AOSP Newsletter January-March 2019, Quarter 2
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration AOSP Newsletter Airspace Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) JAN-MAR 2019 | Quarter 2 UTM Team Visits TCL4 Nevada 4 Test Site Safe2Ditch Steer-to-Clear 6 www.nasa.gov 2 AOSP NEWSLETTER // JAN-MAR 2019 AOSP IN THE NEWS Proposed FAA Rules and NASA. In April 2017, through Stanley told clients that ‘electrified, Loosen Restrictions On Congressional direction, the agencies autonomous vertical takeoff and Drone Flights At Night combined their respective technol- landing vehicles,’ or flying cars, are ogy research and began defining the gaining traction. Adam Jonas wrote Engadget (1/14, Dellinger) “Right scope of the pilot project.” that investors ought to consider on the heels of Canada introducing the future of flying cars—without new, stricter regulations for drone Feds Make Major Moves naming individual companies’ operations, the US Department of to Relax Restrictions stocks that could benefit from such Transportation proposed a new set of on Use of Drones a development. ...Jonas pointed to rules for drones that would allow the a few factors to bolster his view: unmanned vehicles to fly over popu- Forbes (1/15, Rupprecht) “The drone package delivery is already in lated areas and operate at night. The Department of Transportation made active testing, and NASA launched proposal also includes a pilot pro- three major announcements: (1) an initiative to encourage urban air gram for drone traffic management proposed regulations to allow drone mobility’s development late last year.” that would help to integrate the operators to fly over people as well as aircrafts into the nation’s airspace. at night WITHOUT a waiver or an NASA Tests Urban Drone ...The program, first developed as a exemption, (2) an advanced notice Traffic Management research project by NASA and oper- of proposed rulemaking asking for In Nevada, Texas ated as a joint effort between that recommendations on countering agency and the FAA, will be used problematic drones affecting safety Business Insider (2/19) “NASA has primarily to gather information that and security, and (3) the awarding of selected two organizations to host will help set future rules.” three contracts to commercial ser- the final phase of its four-year series vice entities to develop technology of increasingly complicated techni- DOT UAS Initiatives to provide flight planning, commu- cal demonstrations involving small nications, separation, and weather Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Federal Aviation Administration services for drones under 400 feet. commonly known as drones. The (1/14) “On January 14, 2019, U.S. ...The UPP, which was originally Nevada Institute for Autonomous Department of Transportation initiated by NASA but subsequently Systems in Las Vegas and the Lone Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced became a major joint effort between Star UAS Center for Excellence & proposed new rules and a pilot the FAA and NASA, ‘is intended to Innovation in Corpus Christi, Texas, project to allow unmanned aircraft develop and demonstrate a traffic will host demonstrations to confirm systems (UAS), or more commonly management system to safely inte- NASA’s UAS Traffic Management called drones, to fly overnight and grate drone flights within the nation’s (UTM) system can safely and effec- over people without waivers under airspace system.’” tively manage drone traffic in an certain conditions and to further urban area.” integrate drones safely into the ‘Get Ready For Flying Cars,’ national airspace system....Develop- Says Morgan Stanley’s Widely ing drone traffic management was Followed Auto Analyst initiated as a research project by NASA and subsequently became a Business Insider (2/5) “A widely major joint effort between the FAA followed auto analyst at Morgan AOSP NEWSLETTER // JAN-MAR 2019 3 AOSP IN THE NEWS NASA Teaming Up NASA’s Drone Traffic Control Homeland Security, NASA With TAMUCC To Study System Moves Into The Team Up To Tackle Ever- Drone Traffic Safety Final Phase Of Testing growing Airspace Drone Traffic MSN (2/19) “Texas A&M Univer- New Atlas (2/20) “Here, NASA Oregonian (2/20) “The U.S. govern- sity-Corpus Christi was awarded expects to carry out trials that show ment estimates there will be more a partnership with NASA to test how the UTM can safely coordinate than 7 million drones in its national drones and make them safer. With drone traffic in urban areas. This will airspace within a couple of years, and more companies and people utiliz- involve drone flights over downtown that there are ‘serious safety, efficiency ing drones, the partnership will Reno, Nevada, and over the campus and security’ problems on the horizon help make sure the skies are safe for at Texas A&M University, where if further regulatory measures are not unmanned aircraft systems. At the technologies like obstacle avoidance, taken. The Department of Homeland Lone Star UAS Center at TAMUCC, drone-to-drone communication Security reports in a news release that research is already underway into the and automated landing will be put it has partnered with NASA and the future of drone technology.” through their paces. The results of Federal Aviation Administration to the trials will then be used to develop tackle these concerns.” rules and procedures for drone traffic in busy areas.” 