• Distributed Air/Ground (DAG) Traffic Management (TM) is a National Airspace System (NAS) concept in which flight deck (FD) crews, air traffic service providers (ATSP) and aeronautical operational control (AOC) facilities use distributed decision-making to enable user preferences and increase system capacity, while meeting air traffic management requirements. DAG-TM will be accomplished with a human-centered operational paradigm enabled by procedural and technological innovations. These innovations include automation aids, information sharing and Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) / Air Traffic Management (ATM) technologies.

Q GOALS

• The goal of DAG-TM is to enhance user flexibility/efficiency and increase system capacity, without adversely affecting system safety or restricting user accessibility to the NAS.

Q BENEFITS

• Increased airspace throughput and productivity enabled by the distribution of separation responsibility to appropriately equipped aircraft, and ATM automation enhanced by CNS technologies.
  
  
• Increased user efficiency and flexibility, resulting in operating cost reductions.

• Increased system safety.

Q CORE CONCEPT ELEMENTS

• CE5 En route free maneuvering

• CE6 En route trajectory negotiation

• CE11 Self-spacing for merging and in-trail separation

Q RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

• Validation, assessment, and refinement of DAG concept elements through simulation and flight trials.
  
  
• Cost/benefit assessment, and safety reviews.

Q MORE INFORMATION

• DAG research is being undertaken at NASA's Ames, Glenn, and Langley Research Centers.

• DAG-TM is a NASA - Advanced Air Transportation Technologies (AATT) Office program. For additional information, visit the AATT web site.