Research, Engineering and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC)

NAS Operations Subcommittee | MINUTES

Meeting date & time: March 10-12, 2015

Meeting location: Booz Allen Hamilton (Portals III), Washington DC

Purpose: Review of FY 2017 Proposed Portfolio and Provide Recommendations; Program 

Deep Dives

Chairman: Steve Bussolari

DFO: Maureen Molz

Next Meeting: August 11-13, 2015, Washington, DC

Day 1 – March 10, 2015

Presentation Concept Steering Group Processes / Research Plan / Industry 

Engagement / 1A11: NextGen – Ops Concept Validation Modeling

Presenter John Marksteiner

Discussion – This briefing discussed budget challenges for FAA concept validation activities 

and the shift of funding sources to the PBN and Separation Management portfolios. Recent 

accomplishments for this budget line include delivery of an Integrated NAS / Space Vehicle 

Operation simulation model, Leesburg Remote Towers procedure development, and continued 

research into UAS integration in the NAS. FY17 funding may support further development of 

Optimized Route Capabilities and Vertical Conformance Verification products.

Presentation Trajectory Based Operations ConOps Discussion

Presenter Marc Buntin

Discussion – The Four Dimensional Trajectory-Based Operations (4D TBO) concept is a 

fundamental shift within Air Traffic Management. Benefits associated with 4D TBO may 

include improvements in overall predictability of traffic and enhanced collaboration among 

stakeholders. Key points of this briefing included a review of terms and definitions as they relate 

to 4D TBO, the evolving use of ground and airborne automation, as well as consideration of predeparture, surface, arrival / departure and enroute operations in a 4D TBO environment. The 

discussion included video depicting Optimized Profile Descent activities and a briefing on 4D 

TBO technology enablers.

Presentation Space Vehicle Operations (SVO) Concept Validation Process

Presenter Kevin Hatton

Discussion – The SVO briefing covered the gaps in capabilities to accurately model the impact 

of space vehicle operations on the NAS, as the FAA presently employs airspace management

approaches that include closing large volumes of airspace for significant lengths of time during 

launch and re-entry operations. The discussion included a review of debris hazards to aircraft

and the lack of a real-time debris threat response capability, as well as information on the SVO 

ConOps released in August 2014. The SVO ConOps offers solutions to minimize large closures 

of airspace for launch and re-entry operations.

Presentation Mixed Equipage / 1A11: NextGen – Operational Assessments –

Capacity / 1A10D: NextGen – New Air Traffic Management Requirements

Presenter Steve Bradford (via phone), Diana Liang

Discussion – Recent accomplishments of the Operational Assessment Performance budget line 

include publishing the NextGen Business case and evaluation of the operational performance 
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impacts of NextGen technologies and procedures. In FY17, budget funding will support 

evaluation of the benefits and costs of targeted NextGen capabilities and updating the NextGen 

Segment Implementation Plan. The NextGen New ATM Requirements budget supports crosscutting research to develop system for capacity enhancements. Expected FY17 outputs include 

new radar requirements and development of future collision avoidance requirements to support 

new classes of users.

Presentation Operational Weather Need Analysis (OWNA) / Weather Research, 

Operational Needs for NSIP 5.0 / A11.k: Weather Program / A12.e: NextGen –

Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC)

Presenter Steve Abelman, Gary Pokodner

Discussion – This presentation included planned FY17 weather program research efforts, 

including hazardous weather mitigation, weather modeling and sensing, and the evolution of 

current capabilities. The OWNA program identifies weather attributes based on operational

decision making associated with weather-constrained operations. The WTIC program comprises 

research projects to develop, verify, and validate requirements for incorporation into minimum 

weather service standards, and recent accomplishments include the completion of Eddy 

Dissipation Rate / Graphical Turbulence Guidance Uplink flight demonstration and reports. 

