NAS Operations Subcommittee | MINUTES

Meeting date & time: August 5-7, 2014

Meeting location: CSSI, Washington DC

Purpose: NAS Operations Subcommittee / Recommendations on Developing Strategic R&D 

Plan; Program Deep Dives

DFO: Maureen Molz

Next Meeting: March 10-12, 2015, Washington, DC

Minutes from Day 1 – August 5, 2014

Presentation Review of REDAC Recommendations, Responses and Open Actions

Presenter Steve Bussolari/Maureen Molz

Discussion: Steve discussed the status of prior REDAC NAS Ops recommendations as well as 

those recently addressed by the FAA Administrator in the memo dated July 9, 2014. 

Recommendations on Weather Program methodology, Wake RECAT benefits, and ConOps 

validation activities were closed. Recommendations on Trajectory Based Operations (TBO) 

ConOps, FAA research portfolios, mixed equipage, and Space Vehicle Operations (SVO) 

ConOps remained open. Detailed information on recommendations will be posted to the 

REDAC database. Pending actions are noted below in the minutes.

Presentation Budget Overview

Presenter Mike Gallivan 

Discussion – Mike discussed the FY 2014 Research, Engineering and Development budget 

request ($166M) and the appropriation of $158.792M, signed on January 17. Budget conference 

language addressed issues including UAS test sites; UAS Center of Excellence and sharing of 

safety data; alternative fuels for GA; and environmental research. The brief included discussion 

of debt ceiling, sequestration, FAA reauthorization and status of FY16 DOT budget.

Presentation Review and list Recommendations on Developing Strategic R&D Plan

Presenter Steve Bussolari

Discussion – Steve discussed the task statement issued to REDAC subcommittees by Dennis 

Filler (Director, WJHTC), to support development of a strategic R&D plan for the FAA. The 

action calls for a broad perspective, looking ahead at potential research efforts in a timeframe of 

10+ years, to develop an R&D portfolio that is strategic, responsive, and addresses future needs 

of the FAA. The subcommittee is charged with developing a list of emerging issues and 

opportunities, and documenting why they are significant. Steve will report out on the NAS Ops 

findings to the full REDAC committee at the October 2014 meeting. 

Presentation Deep Dive: Runway Incursion Reduction 

Presenter Nick Lento

Discussion –Nick discussed the Runway Incursion Reduction Program (RIRP) including 

Enhanced Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (eFAROS) and Runway Safety 

Assessment (RSA). eFAROS uses surface surveillance with augmented safety logic to provide a 

visual warning to pilots on final approach. The system can indicate that the runway is occupied 

and unsafe for landing by flashing the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights. FAA is 

providing design and engineering support for the development and implementation of eFAROS 
at certain locations. Nick also reviewed the 2013 market survey progress conducted for the 

Runway Safety Assessment program and associated recommendations.

Minutes from Day 2 – August, 6, 2014

Presentation Recommendations on Developing Strategic R&D Plan

Presenter Subcommittee Members

Discussion – During this period subcommittee members briefed their inputs to the strategic 

R&D plan. Topics of discussion included trajectory based operations, aircraft separation 

concepts, autonomous systems, big data/ATM concerns, stakeholder training issues, equipage 

diversity, commercial off-the-shelf ATM solutions, and emerging UAS activity. Steve also 

emphasized that the FAA Strategic Priorities and Initiatives were a valuable point of reference 

for the discussion.

Presentation Round Table Program Updates Discussion

Presenter Subcommittee Members

Discussion – This presentation consisted of a review of R&D significant accomplishments from 

the past year, as submitted in summary reports by the program managers. Reviewed programs 

included ATC/Tech Ops Human Factors, Weather, Wake Turbulence, NextGen Wake 

Turbulence RECAT, NextGen Weather Technology in the Cockpit, Operations Concept 

Validation (ATDP), and Operations Concept Validation (Validation Modeling). Follow up 

actions and questions were assigned as appropriate to each program. While the subcommittee 

found this review of the summary reports to be productive, there were a number of questions on 

program-specific areas and a few programs did not provide summary reports for review. With 

that in mind, Steve directed that for the March 2015 NAS Ops meeting we set aside time on the 

agenda for one-hour briefings for each program with invitations for each manager to brief the 

subcommittee.

