Contemporary air traffic management (ATM) challenges are both (1) acute and (2)
growing at rates far outpacing established ways for absorbing technological
innovation. Lack of timely response will guarantee failure to meet demands.
Immediately that creates a necessity to identify means of coping and judging new
technologies based on possible speed of adoption. Paralleling the challenges are
developments in capability, both recent and decades old. Some steps (e.g.,
Global Positioning System (GPS) backup) are well known and, in fact, should have
progressed further long ago. Others (e.g., sharing raw measurements instead of
position fixes) are equally well known and, if followed by further flight tests
initiated (and successful) years ago, would have produced a wealth of in-flight
experience by now if development had continued. Other possibilities (e.g.,
automated pilot override) are much less common and are considered largely
experimental.
This SAE EDGE™ Research Report is aimed at focusing industry attention on
unsettled ATM issues and activities that appear most likely to offer solutions,
starting with the near term and continuing on toward increasing versatility and
confidence as experience accumulates. In general, the more familiar developments
tend to suggest quicker acceptance of test trial initiation, while comparatively
unexplored techniques call for a more gradual assimilation. Flexibility for
growth is needed in any event, without the pervasive delays that have obstructed
progress for so long.
NOTE: SAE EDGE™ Research Reports are intended to identify and illuminate key
issues in emerging, but still unsettled, technologies of interest to the
mobility industry. The goal of SAE EDGE™ Research Reports is to stimulate
discussion and work in the hope of promoting and speeding resolution of
identified issues. SAE EDGE™ Research Reports are not intended to resolve the
challenges they identify or close any topic to further scrutiny.