NextGen Air Traffic System Implementation

This assignment explores the NextGen air traffic system's implementation in the United States. It examines the system's benefits, potential challenges, and expected timeline for full operationalization by 2025. The analysis emphasizes the importance of effective cost management and stakeholder support for successful implementation.

Research Paper

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Aim and Objectives.........................................................................................................................1
Literature and Review......................................................................................................................2
Ethical considerations......................................................................................................................4
Methodology....................................................................................................................................4
Results and Analysis........................................................................................................................5
Discussion and Conclusion..............................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
There are changes that taken place in relation with the technology and these are done so
that better quality services can be delivered to customers. There are many companies that are
focused on deliver people with similar type of products and services. The report will demonstrate
impact of NextGen Airport on reducing runway incursions. Strategies are applied by firms to
attain competitive advantages. Ethical considerations when talking about airlines, there are
different types of problems that are faced and these are required to be eliminated so that standard
services can be delivered. The concept of technology, benefits and challenges will be discussed in
this report. Communication requirements, cost management and workforce training needs are
also discussed. There are certain set of expectations that individuals have and when in airlines,
individuals expects to save their time and reach to their destinations on or before time. Main
focus of the research is made on analysing the impact of NextGen Airports in reducing runway
incursions in the US. To conduct the research in effective manner, there are objectives set by the
researcher so that aim can be achieved and they are as follows:
Aim and Objectives
Aim: To analyse the impact of NextGen Airport on reducing runway incursions in the US.
Objectives:
 To understand the concept of NextGen technology.
 To determine the benefits and challenges faced by NextGen Airport for runway
incursions.
 To make comparison among NextGen Airport and non NextGen Airport for runway
incursions. To recommend strategies to increase monitoring and standardisation for NextGen Airport
in the US.
Research Question:
 What is the concept of NextGen technology?
 What are the benefits and challenges faced by NextGen Airport for runway incursions? What are the comparison among NextGen Airport and non NextGen Airport for runway
incursions?
Hypothesis:
H0: NextGen is having an effect on runway incursions in the US.
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H1: NextGen is not having any effect on runway incursions in the US.
Literature and Review
Next Generation Air Transportation System is determined to be an ongoing multibillion
dollar modernization of NAS (National Airspace System). It was from the year 2007 when FAA
(The Federal Aviation Administration) started working on NextGen and it will be completed by
the year 2025. Main goals for modernizations consists of efficiency, safety, predictability,
resilience by using dozens of technologies, procedures and capabilities that help in transferring
flight starting from departure to arrival (Sweet, 2016). It is identified that in many of the
problems that are identified, there are certain set of issues like delay of flights, increased waiting
times, etc. that are faced by customers. According to Bearman, 2017 the type of system that is
implemented enables to determining the route or total time that will be taken by the flight to
reach the airport. This is not just a single program but it consists of series of initiatives that are
designed to make the airspace system more effective. For example, Data Communication is
considered to be one of the programs of NextGen that provided the opportunity to transfer
information regarding the air traffic as it allows to send text based departure clearance
instructions to flight crews. Further, it shares awareness for faster reactions to changes (Stoop,
2015). Starting from a flight taking off to reaching its destination, there is a fixed route that has to
be followed. When in the same route, there are other flight also come, then it makes the flight
delayed. With this respect, with the help of NextGen, it enables to even change the route in short
notice. There are about 57 of the airport that make use of Data Communication. All these are able
to reduce the problems that are generally faced and thus making the flights to reach out the
destinations on time. Further, it is also identified that about 41% of problems that were caused
due to delay in time will gets reduced. Maintaining NextGen program will cost FAA up to $37
billion dollars through 2030. Further, it is also stated by FAA that the cost for saving form the
same set of programs are expected to be $106 billion.