Presentation Budget Briefing

Presenter Mike Gallivan

Discussion – The budget briefing covered requests, appropriation and enacted programs for the 

research, engineering & development, and facilities & engineering budgets. Specific budget 

conference language was discussed in reference to UAS research and NextGen environmental 

research (aircraft technologies, fuels and metrics). Highlighted Congressional issues included 

the effects of sequestration in FY16 and policy riders. The FY16 FAA budget request was 

presented to Congress on 2/2/2015, and the FY17 budget request is expected to be delivered to 

OST by June 2015. The current FAA budget authorization is in effect through FY15.
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Day 2 – March 11, 2015

Presentation Portfolio Overview - Research Project Mapping

Presenter John Maffei

Discussion – This briefing provided an overview of the NextGen investment portfolio and the 

budget challenges for NextGen pre-implementation activities, as targeted to provide operational 

improvements within the NAS. NextGen funding history was discussed in reference to 

programmatic support for Congressional earmarks, solution set and portfolio activities, and 

research, engineering and development programs. The discussion also included consideration of 

the adjusted budget structure and transition from solution sets to NextGen portfolios.

Presentation Use of Subcommittee Inputs on Strategic Research

Presenter Dennis Filler

Discussion – Dennis addressed NAS Ops subcommittee inputs on emerging issues and 

opportunities, as submitted to the FAA Administrator on 11/10/2014. Areas of discussion 

included data integrity and big data/measuring the NAS, cyber test research efforts at WJHTC, 

research associated with new entrants (UAS and space vehicles), and budgetary challenges 

surrounding OMB guidance. NAS Ops subcommittee inputs in these areas will be used to guide 

prioritization of future research efforts.

Presentation 1A01C Operations Concept Validation / Elaboration on one-page 

summary from Aug 2014 (integration analysis)

Presenter Rob Hunt

Discussion – The Operations Concept Development & Infrastructure program develops, matures, 

and validates near / mid-term emerging operational concepts. Benefits of this program include 

the development of automation that can increase capacity and efficiency, while supporting FAA 

efforts to reduce costs. This program contributed to recent advancements in UAS concept 

maturation, operational integration analysis, and research efforts in special activity airspace.

Plans for FY17 include operational integration analysis, PBN optimization, interval management 

and trajectory-based operations.

Presentation 1A11: NextGen – ATC / Tech Ops Human Factors

Presenter Jerome Lard

Discussion – This briefing covered human factors (HF) research activities such as AMS HF tools 

and guidance, human error and safety analyses assessments, Tech Ops Strategic Job Analysis, 

and remote towers operations. Future plans will document procedures which increase reliance 

on automation for routing tasking and focus on the interaction between the air / ground domains 

to validate PBN procedures. Expected benefits include effective systems integration to support 

PBN operations and maintain separation.
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Presentation A11.i: Air Traffic Control/Technical Operations Human Factors

Presenter Dino Piccione

Discussion – FY17 funding requests for this program will cover support of the Research and 

Development Human Factors (HF) Lab and the CAMI NAS Human Factors Safety Research 

Lab. Future research efforts will include validation of TRACON training standards, facility 

placement, and predicting training success. The briefing also included discussion of plans to 

request a new budget line focused on ATC training and safety, with AJI as the sponsor.

Presentation 1A01A: Runway Incursion Reduction

Presenter Matt Royston

Discussion – This presentation consisted of an update on the Runway Incursion Reduction 

Program (RIRP), including Enhanced Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (eFAROS), 

Runway Safety Assessment (RSA), and Small Airport Surveillance System (SASS). Discussion 

focused on SASS as a low-cost secondary surveillance solution with benefits of improved 

controller situational awareness and efficiency. The briefing also covered key design features 

and target airports for SASS. 

Presentation 1A01B: System Capacity, Planning and Improvement

Presenter David Chin, Allison Talarek

Discussion – This program identifies, evaluates, measures and formulates system capacity 

improvements for the NAS. Work efforts include the Performance Data Analysis Reporting 

System (PDARS), airport capacity studies and international performance benchmarking. The 

presentation provided an overview of plans for replacement of the PDARS legacy system and 

integration of SWIM data products into the new system. The briefing included a high-level 

discussion of the system architecture and a consideration of the budget challenges for the 

replacement program.
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Day 3 – March 12, 2015

Presentation A12.a: NextGen – Wake Turbulence; 1A05D: NextGen – Wake 

Turbulence – Re-categorization

Presenter Paul Strande

Discussion – Wake turbulence programs support research that matures operational concepts to 

the point that they can be developed and implemented through F&E. Products delivered from 

wake research provide airport throughput capacity benefits to NAS users without requiring major 

investments by NAS stakeholders. Both time-based separation and interval management require

wake considerations. The discussion also included model data sources, wake standards for new 

aircraft, dynamic wake separation and paired procedures.

