Volpe Center Highlights
Safety
Focus |
Safety |
Mobility |
Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade |
National Security |
Published and Presented
Promote public health and safety by working toward the elimination of transportation-related deaths, injuries, and property damage. |
Workshop Held on Radiation Safety Program (FAA)
Dr. Aviva Brecher and Mr. Kevin Green, of the Transportation Strategic Planning and Analysis Office, recently presented the rationale for the proposed updated and expanded Radiation Safety Order 32910.3B at a workshop on radiation safety policy sponsored by the FAA's Office of Environment and Energy. The objectives of the workshop were to discuss and integrate diverse stakeholders' views regarding their roles and responsibilities in implementing the updated order; assess resources, staffing, and training needs; and clarify the underlying technical issues of new radiation safety standards. Representatives from several FAA offices, as well as major FAA employee unions participated in the meeting. Another round of revisions on the policy will take place within a month, to be followed by FAA coordination and approvals at the Associate/Assistant Administrator level.
Airport Inductive Loop Program (FAA)
The Volpe Center's Airport Surface Projects Office is providing technical and management support to the FAA on its Inductive Loop Program: a major effort aimed at preventing aircraft and surface vehicle incursions on runways and taxiways. These systems involve the use of sensors embedded in the pavement surface to locate various airport surface traffic. As a part of this work, an assessment of the applicability of inductive loop technology to the airport environment is being conducted at the Long Beach, CA, airport. The objective of this assessment is to determine the degree to which an inductive loop system can provide primary surveillance functions for monitoring traffic on the airport surface. The Volpe Center recently completed installation of the Loop Technology Test System within budget and ahead of schedule. Eleven loops were installed on one runway for tracking high-speed aircraft, and 13 loops were installed on taxiways for tracking low-speed vehicles and aircraft. The 24-loop installation provides coverage for both departure and arrival data. System integration testing and data collection is in process and a major demonstration will be held in August 1997.
Wake Vortex Separation Standards Report (FAA)
Prepared in support of the FAA, the report "Wake Vortex Separation Standards: Analysis Methods," co-authored by Mr. James Hallock, of the Aviation Safety Division, was recently published. Wake vortex separation standards are used to prevent hazardous wake vortex encounters, which may result from certain aircraft following too close to the vortex turbulence created by another aircraft. A safe separation model can be used to assess the safety of proposed changes in the standards. The report presents the development of the model and applications of the model to possible reclassification of aircraft in air traffic control and to assess a possible four-class aircraft separation system.