The
purpose of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Next Generation (NextGen)
program is to improve the daily operations of the National Airspace (NAS)
System (FAA, 2016). Unmanned aerial
systems (UAS) will require the capability to interface with the infrastructure
and abide by the regulations of NextGen to operate in the NAS. Compliance with the FAA’s new program will
bring challenges to UAS operations most likely similar to those faced by manned
platforms.
The
NextGen program plans for comprehensive airborne equipment and ground
infrastructure upgrades and additional satellite resources to improve NAS
operations and handling of projected increase in air traffic. One component of NextGen is the incorporation
of Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) by 2020. ADS-B uses transmission and reception
equipment in aircraft and on the ground to improve position tracking and
separation of air traffic. ADS-B also
increases safety by providing continuously updated weather information. Other planned components include new
instrument landing systems at airfields to improve and increase safety of
flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) meteorological conditions. Additional satellite platforms will also
provide improved navigation resources for aviators (FAA, 2016).
UAS
operating in the NAS will benefit from implementation of the NextGen
program. ADS-B will be a valuable
resource for sensing, detection, and avoidance of other air traffic. According to the FAA (2015), a UAS operating
by visual flight rules (VFR) is required to give way to all manned aircraft but
not to a UAS operating under IFR (p. 4).
A pilot would need to rely on onboard sensors such as cameras or radar
or have the UAS within line of sight to comply with this requirement. A UAS operating under IFR is handled the same
as manned aircraft operating under IFR, with considerations given to a specific
UAS’ handling characteristics (FAA, 2015, p. 4). IFR unmanned aircraft rely on air traffic
controllers and non-visual onboard sensors to maintain safe separation from
other manned or manned aircraft. ADS-B
would greatly improve situational awareness, navigation, and safety for all
manned and unmanned aircraft pilots operating under VFR or IFR. This system will also assist controllers in
maintaining safe separation of air traffic.
In
the event of a command, control, and communication link outage, “lost link”, a
UAS must be pre-programmed with a contingency plan. A UAS allowed to “run wild” would be a
significant safety hazard. A lost link
plan will, ideally, distance a UAS from other traffic as quickly as possible,
attempt to re-establish the link as soon as possible, and remove the aircraft
from the air as quickly and safely as possible if required. The FAA (2015) requires lost link procedures
in a Certificate of Authorization and to be provided to air traffic controllers
(p. 4). However, mechanical and system
failures are always a possibility and a UAS may not obey lost link
procedures. NextGen programs,
particularly ADS-B, would assist in keeping all manned and unmanned air traffic
clear of this hazard and assist operators and air traffic controllers in
tracking the stricken UAS.
The
design of interfaces on the UAS control console to present NextGen data will be
the primary human factors issue. The
display design and format must contribute to and complement the aircraft
systems information and data already being presented to the pilot. A well designed interface will not
significantly add to the existing workload on UAS operators.
The FAA’s NextGen
program promises increased situational awareness, navigation resources, and
safety for increased operations in the NAS.
Manned and unmanned aircraft will benefit from the enhancements featured
in NextGen. As long as the interfaces
for pilots will be user-friendly, human factors will not present a significant
issue.References:
Federal Aviation Administration. (2016).
NextGen [Fact Sheet]. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/
Federal Aviation Administration. (2015).
Unmanned Aircraft Operations in
the National
Airspace System (N JO
7210.889). Washington DC: U.S.
Government Printing Office.
