Volpe is providing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with assessments and analyses for a variety of proposed NextGen air traffic innovations and procedural changes.

Safety risk management studies have focused on topics ranging from FAA Administrator-initiated Call to Action measures designed to improve runway and taxiway safety, to revised airborne spacing standards for airport approaches. Volpe’s safety analyses for future NextGen include developing functional representations and operational hazard assessments for NextGen surface systems. Volpe efforts also include research into the nature and feasibility of integrated safety processes for NextGen applications.

The Challenge

• Assess safety risk of air traffic systems and procedures.
• Develop safety processes for use with NextGen.
• Organize preliminary safety assessments of future systems and procedures to be deployed as part of NextGen.

The Solution

Volpe has facilitated FAA Air Traffic Organization safety risk management panels and provided analytical support for identifying safety hazards, assessing hazard severity, and estimating hazard likelihood. Volpe’s team has also adapted existing safety processes to accommodate the need for integrated safety analysis under NextGen.

In addition, Volpe has developed functional system representations and corresponding hazard identification for future capabilities, such as NextGen Surface Trajectory-Based Operations (STBO).

The Impact

As a result of Volpe’s work, Call to Action safety recommendations were implemented to improve runway safety and respond to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations. In addition, the NextGen-integrated safety risk management processes are incorporated into the latest version of the Air Traffic Organization Safety Management System Manual.

This manual offers safety risk management tools and guidance for the assessment of safety risk and outlines procedures and responsibilities on the functioning of the safety management system. The manual reflects current international best practices, supporting an important next step toward a complete and integrated safety management system in the FAA.