4 AOSP NEWSLETTER // JAN-MAR 2019 TECHNICAL AND PROGRAMMATIC HIGHLIGHTS UTM Team Visits TCL4 UTM operations. NASA’s UTM Nevada Test Site concept was referenced in ANPRM POC: RON JOHNSON Section IV.C. and reflects the increasingly central role that UTM The Unmanned Aircraft System will play in the nation’s small UAS Traffic Management (UTM) operations. The ANPRM referenced project held a kickoff meeting with the UTM implementation plan, the Nevada UAS test site and the and the FAA requested public Nevada Institute of Autonomous UTM team surveying takeoff, landing, and staging input about how UTM should be Systems (NAIS) in Reno, Nevada, areas for TCL4 (left to right: Frank Aguilera, Jae- utilized. The public commentary on February 4. The purpose of the woo Jung, Jeff Homola, Joey Rios, Marcus Johnson, period ended on April 15, 2019. Chris Walach, Juan Ramirez of NAIS, Arwa visit was to review NAIS’ progress on Aweiss, and Joey Mercer). Typically, NASA aeronautical UTM’s Technical Capability Level research products do not have this 4 (TCL4) test preparation since that are planned for May. Mayor much direct airspace impact in this being awarded the test site contract Hillary Schieve paid a visit and short amount of time. Five years on December 21, 2018. Eight underscored the city’s commitment ago, there were no UTM companies, UTM team members participated to successful testing. The team also and now they are sprouting up all in this face-to-face meeting held visited sites in Reno to be used over the world. In fact, other nations in Reno City Hall to discuss the for takeoffs and landings, flight (Japan, Australia, Singapore, most details and test plans of the flights, paths, and contingency areas. of Europe, Colombia, and more) in and around the city of Reno, have latched on to the concept and UTM Part of Advanced are accelerating their own efforts. Proposed Rule Making by FAA UTM is a potential model for POC: JOEY RIOS AND PARIMAL KOPARDEKAR other emerging entrants into the national airspace, such as urban air On February 13, the FAA mobility, high-altitude operations, incorporated Unmanned Aircraft and space traffic management System (UAS) Traffic Management by allowing operators to perhaps (UTM) as part of an Advance Notice collaboratively manage the National of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). Airspace System through data The FAA issues an ANPRM exchange, protocols, and rules. for public commentary prior to implementing proposed rules related https://www.federalregister.gov/ to air transportation operations. d/2019-00758 (overall APRM doc) Specifically, through this ANPRM, the FAA sought to reduce risks to https://www.federalregister.gov/ public safety and national security, d/2019-00758/p-68 (UTM stuff) as the public commentary process Reno City Hall and adjacent parking garage with may have significant impact to the roof top takeoff and landing areas. eventual FAA rules that govern AOSP NEWSLETTER // JAN-MAR 2019 5 TECHNICAL AND PROGRAMMATIC HIGHLIGHTS ATD-2 Demo at Future project, discussion of current Technology Demonstration–2 Flight Central for NASA benefits from ATD-2 technology, (ATD-2) team trained the new Deputy Administrator future directions for the technology, Traffic Management Coordinators POC: LINDSAY STEVENS and the benefits of testing the (TMCs) at both Washington technologies in facilities such as Center (ZDC) and Atlanta Center On February 25, James Morhard, NASA’s Future Flight Central (ZTL) that had not been in the NASA Deputy Administrator, (FFC). Additional NASA attendees unit during the previous refresher training sessions. This included nine TMCs from ZDC and three TMCs from ZTL. They were briefed on the capabilities of ATD- 2’s Ramp Traffic Console (RTC) and Surface Trajectory Based Operations (STBO) Client. During each session, TMCs were guided through interactions with the RTC and STBO Client interfaces and engaged with features and data exchange between the two tools. There was further discussion on how ATD-2 is integrated into their Time-Based Flow Management (TBFM) system through the Integrated Departure/ Arrival/Surface capability and the non-verbal interaction that Lindsay Stevens (right) provided an overview of the ATD-2 subproject to NASA Deputy Administrator is available through electronic James Morhard (left) at FutureFlight Central. negotiations. TMCs had the opportunity to provide feedback visited Ames Research Center in included Ames Director Eugene Tu, and discussed how these tools could California. The visit included a the Aviation Systems Division, be used in the center environment. demonstration of the Airspace and Aeronautics Research Mission Outcomes of the center training, Technology Demonstration–2 Directorate management teams.