The Role of the Airborne Traffic Situation Display in Future ATC Systems

The historical evolution and current status of the airborne traffic situation display concept is presented as well as a survey of related technological developments in collision-avoidance systems, area navigation equipment, and data links. Two alternative ATSD systems configurations are discussed: one deriving aircraft positions from ATC surveillance, the other deriving aircraft positions from air-to-air data exchanges. Based on the results of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology simulation study of airborne traffic situation display capabilities, a review of the many possible applications of the device is presented. Significant benefits in greater system capacity, greater safety, and an overall improvement in operational efficiency are predicted. A reduction in ATC capital and operating costs appears to be realizable if the ATSD is accepted as an integral element in future ATC system designs. Finally, the airborne computer-display capability required for the ATSD provides a fresh opportunity to combine, enhance, and integrate many of the cockpit functions that are now carried out by a proliferation of separate devices.