Use of near-term terminal automation capabilities for meeting an evolving operating environment

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) will use technological updates and systems engineering methods to improve the efficiency, safety, and capacity of the National Airspace System (NAS). While some of these changes may be centered in the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) or the Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), it is important to evaluate the operational effects on Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Air Traffic Control (ATC) tasks so that TRACON automation investment planning will proceed in the most effective manner. Controller task changes and new operational challenges may be a result, with some addressed by using automation capabilities in the current baseline or planned near-term automation capabilities. In order to identify potential operational challenges, The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (MITRE/CAASD) worked with TRACON ATC Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to analyze planned NextGen improvements, and discuss how the future operating environment would differ from the current one [1]. Additionally, the group identified ways in which current and/or near-term automation capabilities could be used to address the identified challenges. Some findings from this effort are detailed in this paper.