ATO Advanced Technology Development and Prototyping Group

Low Cost Ground Surveillance (LCGS)

Description

Today the National Airspace System (NAS) provides minimal surface surveillance at small to medium airports. The out-the-window view of the air traffic controller and voice communication with pilots are the primary means of avoiding conflicts and maintaining operational capacity and safety. If visibility is reduced due to weather conditions, then capacity and safety may be severely restricted without some means of surface surveillance. This concept provides scalable and adaptable coverage from user-specified regions to an entire airport movement area. Two different LCGS candidates are under evaluation: the Critical Area Management System (CAMS) and the NOVA 9000 Air Traffic Control System (ATCS).

CAMS uses an array of millimeter wave sensors (MWS) distributed throughout the airport movement area to provide coverage of runways, taxiways, and ramp areas. MWS requires no aircraft-installed equipment to operate. The current system installed at Spokane International Airport (GEG), as part of the LCGS evaluation, is integrated with ARTS-IIE. This system can also be integrated with an Optical Identification Sensor (OIS) currently under evaluation
The NOVA 9000 Air Traffic Control System (ATCS) uses Terma X-Band radar to provide complete coverage of the airport movement area. It requires no aircraft-installed equipment to operate. The current system installed at GEG is also integrated with ARTS-IIE.

Purpose

The two-phase technical performance evaluation was successfully completed for both candidates. The current plan calls for re-locating the equipment at GEG from the old to the new ATCT with the purpose of completing a formal ATC user evaluation (Phase Three). Because of the success at GEG and the recent FAA “Call to Action” for runway safety improvements, The FAA is also exploring the expansion of test and evaluation activities at other airports.

Flight Plan Goal: Increased Safety

FAA Objective 3: Reduce the risk of runway incursions
- Performance Target: By FY2010, limit category A and B (most serious) runway incursions to a rate of no more than 0.450 per million operations, and maintain or improve through FY 2011.

SMP Goal: Pathway 1: Achieve operational excellence

Objective 1.3: Ensure safety and aircraft separation
Metric 1.3a: Complete initial investment readiness decision for Low Cost Ground Surveillance (LCGS). (Sept 08)

Most Recent Accomplishments

Submitted final NOVA 9000 Operational Evaluation Report – Sept 2007
Completed data analysis and reporting for CAMS Optical Identifications Sensor performance evaluation – Sept 2007
Completed GEG Site Survey for re-location of equipment – October 2007