The current Air Traffic Management (ATM) environment relies on information exchange via the combination of voice and digital methods. However, as ATM evolves with increased demand to exchange complex information digitally, the current mixed equipage systems for voice and digital information exchange could cause airspace and airport operations inefficiencies. To promote a more efficient Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) environment, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) envisions an information exchange through a commercially available Air/Ground (A/G) communications infrastructure. The infrastructure will primarily leverage two data communication links: the Future Air Navigations System (FANS 1/A)) and high bandwidth Internet Protocol (IP) data links. This framework will support robust information exchanges between the connected aircraft and ground systems (e.g., clearance delivery in the terminal and en route environments). This improvement is expected to support Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) capabilities, enabling benefits for the National Airspace System (NAS) and in turn, global airspace users. The FAA's Four-Dimensional Trajectory (4DT) Live Flight Demonstrations (LFD) project will leverage Data Comm services (FANS 1/A), IP Data Link, ATM ground automation capabilities, and System Wide Information Management (SWIM) [ 1]. Key components of the 4DT LFD project include the following: Enabling collaboration among the aviation industry, including aircraft and avionics original equipment manufacturers, operators, and the FAA to bring innovation to the traditional ATM technologies and processes; Delivering a platform to showcase the benefits of trajectory negotiation and sharing, and clearance delivery in a CDM environment; Putting forward existing aircraft equipage and infrastructure (e.g., advanced flight management systems, innovative electronic flight bag applications); and Promoting the advancement of TBO concepts. To accomplish these objectives, the FAA will collaborate with aviation industry partners to showcase the technologies, infrastructure, and software applications that support A/G capabilities throughout a live flight demonstration. For decades, the aviation industry has made decisions based on the technology of the day. This rationale has resulted in rigid solutions that are logical when they are conceptualized but are practically obsolete by implementation. The 4DT LFD will provide an opportunity to get an innovative perspective in techniques that enable current and emerging flight deck technologies that are not hindered by conventional, long-established logic. It will also evaluate the value of alternative information exchange architectures. This paper provides an overview of ATM's operational environment and some of the anticipated information exchanges necessary to support TBO and promote a more efficient CDM environment. It will also inform on the FAA activities and elements associated with the 4DT LFD Project.
