REDAC / NAS Operations

New ATM Requirements

BLI Number: 1A07C

Presenter Name: Steve Bradford

Date: August 31, 2021

Review of FY 2021 - 2024 

Proposed Portfolio
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New ATM Requirements

Overview

What are the benefits to the FAA

• The New Air Traffic Management (ATM) Requirements program is needed to identify new opportunities to 

improve the efficiency and effectiveness of air traffic management operations 

• Activities include the research and development of procedures, tools, and systems in support of operational 

improvements 

• These developments support the NextGen goal of expanding capacity and improving the strategic management 

of operations in the NAS

What determines program success

• The service analysis and operational demonstration activities within this program support the development of 

operational improvements that will increase the number of arrivals and departures at major airports 

• The results of these early development efforts will transition into future standards, tools, guidance, and 

applications necessary for safe and effective airspace operations
New ATM Requirements

Program Support

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People:

• Portfolio Manager: Mark T. Palmer, ANG – C73

• Project Managers

• Subject Matter Experts (air traffic control specialists, meteorologists, information management and 

communications specialists)

Laboratories:

• Boeing Avionics Lab

• Honeywell IPS Labs

• Rockwell Collins Labs

• NASA Glenn Labs (communications standards 

development and validation work)

• NextGen Integration and Evaluation Capability 

(NIEC)

• Embry Riddle Florida Test Bed (FTB)
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Current FY21 Accomplishments

• Completed Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML) Certification Research Plan which provide a recommended framework for how 

to assess FAA AI system software assurance and check-out requirements and begins to maps out where current certification processes are 

adequate and where gaps exist. 

• Completed gathering of data distribution platform requirements surrounding the A/G SWIM - Connected Aircraft concept. Continuing to 

develop a prototype data distribution environment that allows for the organization and distribution of connected aircraft software 

applications. 

• Completed analysis of Connected Aircraft safety, risk, performance and security requirements

• Completed National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN) Message Switching Network (MSN) Rehost (NMR) and Air Traffic Services 

(ATS) Message Handling System (AMHS) message data analysis. Insights from this analysis will be provided to support allocation of NMR 

and AMHS capabilities to future NAS services.

• Work started to support the Flight and Flow Information for a Collaborative Environment Release 2 (FF-ICE/R2) concept. Investigating and 

performing required engineering analysis to mature the FF-ICE/R2 concept.

• Work started on Next Generation Input Devices to support the definition of requirements and concept development for an enterprise 

solution to next generation input devices for automation systems in the NAS.

• Work started to modernize the surveillance infrastructure, provide resiliency of surveillance services across the NAS, and develop / 

implement advanced surveillance data processing applications necessary for future.

• Continued research that ensures that the FAA identifies the best available weather needs, requirements, and information within the NAS; 

transfers weather requirements to NWS; and helps safeguard the NAS through continual weather requirements monitoring, levying, and 

oversight to preserve NAS weather compatibility for NextGen principles, systems, and operations.
Weather Transition

This activity ensures that aviation weather research concepts are matured and technically developed under FAA 

guidelines to a level of readiness for operational use in the NAS. This includes Concept Maturity and Technology 

Development based work in support of the Research for Service Analysis and Service Analysis AMS lifecycle 

phases. The matured capabilities developed will support future weather information enabled decision support for 

the NAS. 

Planned Research Activities

• FY22 - Conduct studies surrounding the operational usage of convective weather information support capabilities, 

determine the performance level of current weather products and develop report. 

• FY23 - Identify the best available weather needs, requirements, and information exists within the NAS and help 

safeguard the NAS through continual weather requirements monitoring, levying, and oversight to preserve NAS 

weather compatibility for NextGen principles, systems, and operations.

• FY24 - Identify obsolete and legacy weather products ripe for replacement with better weather information already 

available from the meteorology community to ensure compatibility with NextGen (SWIM) or other concepts

Expected Research Products

• Matured capabilities to support future weather information-enabled decision support for the NAS.

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Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence in the 

NAS

This activity conducts engineering and analysis to support the potential use of Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence 

(ML/AI) to support controllers in functions including aircraft separation. The ML/AI in the NAS program seeks to engage with 

industry partners in digitization, to outline learning algorithm lessons and develop a path to integrating user benefit driven AI 

application for improving the NAS. 

Planned Research Activities

• FY22 – Complete initial safety risk management analysis for potential use of ML/AI in support of controller functions.

• FY23 – Conduct initial study using a limited sample size to determine the effectiveness of AI learning on data related to 

aircraft separation. 

• FY24 - TBD

Expected Research Products

• Determine assess capabilities and controller functions that may be enhanced by the use of artificial intelligence

• Learning algorithm lessons take advantage of the digitization industry knowledge and enables the FAA to develop a 

path toward integrating user benefits-driven application in the NAS.

• Develop initial digital backbone, architectures, key metrics dashboard, identify critical deep learning algorithms and 

certification methods, as well as recommend the initial set of capabilities to be explored. 

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Post-departure Coordination and Airborne 

Negotiation (PCAN)

This activity continues the maturation of FF-ICE/R2 concept. The project will build upon the outcomes and lessons 

learned of previous projects including FF-ICE/R1 Demonstration and 4DT Live Flight Demonstration. The project will 

continue to investigate and perform required engineering analysis to mature the FF-ICE/R2 concept. Additionally, 

the project will include collaboration with other Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and airspace users, 

specifically as part of Table Top Exercises (TTXs) and validation activities. 

Planned Research Activities

• FY22 – Analyze and validate developed use cases and operational scenarios for the re-evaluation process and 

clearance delivery.

