Sarris, A. H. | Search NASA

NASA NTRS1971

An algorithm for terminal air traffic control

An area-navigation method for automatic control of aircraft arriving in a random fashion from the en-route centers to the near terminal area is proposed. Control is exercised by a ground computer that sequences and schedules the aircraft. Altitude segregation is used to separate aircraft in velocity classes. Merging of all aircraft occurs near the outer marker. The merging region is designed so that no near misses will occur if the aircraft follow the assigned trajectories.

Sarris, A. H.↗

NASA NTRS1971

On optimal scheduling and air traffic control in the near terminal area

A scheme is proposed for automated air traffic control of landing aircraft in the vicinity of the airport. Each aircraft is put under the control of an airport-based computer as soon as it enters the near-terminal area (NTA). Scheduling is done immediately thereafter. The aircraft is given a flight plan which, if followed precisely, will lead it to the runway at a prespecified time. The geometry of the airspace in the NTA is chosen so that delays are executed far from the outer marker, and violations of minimum altitude and lateral separations are avoided. Finally, a solution to the velocity mix problem is proposed.

Sarris, A. H.↗