Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration (ATD-1) - Concept to Operations

In order to enable arrival management concepts and solutions in a NextGen environment, ground-based sequencing and scheduling functions have been developed to support metering operations in the National Airspace System. These sequencing and scheduling algorithms as well as tools are designed to aid air traffic controllers in developing an overall arrival strategy. The research presented provides an outline of the challenge of bringing time based scheduling to the terminal environment and the steps that were taken to bring the technology from concept to testing in an operational environment, and finally acquisition by the FAA. ATM Technology Demonstration-1 (ATD-1), is a set of technologies that provides an efficient solution for managing arrival aircraft beginning from just prior to top-of-descent and continuing down to the runway. The ATD-1 suite of technologies has been tested separately, and each has demonstrated benefits in throughput, delay, and fuel-efficiency. Together, the integration of terminal arrival tools allow arrival aircraft to safely fly closer together on more fuel-efficient routes to increase capacity, and reduce delay, fuel burn, noise, and greenhouse gas emissions