A projection of future ATC data processing requirements

Forecast traffic growth for the 1980-1995 time period will exceed the capacity of the present airport and air traffic control automation system in high-density areas. If traffic growth is to be accommodated, higher levels of automation are required. The Department of Transportation Air Traffic Control Advisory Committee (September 1968-August 1969) established a computer sizing group to determine the feasibility of achieving the necessary level of automation within the projected technology. This paper presents a model of the future system, a summary of the functions automated, and estimates of the necessary computer instruction rate and storage requirements as developed by this computer sizing group.