Spring 2019 REDAC

Subcommittee: NAS Operations

DFO Name: Francisco Bermudez

FINDING AND RECOMMENDATION

Enterprise Concept Development and Technical Operations Human Factors

General Observation

During the Spring 2019 NAS Operations REDAC meeting, the subcommittee was briefed by the 

Enterprise Concept Development office and the Air Traffic Control Technical Operations Human Factors 

office on the FY2021 proposed portfolio for Budget Lines 1A11A and 8BA000. The Enterprise Concept 

Development program assesses the feasibility of proposed NextGen capabilities during the early phases 

of the AMS lifecycle. The Tech Ops Human Factors program provides technical sponsors with timely and 

appropriate R&D as identified by the ATO Human Factors Roundtable and ANG-C management that 

improve safety and efficiency of complex ATC systems.

Finding: One Enterprise Concept Development project is the re-architecture of the U.S. NOTAM System. 

This was identified as a project of significance to the NAS from both safety of flight and an operations

efficiencies perspectives. Human factors considerations must be taken into account during the 

development of the concept for this re-engineered NOTAM system to guide configuration, adaptation, 

and integration of NOTAMS for pilots, ATC, and airport operators critical to the safety of the NAS. 

 Tech Ops Human Factors carries out research projects that address factors affecting human 

performance in air traffic control operations which can be used by projects during system 

acquisition to improve the safety and efficiency of the NAS.

Recommendation: The subcommittee recommends that the Enterprise Concept Development project 

for NOTAM modernization engage human factors experts to help develop and validate effective 

concepts that adequately address human performance issues.

It is recommended that the Tech Ops Human Factors Program determine whether the current state of 

the art is adequate or whether human factors research is necessary to support the development of the 

NOTAM concept and, if so, carry out the necessary research and provide the results to the human 

factors experts working on the NOTAM modernization project. 

Weather Technology in the Cockpit Program (WTIC)

General Observation

During the Spring 2019 NAS Operations REDAC meeting, the subcommittee committee was briefed by 

the Weather Technology in the Cockpit office on the FY2021 proposed portfolio for Budget Line A12.c. 

The WTIC program research enhances safety, efficiency and capacity impacts related to weather.

Finding: WTIC plans to address weather information requirements and service criteria affecting existing 

UAS operations. UAS criteria are likely to differ significantly from those associated with GA owing to 
differences in aircraft dynamics, the airspace in which they operate and possible sensing and control 

latencies. WTIC does not appear to have extended this research to other important new entrants, in 

particular small, (in the future) pilotless passenger aircraft. The subcommittee could not ascertain 

WTIC research plans addressing pertinent aspects of Simplified Vehicle Operations to support this class 

of aircraft.

Recommendation: WTIC should include research activities in their FY2021 portfolio that address 

weather information requirements and minimum service criteria for pilotless passenger aircraft, 

particularly when these operate in urban airspace over people, structures or ground vehicles. Unique 

meteorological aspects of the urban environment, for example blockage and/or channeling of winds 

which could affect safety of ascent or descent should be considered.

ACTION ITEM

The NAS Operations Subcommittee appreciates the updates provided by the FAA briefing teams in the 

following topic, and requests this item be included in upcoming Subcommittee meetings:

Commercial Space Transportation

The subcommittee requests a more detailed technical briefing regarding the methods in development 

for launch vehicle-to-aircraft trajectory separation management. This would likely be a briefing 

presented by one of the organization’s subject matter experts.

INFORMATIONAL BRIEFINGS FOR NEXT MEETING

 NASA – ATM-X (Air Traffic Management – Exploration) program overview, with insights into FAA 

roles.