Dynamic airspace super sectors (DASS) as high-density highways in the sky for a new US air traffic management system

We evaluate a new sector design called dynamic airspace super sectors (DASS). DASS may be thought of as a network of one-directional, high density highways in the sky, like thin ribbons of airspace stretching over the U.S. and connecting major airports. DASS is a simplification of airspace structure that may decrease air traffic controller (ATC) workload and allow higher densities of aircraft to be safely monitored. DASS would also potentially reduce delay for aircraft using DASS. The team used these two factors, workload and delay, to measure the effectiveness of the DASS Alternatives. We uses total airport and airspace modeller (TAAM) and Arena simulation environments to simulate two aspects of the design alternatives: the effect of varying the number of entrance/exit points to DASS, first, on traffic outside and second, on traffic inside of DASS.