matt massiano, saab sensis

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MJ Massiano | © Saab

NASAO 85th Annual Convention September 12, 2016

LEESBURG REMOTE TOWER DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

Matt [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



AGENDA

• Concept overview

• Leesburg project

PAGE 2


MJ Massiano | © SaabREMOTE TOWER CONCEPT: PROVIDE ATC SERVICES FROM ANYWHERE

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Remotely

Controlled Airport

Remote Tower

Center



REMOTE TOWER “CROWS NEST”

• 14 high-definition (HD) cameras

• Pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras‒ Electro-optical (30x)

‒ Infrared (IR)

• Two signal light guns

• Stereo microphones

• Camera housing with “AirBlade”‒ Rain, snow, hail, moisture and dust

‒ Temperature extremes

‒ Insects and birds

• Filters for direct sunlight

• Size: ~ 5’ diameter x 8’ height

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REMOTE TOWER CENTER

Voice Switch

ElectronicFlight Strips

Radar

FlightData

Weather Overlay

Airfield LightingControl

PTZ Camera Control

“Out the Window” View



REAL-TIME, OUT-THE-WINDOW VIEW

• 14 high-definition LED displays with 360-degree view

‒ Plus one spare

• Error monitoring

‒ Moving keep-alive indicator

‒ Alerts… delayed, corrupt or frozen image

• Polarization filter control

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PRIMARY BENEFITS VS. CONVENTIONAL ATCT

• Lower capital and O&M costs

• Shortened schedule for site design and deployment

• Smaller footprint for more flexible siting

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FEATURE: “AIRBLADE” AT WORK

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FEATURE: EXPOSURE CONTROL

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U.S. LAUNCH PROJECT AT JYO

• Goals for Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO)

‒ Reduce arrival and departure delays for IFR traffic

‒ Provide greater safety margins for VFR traffic

‒ Aid Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) operations

• Strategy

‒ Establish rTWR demonstration system at JYO

‒ Obtain FAA certification for basic VFR tower services

‒ Demonstrate potential NAS benefits

• Partnership

‒ Virginia SATSLab, Inc. (VSATS)

‒ Leesburg Executive Airport

‒ Saab Sensis

‒ Advisory partners… FAA, DOAV and NATCA

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CERTIFICATION GOALS

• Meet requirements to operate and manage Non-Federal Control Towers (NFCTs)

‒ Per FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 90-93B

• Allow certified, non-FAA controllers to perform duties required for basic VFR tower services operating within Class D airspace

‒ Per FAA Order JO 7110.65

‒ Revert to non-towered operations (e.g., Class E/G) when tower is closed

• Gain FAA approval of rTWR system as equipment item appended to minimum equipment list (MEL) for VFR towers

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CURRENT OPERATIONS AT JYO TEST SITE

• ~ 35 miles west of Washington, DC

• Designated general aviation reliever for Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), ~ 9 miles southeast

• Non-towered operations in Class E/G airspace

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Table 1. Operating Statistics at Leesburg Executive Airport

Aircraft based on the field: 254

Single engine airplanes: 209

Multi engine airplanes: 31

Jet airplanes: 6

Helicopters: 8

Aircraft operations: avg 316/day *

85% local general aviation

11% transient general aviation

2% air taxi

1% military

* for 12-month period ending 31 December 2014



JYO AIRSPACE

• Within DC Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)

‒ Class G from airport surface to Class E base

‒ Class E from 700’ to Class B base

‒ Class B from 1500’ to 10,000’ MSL

‒ SFRA flight plan required in some cases

• Controlling FAA parent facility: Potomac Consolidated TRACON (PCT)

• Leesburg Maneuvering Area rules

‒ Squawk 1226

‒ Ingress/egress without contacting PCT

‒ Pattern traffic require DC SFRA flight plan and discrete transponder code

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RECENT ACTIVITIES AT JYO

• Aug ’15 - Apr ’16: initial passive data collection

• Demonstrations to FAA Executives

• Demonstrations to AAAE, ALPA, AOPA, DoD, NBAA, NASAO, NATCA and Leesburg flying community

• Initial Safety Risk Assessment

• Installed Saab rTWR v2.0 upgrade

• Installed RVA Mobile ATCT



QUESTIONS ?

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