Trajectory Orientation: A Technology-Enabled Concept Requiring a Shift in Controller Roles and Responsibilities

Trajectory orientation is a procedural concept that enables en route controllers to plan and coordinate trajectories across sector boundaries while efficiently maintaining separation and conforming to flow-rate constraints. Today’s sector-oriented procedures are characterized by an emphasis on controller actions to protect their sector’s internal airspace. In contrast, a trajectory orientation emphasizes controller actions that work cooperatively across sectors and depend on each other for well-planned, nominally conflict-free flow of traffic. As an alternative to the technical modernization of current practices, a trajectory orientation represents the operational goal for which decision support technology should be developed. An en route operations assessment, including a literature review and structured interviews with controllers from the Cleveland and Denver Centers, was conducted to determine the core issues that inhibit a trajectory orientation in today’s operational environment. Results indicated that the most significant problem was the controller’s inability to perform accurate strategic planning. This problem was decomposed into low-level issues that can be solved using a combination of Free Flight technology currently being researched and new procedures. In addition, several concepts for new controller roles, responsibilities, and procedures were evaluated for their potential in achieving a trajectory orientation. Two concepts, one inspired by the EUROCONTROL multisector planner and one based on the Upstream R-side/Dside Team, were determined to be most likely candidates for achieving a trajectory orientation.