Feasibility of self-separation and sequencing during GPS instrument approaches

The self-separation and sequencing (SSS) flight experiment was conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC) to determine if instrument rated general aviation (GA) pilots could self-separate and sequence their ownship aircraft, while following a simulated aircraft, into a simulated nontowered, nonradar airport during simulated instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Six GA pilots´ subjective workload levels and abilities to fly a Cirrus SR22X aircraft while performing self-separation and sequencing procedures during straight-in, intrail approaches and approaches with simultaneous arrivals of aircraft were examined. This paper discusses the results of the flight experiment and its relevance to future research.