In implementing these type of system, there are both benefits and disadvantages. However
the investment that is made by the firm is high and this shows that the support that airlines and
customers will get will be high (Sillekens, 2015). With this respect, below given are the benefits
attained through NextGen :
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Increases profit: In conditions when flight does not get a proper route to land, then they
face issues in which high rate of fuel is wasted. However, with the help of NextGen, flights are
able to identify get immediate actions for their destination and thus it saves lot of fuel. When the
total time of the fights are managed, then it will be able to provide more customers services. As
per the current scenario there are individuals who are not able to get time to time services.
However, when use of NextGen is done, then it will be helpful enough to raise the profit in
effective manner.
Better communication: In order to perform any type of activities, it is required to have
strong interaction among all the people involved so that rate confusion can be reduced. There are
many records identified that has caused serious incidents due to lack of communication.
However, with the help of this system operators are able to provide instant messages with the
help of which people are able to overcome the issues in effective manner.
Increased capacity: The type of services that are delivered to customers need to be in such
a way that satisfaction is provided. With the help of NextGen, management of airlines are able to
focus on the needs and requirement of services users and delivering them effective form of
contribution through which there is an increase in capacity (Hunter, Wargo and Blumer, 2017).
When there are proper management of flights taking off and landing are made by reducing the
incursions, then it will becomes favourable enough to raise the capacity of increasing the flights
and in delivering better quality of services.
Weather information: There are situations faced in which cancellation of flights taken
place due to which weather issues. However, with the help of NextGen system, it has become
easy for the airlines to predict the weather and to identify the route that will be suitable enough
for the flight to select so that problems related with flights can be eliminated. There are
conditions identified in which it becomes difficult to make the judgements over making the
flights to take off or not. With this respect, when use of NextGen is done, then it will be easy for
the management team to make sure that they are able to operate in effective manner and in
cancelling the flights in case the weather information provided is not supportive enough.
Further, there are some of the challenges that are faced in implementation of NextGen.
With this respect, below given are some of the challenges:
High maintenance cost: To total cost that is included for the installation and
implementation of this system is huge (Ford and Waldron, 2014). The total time that is taken for
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this aspects is more than 10 years’ time. For each of the year there are different types of areas or
other related programs installed.
Training to workers: The type of technology that is included in the project is effective
enough and it is important for all the people involved to have proper understanding to the type of
technology and its use. For this purpose, there will be cost included so that all the workers in
airlines are able to make use of them in effective manner.
According to Belzer, 2017 the type of system implemented in the airlines causes many
type of runway incursion due to which it also caused losses of life and money. However,
implantation of new technology is done so that all type of services that are included in aviation
can be delivered by maintaining quality of services and identifying the requirement to raise the
level of satisfaction. Apart from this, there are situations in which individuals are required to
identify the problems that are made (Diana, 2015). For this purpose, it is essential that proper
monitoring is done of the performance. When this is done, then the area in which improvement is
required is identified and steps can be taken to overcome them.
Ethical considerations
There is different type of ethical aspects that has to be considered. In this context, there
are researches that are carried out by other researches on similar topic. All these information are
highly effective to develop in depth understanding. It is important that all the data used from
secondary data are not used as it is (Blom, 2016). When it is used as it is, then it increases the risk
of plagiarism. Further, information needs to be provided to respondents so that they provide
adequate information. Moreover, effective system is require to be used so that personal
information is saved.
Methodology
Data analysis can be determined as an important part in research. When information
regarding the research topic is gathered, then it requires to make appropriate interpretation so that
individuals are able to understand them (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault, 2015). With this respect,
there are two different types of techniques with the help of which analysis of data are done. In
this context, it includes qualitative and quantitative method. Among these qualitative analysis is
considered to be securities analysis which makes use of subjective judgements that are based on
no quantifiable information. On the other hand, quantitative analysis is determined to be the
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financial, business or economic analysis which is aimed to predict behaviour or understand data
by making use of mathematical measurements, statistical models and calculations. In this context,
it can be stated that both qualitative and quantitative methods are being used. There are
theoretical and numerical aspects both taken into consideration. There are focus made in which
data is identified which is of airports that make use of NextGen and airport that do not make use
of it. More specifically, there are in total 60 of the airports that are taken into consideration. 30
those which make use of NextGen and 30 those which don’t. By making this comparison it will
be helpful enough to determine whether implementation of NextGen reduces the runway
incursions. Changes in technology are made so that high quality services are provided. However,
these situations when even after implementation the determined results are not attained (Lewis,
2015). When these comparison are made by considering the runway incursion, it will enable to
provide relevant information whether implementation of NextGen has actually supported in
reducing the issues that are generally faced from the side of customers and employees working at
airports.