Presentation Access to FAA Operational Data Sources 

Presenter Natesh Manikoth

Discussion – Natesh Manikoth, Chief Scientist for Software (ANG-4), briefed subcommittee 

members on access to FAA operational data sources. In his current position he provides 

technical guidance in software-related areas of the NAS system acquisition process. He cited the 

technical, governance and access barriers that challenge NextGen, and discussed efforts to 

provide easier access to the data for the broader research community. Despite budget reductions

he is still pursuing solutions to critical issues, and one of the most critical and immediate issues

is how to improve the time it takes to access data. He discussed the data source shortfalls, 

requirements and alternative options, as well as alignment with the System Wide Information 

Management (SWIM) program. He addressed the goal of expanding access to NAS information

and resulting effects on software procurement strategy. This includes reviewing specific NAS 

acquisitions to consider options of more limited scope. Natesh also spoke about unique weather 

data challenges (duplication of efforts with other agencies), lack of available data, infrastructure 

issues, and future uncertainties in data access capabilities. 

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Presentation Deep Dive: Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) - PEGASAS

Specialty Items

Presenter Gary Pokodner

Discussion – Gary provided a deep dive on General Aviation (GA) safety projects with a focus 

on PEGASAS, the FAA Center of Excellence (COE) for General Aviation. His brief began with 

a review of GA accident statistics and the program’s emphasis on identifying/addressing 

weather-related risks. PEGASAS efforts include research activities at six core universities 

operating under an FAA grant. Research into Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) is

grouped into four separate weather-related projects: quantifying causality (expanding accident 

causal research); inadvertent VFR to IMC; GA weather alerting; and GA weather information 

optimization. Gary discussed tasks, findings and accomplishments associated with each project. 

Subcommittee members focused on the use of sound scientific methodology in WTIC research 

efforts and ongoing COE work. The discussion also included hypotheses formulation and 

standardized techniques to minimize bias while ensuring consistent, measurable results.

Minutes from Day 3 – August 7, 2014

Presentation Review Findings and Recommendations / New Actions

Presenter Steve Bussolari

Discussion – Steve reviewed pending subcommittee recommendations / new actions and opened 

the discussion for any additional items. The next REDAC / NAS Ops meeting will be held on 

March 10-12, 2015, in Washington, DC.

Presentation Finalize Recommendations on Developing Strategic R&D Plan

Presenter Steve Bussolari

Discussion – This discussion focused on the final recommendations relating to the Strategic 

R&D Plan submissions. Steve started with a summary of the high level research issues and 

opportunities briefed on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the group continued a detailed discussion 

of specific items to consider. Issues that the FAA should get ahead of include UAS integration, 

GA safety, data integrity, and the verification and validation of complex systems. Research 

opportunities include efforts toward a more autonomous air traffic system; big data access and 

measuring the NAS, particularly with regard to safety; and modeling and simulation efforts. 

Steve is drafting the final recommendations from the subcommittee to be presented to the full 

REDAC committee. 

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Pending Actions:

 Rewrite recommendation from Spring_2013_22 (portfolio view of research priorities) as new 

recommendation; assign response to ANG-E (Steve Bussolari)

 Reassign recommendation from Spring_2014_06 (more strategic, forward looking research 

process, broader than NextGen) for status update by Dennis Filler (Steve Bussolari)

 Request elaboration on AJV-7 / Operations Concept Validation one-page summary; elaborate on 

program accomplishments with specific information on integration analysis section on page 2

(Rob Hunt)

 Request Natesh Manikoth provide governance report referred to in his brief (do not post on 

REDAC website; send to members email only; LIMITED DISTRIBUTION / DO NOT 

FORWARD BEYOND NAS OPS) - (Maureen Molz)

