Functionalities, displays, and concept of use for the surface management system [ATC]

NASA Ames Research Center, in cooperation with the FAA, is developing the surface management system (SMS), a decision support tool that helps controllers and air carriers collaboratively manage the movements of aircraft on the surface of busy airports, thereby improving capacity, efficiency, and flexibility. This paper describes the surface management system, which is an element of the FAA´s free flight phase 2 program, and its concept of use. Detailed information about future departure demand on airport resources is not currently available in real-time to operational specialists at air traffic control (ATC) facilities and air carriers. SMS provides controllers, traffic managers, and air carrier decision-makers with accurate predictions of the future departure situation (e.g., queuing and delays for individual aircraft, and aggregate demand for each runway or other constrained resource), as well as advisories to help manage surface movements and departure operations. Two controller-in-the-loop simulations of SMS have been conducted in the Future Flight Central ATC tower simulator at NASA Ames Research Center, leading to refinements in the concept and implementation that are described in this paper. The paper also outlines plans for field evaluations. SMS will be evaluated operationally at Memphis International Airport, first in FedEx´s ramp tower, beginning in August, 2002 and, subsequently, in the air traffic control tower (ATCT) in 2003.