Zee Media Bureau
Washington: US space agency NASA has developed a new air traffic control software that would enable better management of the spacing between planes.
The new technology called Terminal Sequencing and Spacing (TSS) will enable air traffic controllers to better manage the approach and spacing of aircraft into airports, saving both time and fuel and thus reducing carbon emissions.
The computer software tool designed to assist in air traffic management was presented to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during a ceremony at the agency`s headquarters in Washington.
The TSS software enables the routine use of what are called Performance Based Navigation procedures, resulting in fewer course and altitude changes, while also reducing the frequency of necessary communications between controllers and pilots.
It also provides information to controllers about the speeds they should assign to aircraft as they follow fuel-efficient, continuous-descent arrival procedures while passing through a region of airspace surrounding an airport called the TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control), covering a distance from an airport of about 80km.
TSS is the another step in NASA`s support of the development of a Next Generation Air Transportation System, which is a joint multi-agency and industry initiative to modernise and upgrade air traffic control system in the US.
The FAA is expected to implement the TSS tool in next five years with the initial operation in 2018.
(With Agency Inputs)
