UAS Integration in the NAS

            “FAA, collaborating with other federal agencies and the aviation industry, is implementing NextGen, an advanced technology air-traffic management system that FAA anticipates will replace the current ground-radar-based system,” (United States. Federal Aviation Administration, & United States. Government Accountability Office, 2013).  FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) consists of multiple programs including, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), Collaborative Air Traffic Management Technologies (CATMT), Data Communications (Data Comm), National Airspace System Voice System (NVS), NextGen Weather, and System Wide Information Management (SWIM), (NextGen Programs, 2016).  Through 2018, the NextGen program is expected to cost $18 billion, (United States. Federal Aviation Administration, & United States. Government Accountability Office, 2013).  Through the implementation of multiple programs the NextGen program will, “enhance safety, increase capacity, and reduce congestion in the national airspace system,” (United States. Federal Aviation Administration, & United States. Government Accountability Office, 2013).  While the NextGen program is made to make the National Airspace (NAS) more efficient, it could benefit remotely piloted vehicles (RPV) which are better known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  “By determining how UAS flight operations and protocols may be different than those of traditional manned aircraft, informed decisions can be made concerning the data and interfaces required to accommodate routine UAS operations by NextGen automation systems, ultimately leading to safer and more efficient integration of UAS into non-segregated civil airspace,” (Paczan, 2012).

“ADS-B makes use of GPS technology to determine and share precise aircraft location information, and streams additional flight information to the cockpits of properly equipped aircraft,” (NextGen Programs, 2016).  Unmanned aircraft equipped with ADS-B will be able to share its location with aircraft and flight following services.  This will be helpful in the event of a lost link where the unmanned aircraft operator is unable to communicate commands to the unmanned vehicle.  When there is a lost link the operator is unable to continue to see and avoid, the unmanned systems typically have a failsafe in the event of a lost link, but with ADS-B the precise location of the unmanned system will be reported, enabling air traffic control to route aircraft around the lost link aircraft.

Data Comm, “will enable controllers to send digital instructions and clearances to pilots. Precise visual messages that appear on a cockpit display can interact with an aircraft's flight computer. Offering reduced opportunities for error, Data Comm will supplant voice communications as the primary means of communication between controllers and flight crews,” (NextGen Programs, 2016).  Data Comm could raise issues with unmanned systems, especially with plans to have it replace voice communications.  The Data Comm would have to be sent to the unmanned vehicle and then the instructions would be relayed to the ground control station (GCS).  In the event of a lost link where the unmanned vehicle and GCS are no longer able to communicate, this would mean that the Data Comm would no longer be able to be received by the operator.  This is no different than how voice communications with current unmanned systems currently work.  Currently Data Link plans to use digital radio frequencies, however, in theory, it could be connected to the internet, and could allow the operator to inform flight following services of a lost link.

“Once all planned programs are in place, FAA expects NextGen to deliver $134 billion in direct airline, industry, and passenger benefits (passenger value of time and carbon dioxide emissions) through 2030,” (NextGen Programs, 2016).  While, there is no deliberately stated goal of helping to integrate RPVs or UAVs through the implementation of the NextGen program, the unmanned industry can benefit from the integration of the NextGen systems and programs.

References

NextGen Programs. (2016 Apr 6). NextGen, Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/programs/

Paczan, N. M., Cooper, J., & Zakrzewski, E. (2012). Integrating unmanned aircraft into NextGen automation systems. Paper presented at the 8C3-1-8C3-9. doi:10.1109/DASC.2012.6382440

United States. Federal Aviation Administration, & United States. Government Accountability Office. (2013). NextGen air transportation system: FAA has made some progress in midterm implementation, but ongoing challenges limit expected benefits : Report to congressional requesters. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/653628.txt