% of the total subsystem mass. Relay satellites will be used to intercept the beam from the laser satellite, correct outgoing beam aberrations, and direct the beam to the next target. A 300-airplane fleet with transcontinental range is projected to save enough kerosene to equal the energy content of the entire system, including power and relay satellites, in one year.

Hertzberg, A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Cockpit displays and the growing role of the pilot in the ATC system

It is pointed out that advances in avionics and computer technology have reached the point where serious attention may be given to structuring a new controlled air traffic environment. The principal feature of such an environment is related to the capability of pilots to perform certain active ATC functions from the cockpit. The main function is concerned with the ability to maintain safe separation from other aircraft under all meteorological conditions. Technical features available to permit such a functional change include such concepts as the Discrete Address Beacon System, a full capability Beacon Collision Avoidance System, data links, computer generated displays, and flight management computers.

Lyman, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Simulation study of the operational effects of fuel-conservative approaches

Fuel-conservative procedures have been investigated using real-time air traffic control simulations linked to two piloted simulators. The fuel-conservative procedures studied were profile descents and two types of landing approaches, delayed flap and IATA. The investigation determined the effect of these procedures on the ATC system operation. It examined the mixing of aircraft executing fuel-conservative approaches with those executing conventional approaches. The most difficult approach type mix of traffic was found to be 50% conventional and 50% delayed flap. However, for the test scenario chosen, arrival rates of at least 30 aircraft per hour were feasible and resulted in a net average fuel saving, even for the most difficult mix. Also, there is a fuel savings and reduced controller workload for the profile descent procedures.

Tobias, L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Preliminary test results of a flight management algorithm for fuel conservative descents in a time based metered traffic environment

A flight management algorithm designed to improve the accuracy of delivering the airplane fuel efficiently to a metering fix at a time designated by air traffic control is discussed. The algorithm provides a 3-D path with time control (4-D) for a test B 737 airplane to make an idle thrust, clean configured descent to arrive at the metering fix at a predetermined time, altitude, and airspeed. The descent path is calculated for a constant Mach/airspeed schedule from linear approximations of airplane performance with considerations given for gross weight, wind, and nonstandard pressure and temperature effects. The flight management descent algorithms and the results of the flight tests are discussed.

Knox, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The vulnerability of commercial aircraft avionics to carbon fibers

Avionics components commonly used in commercial aircraft were tested for vulnerability to failure when operated in an environment with a high density of graphite fibers. The components were subjected to a series of exposures to graphite fibers of different lengths. Lengths used for the tests were (in order) 1 mm, 3 mm, and 10 mm. The test procedure included subjecting the equipment to characteristic noise and shock environments. Most of the equipment was invulnerable or did not fail until extremely high average exposures were reached. The single exception was an air traffic control transponder produced in the early 1960's. It had the largest case open area through which fibers could enter and it had no coated boards.

Meyers, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Equations for determining aircraft motions for accident data

Procedures for determining a comprehensive accident scenario from a limited data set are reported. The analysis techniques accept and process data from either an Air Traffic Control radar tracking system or a foil flight data recorder. Local meteorological information at the time of the accident and aircraft performance data are also utilized. Equations for the desired aircraft motions and forces are given in terms of elements of the measurement set and certain of their time derivatives. The principal assumption made is that aircraft side force and side-slip angle are negligible. An estimation procedure is outlined for use with each data source. For the foil case, a discussion of exploiting measurement redundancy is given. Since either formulation requires estimates of measurement time derivatives, an algorithm for least squares smoothing is provided.

Bach, R. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Effectiveness of advanced fuel-conservative procedures in the transitional ATC environment

The real time simulation (involving both the pilot and the air traffic controller) of fuel conservative approaches, profile descents, and four dimensional area navigation to assess the effectiveness of the procedures is discussed. Generally, results indicate some difficulties with the procedures tested in a mixed traffic environment and point to the need for computer assistance for effective implementation of candidate procedures.

Tobias, L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Development of advanced avionics systems applicable to terminal-configured vehicles

A technique to add the time constraint to the automatic descent feature of the existing L-1011 aircraft Flight Management System (FMS) was developed. Software modifications were incorporated in the FMS computer program and the results checked by lab simulation and on a series of eleven test flights. An arrival time dispersion (2 sigma) of 19 seconds was achieved. The 4 D descent technique can be integrated with the time-based metering method of air traffic control. Substantial reductions in delays at today's busy airports should result.

Heimbold, R. L.↗