Airspace Design and ResearchInnovative analysis, configuration and policy supportMetron Aviation is partnering with the FAA, NASA and others in the research and development of the NextGen airspace design in the National Airspace System (NAS). This work includes all aspects of airspace design from concept development, to Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) analysis, to deployment. Leveraging extensive experience, Metron Aviation provides detailed analyses and develops comprehensive tools for airspace optimization, design and analysis. Current research includes: • Airspace Optimization Research explores sophisticated optimization techniques for Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) in the NAS. • Airspace Capacity Research develops new capabilities and requirements for bringing capacity management into the ATFM process during the 2015-2018 timeframe. • Airborne Delay Research addresses the FAA’s need to track and predict airborne delay through the extension of previous research efforts and development of new capabilities. • Dynamic Airspace Configuration Research consists of restructuring airspace to take advantage of technologies such as self-separation and 4-D trajectories, adapting airspace changes to accommodate fluctuating demand within the airspace, and defining airspace in a generic manner to promote interchangeability among facilities and controllers. • Flow Corridors, or corridors-in-the-sky, is intended for use by aircraft who want to travel efficiently from one end of the corridor to the other with minimal interference from all other traffic. • Decision Support Tools (DST) support on-demand Special Use Airspace (SUA) scheduling and flight plan optimization around (and through) SUA between Airline Operations Control (AOC), Military and the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC). |