 For March 2015 NAS Ops meeting:

o Briefing by Dennis Filler on use NAS Ops subcommittee’s inputs on strategic research 

(Maureen Molz)

o Deep dive/mixed equipage brief from Steve Bradford or his delegate to include 

discussion of NextGen mixed equipage strategy (Maureen Molz)

o Deep dive on Space Vehicle Operations ConOps to include how ANG-C4 and AJV-7

will validate the ConOps and a description of the validation process (see recommendation 

from Spring_2014_05) (Kevin Hatton)

o Discussion of Trajectory Based Operations ConOps (Marc Buntin)

o One hour in-person briefings for all reviewed research programs (including commercial 

space research program) (Maureen Molz)

o Deep dive on Concept Steering Group processes; update on the multi-year research plan; 

discussion of industry engagement in concept validation (John Marksteiner)

o Briefing on Operational Weather Needs Analysis (OWNA) to include OWNA 

methodology to provide comprehensive set of weather research needs and results of 

analysis of operational needs for elements of NSIP 5.0 (see recommendation from 

July_2014_01) (Maureen Molz)

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NAS Ops Subcommittee Agenda

Date: August 5-7, 2014

Location: CSSI Capitol View

425 3rd Street, SW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20024

Tel: 202.600.7600

Meeting Purpose: Recommendations on Developing Strategic R&D Plan and Program Deep Dives

Day 1 – August 5th

Topic Time

Welcome/Overview 0830-0930

Review of REDAC Recommendations, Responses and Open Actions 0930-1015

Budget Briefing - Mike Gallivan 1015-1045

Review and list Recommendations on Developing Strategic R&D Plan 1045-1230

Lunch 1230-1330

Deep Dive (s):

Runway Incursion Reduction – Nick Lento 13301430

Strategic R&D Plan 1430-1530

Break 1530-1545

Strategic R&D Plan 1545-1645

Dinner – Location TBD 1800

Day 2 – August 6th

Topic Time

Review of Action Items 0830-0900

Recommendations on Developing Strategic R&D Plan 0900-1200

Lunch 1200-1300

Round Table Program Updates Discussion (No leads Present): 1300-1430

A11.i: Air Traffic Control/Technical Operations Human Factors

A11.k: Weather Program

A12.b: NextGen – Wake Turbulence

A12.e: NextGen – Weather Technology in the Cockpit

1A01A: Runway Incursion Reduction

1A01B: System Capacity, Planning and Improvement

1A01C: Operations Concept Validation

1A08A: NextGen – ATC/Tech Ops HF (Controller Efficiency/Air Ground Integration)

1A08B: NextGen – New Air Traffic Management Requirements

1A08C: NextGen – Ops Concept Validation – Validation Modeling

1A08E: NextGen – Wake Turbulence – Re- categorization

1A08F: NextGen – Operational Assessments – Capacity

Commercial Space

Access to FAA Operational Data Sources – Natesh Manikoth 1430-1500

Break 1500-1515

Deep Dive: WTIC – Pegasas Specialty Items – Gary Pokodner 1515-1615

Final Strategic R&D Discussion 1616-1700

Day 3 – August 7th

Topic Time

Review Findings and Recommendations / New Actions 0830-0930

Wrap up: 

Finalize recommendations on Developing Strategic R&D Plan 0930-1200

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Subcommittee Members in Attendance:

Steve Bussolari (Chair)

Joseph Bertapelle

John Cavolowsky

Bruce Holmes

Deborah Kirkman

William Leber

Mark Weber

Andres Zellweger

Maureen Molz (FAA, DFO)

Others in Attendance:

Candice Albert, JMA

Cathy Bigelow, FAA

Steve Bradford, FAA

Gloria Dunderman, FAA

Mike Gallivan, FAA

Walt Hogan, Booz Allen Hamilton

Nick Lento, FAA

Natesh Manikoth, FAA

Gary Pokodner, FAA

Chinita Roundtree-Coleman, FAA

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