Volpe Center Develops Simulation Standard Targeting Increased Aviation Safety
The Volpe Center recently released the first version of a National Airspace System (NAS) simulation and analysis capability. This effort, in support of the Federal Aviation Administration, is focused on providing a quantitative safety analysis of simultaneous parallel approaches at airports. The goal is to develop a simulation capability that enables a rigorous analysis and certification of procedures, equipment, and airspace in the NAS to optimize individual airports' operational procedures and improve aviation safety.
The simulation tool is designed to be intuitive and easy to use while achieving a high level of precision in replicating real-world entities such as radar and aircraft. This precision is the product of complex mathematical models as well as detailed operational procedures. The tool runs on a personal computer yet is flexible enough to model various aircraft and airports in different environmental conditions, with multiple surveillance and navigation systems, and even account for human performance characteristics.
The simulation tool is the result of an extensive effort by the Volpe Center's technical staff. This Monte Carlo-based computer simulation capability employs stochastic models of nearly every component of the NAS—mechanical, electronic, and human. These components, including navigation aids and surveillance systems, pilots and air traffic controllers, and weather and aircraft types are combined with known, discrete artifacts such as runway size and airport configuration.
The simulation also utilizes Volpe Center-developed airframe-type-specific kinematic aircraft models, a high-performance random number generator, and a precise WGS-84-compliant elliptical earth model to create a robust tool with photo-realistic airport depictions and real-time 3-D animation.
Begun in January 2009, the second phase of development will include enhancements such as additional NAS navigation and surveillance systems, and high-fidelity aircraft flight models, as well as the inclusion of land-and-hold-short-operations and converging runway operational scenarios.
The simulation tool's photorealistic real-time animation feature. (
Volpe Center image)
