demonstration-onboard-traffic-alerts

Demonstration Onboard Traffic Alerts Demonstration Scope and Site

The Surface Onboard Traffic Alerting System demonstration is uniquely designed to operate independently of a fixed demonstration site. Instead, its primary objective is to collect and analyze comprehensive real-world data from taxiing aircraft across multiple airport environments. Emphasizing operational diversity, the project intentionally targets data acquisition from a range of airports, with a particular preference for large, high-traffic hubs. This approach ensures a robust dataset capturing diverse airspace configurations, traffic densities, and operational complexities, vital for the thorough validation of the technology. Partnership and Expertise

This demonstration benefits from the collaboration of several key industry stakeholders:

Honeywell leads the development and deployment of advanced data logging equipment and undertakes the comprehensive analysis and evaluation of collected surface movement data, drawing on deep expertise in avionics and traffic alert systems.
Airbus Operations contributes significantly by facilitating data collection through close cooperation with airspace users, primarily leveraging its extensive commercial aircraft fleet.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR), through its AT-One research unit, provides crucial domain expertise in the preparation and execution of demonstration activities, and plays an active role in knowledge dissemination efforts to ensure the broader impact of the project.

Demonstration Objectives and Alignment

The primary goal of the Onboard Traffic Alerts demonstration is to validate the capability of real Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data to reliably support onboard alerting functionalities. ADS-B serves as the foundational technology enabling the acquisition of precise and timely traffic information concerning surrounding aircraft, which is critical for the effectiveness of onboard traffic alert systems.

This demonstration contributes directly to the objectives of the SESAR project PJ03b-05, focused exclusively on enhancing onboard traffic alert capabilities for improved situational awareness and safety during ground operations. Demonstration Setup and Methodology

The demonstration involves systematic data logging of both ownship aircraft position and proximate traffic via ADS-B signals, followed by rigorous data analysis to assess performance parameters. Honeywell’s Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is leveraged as the data collection platform, due to its advanced logging capabilities that require no aircraft modifications to enable ADS-B recording. This seamless integration is facilitated by Honeywell’s proprietary MonTPA logging tool, which captures comprehensive Traffic Computer parameters in real time.

Multiple airline partners contribute to the initiative, with nine Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft confirmed for participation. Honeywell equips these aircraft with dedicated data logging hardware and operational procedures to ensure consistent data capture during routine taxi operations. Airline engineering teams are responsible for securely uploading collected data to Honeywell’s analysis servers regularly throughout the campaign.

The data acquisition phase is projected to span approximately 40 weeks during the calendar year 2018, allowing for the accumulation of a substantial dataset encompassing varied traffic scenarios. Honeywell continuously analyzes this data using both existing analytic frameworks and newly developed tools, aiming to conclusively demonstrate that ADS-B technology performance meets the stringent requirements to support robust onboard traffic alerting functions. Equipment Highlight

The core data recording technology utilized is Honeywell’s validated onboard data recorder, specifically designed to capture high-fidelity traffic data for subsequent analysis and validation. Recent Developments and Industry Impact

In the context of ongoing SESAR 2020 advancements, the Onboard Traffic Alerts demonstration has reinforced the critical role of ADS-B technology as an enabler for enhanced situational awareness and safety on the airport surface. Recent regulatory endorsements from EASA and ICAO have underscored the importance of deploying ADS-B based systems to reduce runway incursions and taxiway navigation errors, aligning regulatory expectations with SESAR’s technological innovations. Moreover, Honeywell’s continuous refinement of data analysis algorithms, informed by real-world operational feedback, has contributed to improved predictive alerting capabilities, fostering safer, more efficient airport operations. As large hub airports increasingly adopt these SESAR-endorsed ATM solutions, the pathway for industrial deployment of onboard traffic alerting technologies is more tangible than ever, marking a significant milestone in the global modernization of air traffic management frameworks.