Implementation of avionics standards for time based air traffic management

As methods of air traffic management evolve using time as a foundational tool, standards must be developed today to ensure adequate performance of individual navigation systems that will form the backbone of tomorrow's airspace system. With respect to acceptable crossing time errors in a trajectory based operations environment, initial parameters for accuracy have been published and additional requirements have been proposed to serve as minimum aviation performance standards. These standards will influence the development of algorithms that drive future flight management systems, and it is important to fully understand their implications, including the potential for unintended consequences in a system of systems. Following a brief history of separation standards development, data sets from several flight tests and simulations are reviewed for use in assessing the safety and achievability of previous proposals for time of arrival control accuracy standards. Subsequently, a comprehensive standards framework for an evidence-based categorical standard is introduced. The paper concludes by presenting scenarios to illustrate capacity and collision risk enhancements achieved by adopting these standards as a precursor to implementation of a time-based air traffic management system.