Will Be Publicly Demonstrated On December 14

As millions of Americans prepare to travel over the holidays, NASA is working to help make their experience even smoother, safer and more efficient, thanks to FutureFlight Central, a full-scale, simulated air traffic control tower, at NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley.

At FutureFlight, NASA, FAA and industry partner researchers use a state-of-the-art air traffic control simulator to study ways of optimizing management of the airspace around terminals. This includes timing departures and planning flight arrival paths most efficiently, enhancing controller communication, and mitigating safety risks inherent in high-volume traffic. Real users, such as air traffic controllers and pilots, come to FutureFlight to test NASA-developed tools in an ultra-realistic environment simulating their home airport under different environmental and traffic conditions.

On Dec. 14, NASA Ames will demonstrate busy conditions at Los Angeles (LAX) and Charlotte (CLT) airports by night and by day, under rain, snow, sleet and sun. The newest tools currently being tested at FutureFlight are expected to graduate to testing in the field, starting in September 2017, for three years of development and testing.

(Source: NASA news release)

FMI: www.nasa.gov