VATSIM.net

VATSIM and MITRE's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) have joined together to conduct aviation systems research using the VATSIM network as a test environment for proof of concept and hypothesis testing of new ATC solutions. In the near future you will be receiving additional information via NOTAM about upcoming MITRE operations where VATSIM members will be asked to participate in CAASD designed events in an effort to evaluate new concepts in ATC operations.

This program is the direct result of the exacting standards required to fly and control on VATSIM and is a direct tribute to your tireless efforts to simulate as real as it gets. Today VATSIM leaves the world of purely a hobby and moves into the real world, making its contribution to future ATC systems and aviation safety. Congratulations to all those members out there that have made the reputation VATSIM has built over the years as the serious simulation platform. Your hard work has been recognized.

From the CAASD website: http://www.mitrecaasd.org/work/
Overview

MITRE has helped the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) address the nation's most critical aviation issues since the company's creation in 1958. In recognition of this long and fruitful relationship, the FAA designated MITRE's aviation program as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center in 1990 and named the new entity the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD). In addition to supporting the FAA, CAASD works with civil aviation authorities around the world, all of which face similar challenges. This enables us to increase our knowledge of best practices in aviation and share them with all our customers.


Challenges

A few of the challenges we are helping customers address include:

Improving aviation safety and security
Increasing the capacity and efficiency of the national airspace
Enhancing flexibility in the use of aviation system resources
Reducing flight delays and traffic management constraints
Establishing collaborative decision-making to improve traffic flow planning
Developing broadcast services to improve safety in areas with little radar and to enhance airport capacity in marginal weather conditions
Modernizing and harmonizing global aviation systems to enable "Free Flight"
Developing and maintaining consensus among all aviation system stakeholders on schedules and capabilities of future systems
Developing improved coordination processes and Shared Situational Awareness (SSA) among agencies in response to aviation security threats
Developing the aviation passenger prescreening system that prevents potential terrorists to board commercial flights while ensuring the privacy and civil liberties of US citizens
Customers

CAASD primarily supports the FAA, but also works with more than 20 aviation organizations around the world—in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America.

Competencies

CAASD is committed to continually maintaining and advancing its core competencies, which include:

Air traffic management systems analysis and modeling
Air traffic management systems engineering and capability development
Air traffic management systems evolution planning
Air traffic management procedures and training
Airspace analysis and design
Arrival and departure route development
System performance analysis and trends
Collaborative decision making in traffic flow management
Broadcast technologies and collision avoidance systems
Required navigational performance
Communications, navigation, and surveillance systems
Airport planning and operations
Information security
Information technology
Air traffic management system infrastructure development and management
Research and development
Transportation security
Outcomes

CAASD works to build and maintain the necessary consensus within the aviation community to effect evolutionary change in the Nation's air traffic management system. Some examples of CAASD's contributions include:

Helped the FAA create the National Airspace Operational Evolution Plan, which will increase airspace and airport capacity across the country, and move the NAS toward accommodation of Free Flight
Developed the NAS trajectory modeling and automated conflict probe technologies to predict air conflicts up to 20 minutes into the future
Developed the automated conflict resolution technology to aid controllers in solving problems while keeping aircraft close to their route, altitude, and speed preferences
Developed the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), now selected as the world's standard for such systems
Developed the NAS Report Card, a next day performance measurement and reporting capability
Developed the technology and procedures to establish radar-like services in the State of Alaska, creating a new air-to-ground link to improve surveillance and safety in regions with no radar
Further developed the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology to increase safety and capacity by increasing the pilot's situation awareness
Advanced the technology for airport and airspace modeling, and developed alternative airspace designs to decrease contention for NAS resources at system chokepoints
Established the technology to quickly develop and evaluate new Area Navigation (RNAV) arrival and departure routes and procedures to increase terminal area throughput
Implementing the National Airspace Redesign: modernizing technology, airspace design, airport infrastructures, and procedures
Established the architecture master plan for the evolution of the NAS en route and traffic flow management systems
Established the MITRE Aviation Institute to share our knowledge with aviation stakeholders around the world
Implemented Converging Runway Display Aid technology in Canada to enhance safety for aircraft merging onto airport arrival routes
Helped the Korea Civil Aviation Authority generate an airspace modernization master plan
Provided significant systems engineering support to the DHS Transportation Security Administration (TSA) since it was established in 2002, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks
Instrumental in successful roll-out of the TSA Registered Traveler Program
Instrumental in contributing to the Joint Planning and Development Office's (JPDO) concept of operations for aviation security

Nice, very nice.

~Nate

GREAT!!!!

Holy smeg.

Cor blimey.

Bloody oath.

Yata!!!!!

Freakin' A!!

sweeeeeeet.

BL.

Wow! Another reason to choose VATSIM

I'm very proud to be a part of this very distinguished environment, which I never viewed as a game. I'm glad for the continued effort to retain the As Real As It Gets theme. I'm sure such rewards will continue.

Thank you to all of VATSIM from the top to the newest member who is making contributions by their participation and integrity.

-- L. James

--
L. D. James
ljames@apollo3.com
www.apollo3.com/~ljames

I completely second this. I am very pleased with this announcement and it truly proves the ability of Vatsim as a whole.

Sorry but question: Will most of this take place in the US or is this going on a Vatsim International level?

This is fantastic news!! Glad to be a part of it.

The first project will take place in Chicago. As my original post states, CAASD conducts projects around the world and we could be called upon to conduct simulations in different regions of VATSIM. As you can see from the their list of projects they have conducted projects in Europe, North Africa and Asia. So I think there is good possibility we'll see projects from time to time outside the United States.

In meetings with MITRE they were very interested in having international pilots participate in their events. They felt it added a degree of realism to the ATC environment that is very difficult to simulate within a lab.

Phenomenal result .... an outstanding recognition for all VATSIM and best congrats to the BOG, Staff and other members who have worked with MITRE to make the arrangements. What an incredible milestone in the evolution of VATSIM!

Well done and thanks!

Mike Sweeney/811317
VATSIM Supervisor
Euro Center VACC Director
www.euc-vacc.org

This is pretty cool!

This is wonderful. I dont know what else to say.

Yay!

Nice one

Well done to VATSIM and as mentioned everyone that contributes and i reckon by the end of this Decade 2000-2010, We could have double the amount of people on and that would be so cool; All thanks to the big and huge efforts by us and you guys at the tip top of the tree!


VATSIM is the best!

We are all family!