In Service Evaluation of the Turbulence AutoPIREP System TAPS

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In Service Evaluation of the Turbulence
Auto-PIREP System (TAPS)
Paul Robinson AeroTech Research, (USA)
Inc paulrobinson_at_atr-usa.com [phone]
Briefing to RTCA WG-206 Washington, DC July 18,
2005
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NASA Turbulence In-Service Evaluation Team

• Initiated with a study task, FY03
• Established two separate, two-year (FY04-05)
  in-service evaluations.
• Collaborative effort, with significant in-kind
  support
• NASA
• AeroTech Research
• Rockwell Collins
• ARINC
• Delta Air Lines

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The Turbulence Encounter Reporting Problem
Current turbulence encounters are GROSSLY under
reported.
Those PIREPS that are made are

• Inconsistent

• Late

• Subjective

• Not distributed throughout the system

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TAPS Development Goals
To develop a system to support decision-makers
with objective and timely information on
turbulence hazards.
Initially Identified Users

• Pilots

• Dispatchers

• Maintenance

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TAPS Architecture
TAPS Software on Aircraft
Cockpit Display
Communications Infrastructure

• Event-Driven Automatic
• Turbulence
• Report
• Time
• Location
• Altitude
• Rms g
• Weight/speed

Uplink of Turbulence Report
Groundstation Network Flight Following Flight
Planning
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(No Transcript)
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Current TAPS Groundstation Implementation
Reporting algorithms implemented on aircraft
Turbulence reports sent to ground
Delta Air Lines B-737-800, B-767-300,-400
fleets (150 aircraft)
Reports received and relayed to groundstation
via ARINC network
ARINCs WebASDSM real-time display
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Sample TAPS WebASDSM Display
TAPS reports

• Real-time updates
• Highly interactive
• User-configurable

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15557 Flights with TAPS Reports
18106
623
75
TAPS resolves the turbulence under-reporting
distribution issues.
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Status of TAPS In-Service Evaluation

• 71 B-737-800 equipped with TAPS 9/04
• 82 B-767-300/400 to be equipped with TAPS by end
  of July 2005.
• All (135) Delta dispatchers participating in
  groundstation evaluation.
• Other users identified have access to the data
  in near real-time
• Meteorologists
• Dispatch ATC desk
• Aircraft-to-aircraft transmission of TAPS reports
  being implemented for proof of concept
  verification starting May 2005.
• Cockpit display CONOPS being developed.

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TAPS In-Service Evaluation Summary

• Real-time turbulence event reporting system
  demonstrated in airline operations.
• TAPS reporting system working as designed - very
  favorable feedback from all users.
• Multiple applications of TAPS report data
  identified safety operational, for example
• Airframe inspections
• Forecast verification

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Testimonials for TAPS
"TAPS .. has been validated and is already
beginning to have some measure of relevance in my
operation. -Brian Myszkowski, Delta Air Lines
Chief Meteorologist [phone]   "At last, a
metric that can give a truly objective, easily
assimilated assessment of turbulence. Though
more work remains for any operational deployment,
so far only TAPS has delivered any meaningful
results in this area.," -Matt Fronzak, System
Manager, Delta Air Lines Chief Flight Control
Technical Services [phone]   . TAPS
gives us the real-time ability to accurately and
objectively determine the need for airframe
inspections we are very much looking forward
to implementing TAPS in order to satisfy this
need, reducing delays and cancellations due to
unnecessary airframe inspections."  -Kent
Horton, Delta Air Lines Chief General Manager,
Avionics Engineering [phone]
 
 
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The Future

• Need to extend findings, lessons learned and
  technology industry-wide.
• Need to develop and evaluate a retrofit
  implementation of E-Turb radar to take advantage
  of the 4500 suitable radar platforms and realize
  the 2007 safety goal.
• Need to develop, implement, and evaluate TAPS
  cockpit display.
• Need to integrate TAPS and E-Turb cockpit
  displays into one turbulence avoidance decision
  aid. Future integration with other turbulence
  information sources.
• Need to assess and quantify the technologies
  impact on NAS capacity, and include the
  controllers traffic management in collaborative
  decision-making.

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Potential Time/Distance/Cost Savings
DAL 767-300 Planned flight path
Optimal flight paths due to improved turbulence
hazard awareness in the cockpit