Further, research approach is considered to be a procedure or plan which consists of steps
with broad assumptions towards detailed method of analysis, data collection and interpretation.
These are of two types which are inductive and deductive. Inductive are those research approach
through which researchers are able to present the information from specific to general aspects. On
the other hand, deductive is a type of research approach that help investigator to focus on
considering data from general to specific. Among these two, the researcher has made use of
inductive approach in all specific information is focused on and then general aspect is considered.
Results and Analysis
There are different types of test that are carried out and these are done so that the
objectives and the hypothesis listed out can be attained. The test carried out can enables to make
comparison of the effectiveness of the NextGen. With this respect, below given are different
types of test that are carried out:
NextGen Incursions Non NextGen Incursions
Mean 103.77 45.63
Variance 3389.63 1027.41
Observations 30.00 30.00
Hypothesized Mean Difference 0.00
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df 45.00
t Stat 4.79
P(T<=t) one-tail 0.00
t Critical one-tail 1.68
P(T<=t) two-tail 0.00
t Critical two-tail 2.01
In accordance with the above given table, it can be stated that when the t Stat < -t Critical
two-tail or t Stat > t Critical two-tail, then in condition it will reject the null hypothesis. As per
the above table given it can be stated t Critical two-tail is 2.01 < 4.79 and so the null hypothesis is
accepted. More specifically, it can be stated that NextGen is not having any effect on runway
incursions in the US. Apart from this, there is observed differences from the sample mean which
is 103.77-45.63 is convincingly enough to say that the average rate of different in relation with
the incursions are high. Further, the variance identified is 3389.63, this shows that there are many
fluctuations that identified. On the other hand, the rate of fluctuations are high but its low
compared with other side.
NextGen Incursions Non NextGen Incursions
Mean 103.77 Mean 45.63
Standard Error 10.63 Standard Error 5.85
Median 99.00 Median 36.00
Mode 68.00 Mode 35.00
Standard Deviation 58.22
Standard
Deviation 32.05
Sample Variance 3389.63 Sample Variance 1027.41
Kurtosis 3.50 Kurtosis 0.07
Skewness 1.52 Skewness 0.88
Range 280.00 Range 118.00
Minimum 19.00 Minimum 4.00
Maximum 299.00 Maximum 122.00
Sum 3113.00 Sum 1369.00
Count 30.00 Count 30.00
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The mean value identified is 103.77 which show that on an average the rate of incursions
identified that at the airport with NextGen are higher when compared with the airport when
NextGen is not used. Further, the mode identified is 68.00 and 35.00. In addition to this, the
median is 99.00 and 36.00. Among all the values the rate of incursions are high when it is
compared with NextGen incursions and Non NextGen Incursions. Further, the rate of Kurtosis
identified is 3.50 for NextGen incursions and 0.07 for Non NextGen Incursions. The rate from 0
is higher for NextGen incursions and so that it can be stated that the airports with Non NextGen
are more effective in carrying out their operations with lower rate of incursions.
Discussion and Conclusion
From the above given findings, it is being identified use of modern technology is done so
that quality of services can be improved or raised in positive manner. However, the findings show
that the airport when use of NextGen is done consists of many problems in relation with
incursions (Blom, 2016). Use of NextGen was done so that all the problems that were faced by
employees and customers can be reduced. With this respect, main focus is made on reducing
waiting time so that all other airlines are able to maintain their time of reaching out their
destination.
