Surface

Increase the Predictability of Surface Operations

Since its founding in 1995, Metron Aviation has demonstrated thought leadership in airport surface research and innovation via its role in a number of diverse research programs and implementation initiatives—all of which have quantifiably improved airport efficiency. Metron Aviation understands the importance of improving surface operations, but not at the expense of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) directions. Metron Aviation has taken a leadership role in the environmental portion of NASA’s NextGen-Airportal Project. Metron Aviation developed the Modeling Environmental Factors in Surface and Terminal Optimization (MEFISTO) tool and explored the environmental impact of surface and terminal operations, and developed sophisticated surface routing models to minimize emissions of pollutants and noise. Metron Aviation’s surface accomplishments and future research includes a view taking environmental factors as well as stakeholder participation in the development of concepts and approaches for addressing some of the most complex surface issues.

Metron Aviation is currently under contract with MIT Lincoln Labs to develop specifications for the FAA’s Tower Flight Data Manager (TFDM). TFDM research seeks to implement the Electronic Flight Data System (EFDS), reduce the number of display devices in the nation’s control towers, and promote decision support logic. To date Metron Aviation’s contribution to TFDM has involved developing an Acquisition Management System (AMS), software prototypes in use at DFW, and systems documentation for safety, functional analysis, and concept of use.

Metron Aviation’s premier commercial success is its Surface Management System (SMS) currently in operation at Federal Express’ Memphis hub. SMS shares situational awareness of surface operations between the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), Ramp Tower, airlines and other Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities. SMS uses this informational environment to predict takeoff times for individual flights, and supports the airlines with advanced surface management strategies. Metron Aviation has also launched the Harmony for Airlines product to optimize Delta’s operations at LaGuardia (LGA) Airport. Together with leading industry surface companies, Metron Aviation participates in the Surface Capabilities Workgroup. This group assesses surface capabilities and how to integrate them into the surface environment using Surface Trajectory-Based Operations.

Surface Management System (SMS) optimizes surface operations through shared and predictive situational awareness.

Together with governmental and commercial stakeholders, Metron Aviation participates in the Surface Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) System sub-team (SCT). This group assesses surface capabilities and how to integrate them into the surface environment and explores the use of Surface Trajectory-Based Operations (STBO).

Metron Aviation is actively advancing emerging surface technologies. As a key member of the FAA’s Time-Based Flow Management (TBFM) program, Metron Aviation contributes to enhance metering of aircraft through the NAS, resulting in higher predictability in the overhead stream and therefore more predictability on surface operations. Another component of TBFM is Integrated Departure Arrival Capability (IDAC). Metron Aviation is developing this capability, which coordinates departures from multiple airports to common fixes. Metron Aviation is investigating advanced methods for reducing aircraft separation in the presence of wake vortex. Furthermore, Metron Aviation is an industry leader in research for Dynamic Airspace Configuration (DAC), publishing award-winning papers.