US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Facilities Terminal Integration Laboratory (AFTIL) researchers in New Jersey have been modelling how Joby eVTOLs will be integrated into commercial traffic at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), reports Joby.
“The facility houses full-scale control tower mockups, 360- and 210-degree tower simulators, and integrated capabilities that connect with other labs—including flight decks, a terminal radar approach control facility (TRACON), and a Joby aircraft simulator,” said the company in a press release. “The result is a highly realistic testbed for the operational, procedural, and human factors aspects associated with next-generation airspace integration. Researchers have been simulating: aircraft deconfliction and traffic flows around LAX; integration with existing air traffic control communications procedures and separation standards; design and evaluation of vertiport approach and departure paths; and human-system interaction, including pilot and controller workload and communication
According to Joby in a press release:
“This was not only a technical exercise but also a powerful demonstration of progress toward commercial market readiness. FAA officials, eVTOL companies, airlines, and local authorities like Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) all came together to witness firsthand how our aircraft can be safely integrated. The insights from this effort will directly shape how electric air taxis are integrated into airports across the U.S.
“This work builds on earlier joint studies led by NASA, the FAA, Joby, and others, including a landmark air traffic control simulation in Dallas airspace. That research established foundational principles for electric vertical takeoff and landing operations in dense, urban environments and directly informed both vehicle requirements and airspace integration strategies now being validated at AFTIL and applied to real-world airports like LAX.”
For more information
https://www.jobyaviation.com/blog/faa-lax-simulation/
(Image: Joby)