An Analytic Approach Toward Air Traffic Control

The impending increase in magnitude and complexity of the air traffic control problem makes it necessary to consider a general formulation which would provide the basis for the analysis and evaluation of newly designed equipments or systems. Comparison of the qualities of pictorial and symbolic models leads to a direct analogy which permits aircraft motion to be considered as communication. Various aspects of the symbolic-communication model are then indicated. These include the application of the extended sampling theorem for airpath definition and the discrete probability distribution for establishing the minimum flight safety criterion as well as a measure for air path tracking efficiency in terms of successful mission accomplishment. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate the development of a general analytic technique which would act as a common language for both operations and laboratory personnel and, in this manner, aid in the future development of safe and efficient systems for Air Traffic Control.