Flight Crew Support for Automated Negotiation of Descent and Arrival Clearances

This paper focuses on the application of data link for communication between air traffic management and FMSequipped aircraft. Based on requirements and guidelines for data link usage, a general philosophy for automated data exchange and the distribution of tasks between the human operators and the automation is presented. Many different areas are affected by the introduction of data link, including the role of the flight crew and the controllers as well as procedures and training requirements. In particular, the design of a flight crew interface providing for the necessary flight crew support is a crucial factor for data link efficiency. This paper introduces a concept addressing these areas and concludes with an outlook to upcoming experiments at NASA’s research facilities that are aimed at validating the proposed concept. Ultimately, safety and cost-effectiveness of the air transport system should be significantly improved by exploiting the capabilities of automation tools like CTAS on the ground and the FMS in the aircraft through the utilization of digital data connections.