• FY23 - TBD

• FY24 - TBD

Expected Research Products

• TBD

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Command & Control in a Cloud

This program evaluates the current information sharing infrastructure by focusing on the application of cloud 

infrastructures to provide for future NextGen needs. NextGen has started investigation of cloud solutions for its 

National Airspace System (NAS) operational systems. As a result, the Enterprise Services Infrastructure Framework 

(ESIF) was developed to support the allocation of NAS functional capabilities to infrastructure with a specific focus 

on cloud infrastructure. With ESIF providing this cloud- analysis framework, NextGen has started an analysis of 

ERAM in the Cloud, as a next step towards bringing these NAS operational systems into a cloud environment. 

Planned Research Activities

• FY22 - Develop prototype command and control instance in the cloud for a selected demonstrator system.

• FY23 - Prepare and deliver a technology transfer package for Command and Control in the Cloud technologies.

• FY24 - Identify, evaluate, and document NAS Systems potentially suitable for command and control in a cloud 

environment.

Expected Research Products

• Evaluation of and recommendations for cloud architecture to provide command and control services in the 

future.

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Synchronization of Air/Ground SWIM 

(Connected Aircraft)

The activity will evaluate system architecture alternatives, performance and safety requirements, and establish an 

integrated roadmap for the development of future air traffic management services and policies that take advantage 

of the emerging air/ground connectivity. In order to ensure global interoperability, this activity will include the 

necessary coordination with applicable International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) technical panels to mature 

the development of a global Connected Aircraft concept in accordance with the Aviation System Block Upgrade 

(ASBU) framework.

Planned Research Activities

• FY22 - Integrated Connected Aircraft Framework Report to leverage ongoing efforts to ensure consistent 

messaging to inform future connected aircraft efforts

• FY23 - Data Distribution Platform Technical Report to establish platform to host a centralized application 

database with the necessary access for internal and external users to discover and download applications

• FY24 - TBD

Expected Research Products

• An integrated CA framework to further advance concepts that leverage the connected aircraft, including the 

exchange of safety critical information based on applicable performance standards

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Next Generation Input Devices

This activity will support the definition of requirements and concept development for an enterprise solution to next 

generation input devices for automation systems in the NAS.

Planned Research Activities

• FY22 - Identify and evaluate candidate technologies suitable for an enterprise solution for automation systems in 

the NAS and develop transition strategy.

• FY23 - Down select identified candidate technologies for more in-depth assessment for automation systems in 

the NAS and complete report. 

• FY24 - Develop transition strategy for NAS systems suitable for application of a next generation input device

Expected Research Products

• Recommendations for next generation input devices for automation systems in the NAS.

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Surveillance Portfolio Analysis (SPA)

This program will modernize the surveillance infrastructure, provide resiliency of surveillance services across the 

NAS, and develop / implement advanced surveillance data processing applications necessary for future. 

Planned Research Activities

• FY22 – Development of Surveillance Services Requirements, Architecture alternatives, and future technologies 

to further enhance existing Surveillance infrastructure 

• FY23 – Continue to Identify and address multiple challenges to advancing the overall enterprise surveillance 

architecture to meet the future needs of the NAS

• FY24 –TBD

Expected Research Products

• Enhanced resiliency of surveillance services across the NAS and implement advanced surveillance data 

processing applications necessary for future

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IP Based Command and Control Data Links

This activity will conduct engineering and analysis to support the potential use of internet-based data exchange for 

command and control applications.

Planned Research Activities

• FY22 - Complete initial analysis of performance, security requirements, and risk management analysis to 

support the potential use of internet-based data exchange for command and control applications.

• FY23 – Complete final analysis of performance, security requirements, and risk management analysis to support 

the potential use of internet-based data exchange for command and control applications.

• FY24 – Develop requirements for hardware application and link performance requirements to support the 

potential use of internet-based data exchange for command and control applications.

Expected Research Products

• Establish framework to potentially enable internet-based exchange of command and control information.

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• Automation Evolution Strategy (AES)

– Seeks efficiencies for developing, operating, and sustaining NAS automation 

systems/services

• Ubiquitous Communications

– Conduct assessment, develop a graduated framework, and develop initial 

performance requirements 

• Surveillance Portfolio Analysis (SPA)

– Address multiple challenges to advancing the overall enterprise surveillance 

architecture to meet the future needs of the NAS

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Emerging FY24 Focal Areas
Weather Program

New ATM Requirements

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FY 2024 Planned Research

Research Requirements Outputs/Outcomes

Out Year Funding Requirements

• The New ATM Requirements program is needed to identify 

new opportunities to improve the efficiency and 

effectiveness of air traffic management operations. 

Activities include the research and development of 

procedures, tools, and systems in support of operational 

improvements.

• Weather data integrated into air traffic management systems.

• Advanced communications technologies for data exchange between air and 

ground systems.

• Transition strategy and technology transfer package for Command and 

Control in the Cloud technologies.

• Enterprise solution to next generation input devices for automation systems 

in the NAS.

• Improvements of NAS Surveillance Services infrastructure.

• Analysis in the potential use of AI to support controller functions.

• Establish framework to enable internet-based exchange of command and 

control information

• Develop requirements for hardware application and link 

performance requirements to support the potential use of 

internet-based data exchange for command and control 

applications.

• Identify, evaluate, and document NAS Systems potentially 

suitable for command and control in a cloud environment.

• Identify obsolete and legacy weather products ripe for 

replacement with better weather information

• Develop transition strategy for NAS systems suitable for 

application of a next generation input device

F&E FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

$7.5M $ 6.0M $ 17.0M $ 7.0M $ 7.0M $10.0M