The Transition Towards Free Flight: A Human Factors Evaluation of Mixed Equipage, Integrated Air-Ground, Free Flight ATM Scenarios

This paper describes the initial results of a simulation experiment in which the human factors implications of three Mixed Equipage, Integrated Air-Ground, Free Flight Air Traffic Management (ATM) scenarios were investigated. The experiment primarily addressed how to accommodate a fleet of mixed equipped aircraft, with and without Airborne Separation Assurance System (ASAS), in a transitional free flight era in which both air and ground players have defined responsibilities. All three transitional ATM operational concepts evaluated, were designed with the idea that equipping aircraft should be immediately beneficial to the airlines.