Airport Surface Traffic Control Systems Deployment Analysis

This report summarizes the findings of an analysis of ASTC (Airport Surface Traffic Control) system requirements and develops estimates of the deployment potential of proposed system alternatives. The tower control problem areas were investigated by a survey of 19 airports including: visual observations, interviews with tower personnel, collection of data of record and an analysis of tower communication tape recordings at selected airports. Data were also collected from regional FAA authorities and airport authorities on facility expansion and improvement plans aimed at meeting the projected air traffic demand. A preliminary requirements analysis was performed for three baseline airports to quantify the control tower problems, establish the degree of relief achievable with alternate conceptual ASTC systems, and to establish physical limits on airports operational capacity. This report summarizes the requirements analysis and extends the analysis to the remainder of airports surveyed and establishes a tentative deployment schedule of system alternatives. The deployment schedule is established on the basis of a capacity/demand ratio criterion aimed at limiting the delays encountered by aircraft to reasonable levels when the required systems are available.