Recommendations

 The following recommendations were closed:

o Spring_2013_22 – Closed based on agency response to portfolio view of FAA research.

o Fall_2013_10 – Closed based on mixed equipage discussion by Steve Bradford.

o Fall_2013_13 – Closed based on Dennis Filler’s briefing of integrated agency-wide view 

of R&D.

o July_2014_02 – Closed based on response by Wake & CSPO R&D Integration Lead.

 A new recommendation was addressed on the topic of:

o 4D Trajectory Based Operations

Pending Actions

 For August 2015 NAS Ops meeting:

o Deep dive on Trajectory Based Operations to include high-level research objectives and 

samples of current FAA and NASA research efforts (Maureen Molz)

o Deep dive on UAS to include technical elements and multiple areas of expertise

(Maureen Molz)

o Engage with ANG-5 (Joe Post) to provide response on how mixed equipage was 

considered in estimates of NAS performance (Maureen Molz)

o Request briefing from Commercial Space Transportation (AST) on research areas 

relevant to the subcommittee (Jaime Figueroa / Maureen Molz)

o Recommend to 1A01A: Runway Incursion Reduction that they engage with REDAC / 

Safety Subcommittee (John Cavolowsky)

Completed Actions

 Distribute National Aviation Research Plan (NARP) to subcommittee membership / 

Completed 3/11/15

 Distribute EDR Uplink Quantitative Benefits Analysis (follow up from weather briefing) 

to subcommittee membership / Completed 3/12/15 

Subcommittee Members in Attendance:

Steve Bussolari (Chairman)

Joseph Bertapelle

John Cavolowsky

Bruce Holmes

Deborah Kirkman

James Kuchar

William Leber

Mark Weber

Andres Zellweger

Maureen Molz (FAA, DFO)

Others in Attendance:

See attendance list
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REDAC / NAS Operations Subcommittee

Date: March 10-12, 2015 

Location: 1201 Maryland Ave, SW, Suite 500 (Portals III building) Washington, DC 20024

Meeting Purpose: Review of FY 2017 Proposed Portfolio and Provide Recommendations

Tuesday, March 10

Topic Time

Welcome/Overview Steve Bussolari 0830-0900

Review of REDAC Recommendations, Responses and Open Actions Steve Bussolari 0900-0945

Action item - Concept Steering Group Processes / Research Plan / Industry 

Engagement / 1A11: NextGen – Ops Concept Validation Modeling

John Marksteiner 0945-1045

Action item - Trajectory Based Operations ConOps Discussion Marc Buntin 1045-1145

Lunch 1145-1230

Deep Dive - Space Vehicle Operations Concept Validation Process Kevin Hatton 1230-1330

Deep Dive - Mixed Equipage / 1A11: NextGen – Operational Assessments – Capacity 

/ 1A10D: NextGen – New Air Traffic Management Requirements

Steve Bradford, 

Diana Liang

1330-1430

Action item: Operational Weather Need Analysis / Weather Research, Operational 

Needs for NSIP 5.0 / A11.k: Weather Program / A12.e: NextGen – Weather 

Technology in the Cockpit

Steve Abelman, 

Gary Pokodner

1430-1600

Budget Briefing Mike Gallivan 1600-1630

Dinner – location TBD 1800

Wednesday, March 11

Topic Time

Review Findings and Recommendations / New Actions Steve Bussolari 0830-0900

Portfolio Overview - Research Project Mapping John Maffei 0900-0930

Action item - Use of Subcommittee inputs on strategic research Dennis Filler 0930-1030

Action item - 1A01C Operations Concept Validation / Elaboration on one-page 

summary from Aug 2014 (integration analysis)

Rob Hunt 1030-1130

Lunch 1130-1230

1A11: NextGen – ATC/Tech Ops HF Jerome Lard 1300-1345

A11.i: Air Traffic Control/Technical Operations Human Factors Dino Piccione 1345-1430

1A01A: Runway Incursion Reduction Matt Royston 1430-1515

1A01B: System Capacity, Planning and Improvement David Chin 1515-1600

Thursday, March 12

Topic Time

Review Findings and Recommendations / New Actions Steve Bussolari 0830-0930

A12.a: NextGen – Wake Turbulence Paul Strande 0930-1015

1A05D: NextGen – Wake Turbulence – Re-categorization Paul Strande 1015-1045

Discussion and wrap up Subcommittee 

members

1045-1215