Preliminary Analysis of Separation Standards for Urban Air Mobility using Unmitigated Fast-Time Simulation

Abstract

This research provides a preliminary analysis of various separation standards for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations. This study focuses on understanding and analyzing potential conflicts between UAM flights and conflicts between UAM and conventional aircraft. Fast-time simulations are conducted with a projected high-density of UAM traffic scenario and historical conventional non-UAM traffic flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) or Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airspace. The conflicts are analyzed by examining losses of separation and near mid-air collisions of UAM flights and unmitigated risk of collision. A set of varied separation standards are used to investigate the impact of the new UAM operations on safety. The preliminary conflict analysis results will help inform separation standards development and in airspace and route design activities for future UAM operations.

Authors

• Seungman Lee Ames Research Center
• Michael Abramson Universities Space Research Association
• James D Phillips Universities Space Research Association
• Huabin Tang Ames Research Center

Keywords

• Urban air mobility
• UAM
• UAM separation standards
• Loss of separation
• Near midair collision
• Fast-time simulation
• Unmitigated collision risk
• Separation minima
• Conflict management
• Separation provision