When compared with the NextGen incursions and Non NextGen incursions, it found that
the rates of incursions that are faced at NextGen are high and almost all the airports are facing
issues in relation with incursions. The hull hypothesis got accepted due to different type of
reasons and they are as follows:
Low operations at Non NextGen: All the major airports at US have started implementation
of NextGen and so it can be stated that the rate of operations that taken place in these major
airports are high when compared with the airports where the operations are low. For example, the
total number of flights that land to the airport where NextGen is used may be 200 or more (Ford
and Waldron, 2014). On the other hand, for Non NextGen the operation or the total number of
flight taking off or landing will be below 80. Due to this differences, this could be the reason due
to which the rates of incursions are high even for the airports with NextGen.
No proper training: In order to implement any type of system, it is required the
management it gets appropriate support from the side of workers so that the system can be used
in effective manner. The types of perceptions that are carried out by individuals are different.
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There will be people who may support and there are few among them who may. From the
finding, it can be stated that NextGen airport have not implement it in appropriate manner, the
data show fluctuations in the rate of incursions that airports. However, for Non NextGen the rates
of process that are carried out by these airports are similar and this show that all the operations do
not need any type of changes and so that the rate of incursions identified are low (Lewis, 2015).
When rate of knowledge and understanding that individuals have is low towards NextGen, then
employees will not able to put on their full efforts. With this respect, it can be considered to be
the reason because of which the rates of incursions are high when compared with non NextGen
airports.
NextGen have just started: The total time that is taken to implement the project is very
low. When any project is to be implemented, then it takes time. Slowly when people involved are
able to determine the considerations that are required to be made, then the rate of incursions can
get reduced. The total that is estimated for the project will get completed is 2025.
In accordance with the findings, it can be stated that when any type of new system or
technology is implemented, then it requires to make sure that all the people involved are
conveyed regarding the benefits that they will get. Further, the NextGen consists of different type
of aspects that are required to be covered and these are only done when proper time and effecive
management of cost is done. When these are done, then it becomes favourable enough to
implement them appropriate manner. As per the estimation that is made, it can be stated that by
the end of 2025, NextGen will be fully operated at all the airport at US. Currently the process is
at initial stage and so it will require time to make sure that all aspects are properly covered in
effective manner. When the rate of support from all the people involved are high, then it becomes
easy to implement them.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bearman, C., 2017. Making in Distributed Systems. Decision Making in Aviation, p.329.
Belzer, J.A., 2017. Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System: Establishing
Equivalency in Safety and Training Through a Fault Tree Analysis Approach (Doctoral
dissertation, Ohio University).
Blom, H.A., 2016. Emergent Behaviour. In Complexity science in air traffic management (pp.
101-122). Routledge.
Diana, T., 2015. An evaluation of departure throughputs before and after the implementation of
wake vortex recategorization at Atlanta Hartsfield/Jackson International Airport: A
Markov regime-switching approach. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and
Transportation Review 83 pp.216-224.
Ford, A.T. and Waldron, T.P., 2014. Relating airport surface collision potential to taxiway
geometry and traffic flow. In 14th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and
Operations Conference (p. 2156).
Hunter, G., Wargo, C.A. and Blumer, T., 2017, September. An investigation of UAS situational
awareness in off-nominal events. In Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), 2017
IEEE/AIAA 36th (pp. 1-10). IEEE.
Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches.
Health promotion practice, 16(4), pp.473-475.
Sillekens, P.J.A., 2015. Effect of EGTS on airport taxi movements at AAS. speed and
acceleration, (s 26).
Stoop, J., 2015. Challenges to the investigation of occurrences. Concepts and confusion,
metaphors, models and methods.
Sweet, J., 2016. The comparative benefits and hazards of EFBs and paper documents in the
cockpit. California State University, Long Beach.
Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research methods: A
guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.
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