Operational display system
Encyclopedia
Operational Display Systems refers to systems used for tracking the status of multiple objects in avionics
. Operational Displays Systems are usually being developed by large countries' civil aviation authorities (such as the Federal Aviation Administration
in the USA, or the main Service Providers in Europe
, such as DFS
, NATS
, DSNA, AENA
, MUAC, etc., coordinated by Eurocontrol in Europe
), with inputs from technology companies and air traffic controllers associations.
Air traffic control
systems gradually evolved from the old sweeping radar
to modern computer-driven systems showing maps, weather info, airplane routes and digitized radar tracks on an ergonomic console.
Whereas in the past the information came only from a radar, current systems get inputs from a variety of sources. Radar is still used (multiple sources instead of just one), but is now complemented by transponder
data (the aircraft sending out information regarding altitude
and identifications) and soon satellite
data (for more accurate positioning and overseas navigation).
As most data is now digital, this opens the way for extra functionalities to be embedded in the modern Operational Display System, such as trajectory prediction, conflict warnings, traffic flow management
, arrival optimisation, etc. Two separate competing systems are currently operating within the US, Common ARTS (Automated Radar Terminal System (Lockheed Martin)) and STARS (Raytheon), with Common ARTS operating at the busiest facilities (NY, Dallas, Atlanta, Southern California, Chicago, Washington DC area, Denver, St Louis, Minneapolis and San Francisco area) within the US.
On the display side, the round radar is being replaced by computer-driven cathode ray tubes, which now are being replaced by modern LCD flat screens in en route systems. However a great many US Air Traffic TRACON facilities and Towers still use the older cathode ray tube technology. Most of the larger TRACONs employ a 20" x 20" Sony color tube display; Common ARTS uses the ARTS Color Display (ACD) and the Remote ARTS Color Display (R-ACD), while STARS uses the Terminal Control Workstation (TCW) and Tower Display Workstation (TDW). Towers are slowly replacing old DBrite (cathode ray type remote displays) with an LCD type manufactured by Barco
. However these display replacements are currently installed only at the busiest facilities with lower density traffic facilities slated for retrofit later.
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
. Operational Displays Systems are usually being developed by large countries' civil aviation authorities (such as the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
in the USA, or the main Service Providers in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, such as DFS
DFS
-File systems:* Depth-first search, an algorithm for traversing or searching a tree* DCE Distributed File System * Disc Filing System, a filesystem developed by Acorn Computers...
, NATS
NATS
Nats or NATS can refer to:* Nat , a unit of information* National Air Traffic Services, the United Kingdom's main Air Navigation Service Provider * National Association of Teachers of Singing* Naval Air Transport Service...
, DSNA, AENA
Aena
Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea , literally "Spanish Airports and Air Navigation", is the Spanish public body that owns and operates the majority of airports in Spain, with the exceptions of the private owned Ciudad Reals and Lleida-Alguaire Airport. Aena is also responsible for Air...
, MUAC, etc., coordinated by Eurocontrol in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
), with inputs from technology companies and air traffic controllers associations.
Air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
systems gradually evolved from the old sweeping radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
to modern computer-driven systems showing maps, weather info, airplane routes and digitized radar tracks on an ergonomic console.
Whereas in the past the information came only from a radar, current systems get inputs from a variety of sources. Radar is still used (multiple sources instead of just one), but is now complemented by transponder
Transponder
In telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
data (the aircraft sending out information regarding altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
and identifications) and soon satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
data (for more accurate positioning and overseas navigation).
As most data is now digital, this opens the way for extra functionalities to be embedded in the modern Operational Display System, such as trajectory prediction, conflict warnings, traffic flow management
Air traffic flow management
Air Traffic Flow Management is the regulation of air traffic in order to avoid exceeding airport or air traffic control capacity in handling traffic, and to ensure that available capacity is used efficiently....
, arrival optimisation, etc. Two separate competing systems are currently operating within the US, Common ARTS (Automated Radar Terminal System (Lockheed Martin)) and STARS (Raytheon), with Common ARTS operating at the busiest facilities (NY, Dallas, Atlanta, Southern California, Chicago, Washington DC area, Denver, St Louis, Minneapolis and San Francisco area) within the US.
On the display side, the round radar is being replaced by computer-driven cathode ray tubes, which now are being replaced by modern LCD flat screens in en route systems. However a great many US Air Traffic TRACON facilities and Towers still use the older cathode ray tube technology. Most of the larger TRACONs employ a 20" x 20" Sony color tube display; Common ARTS uses the ARTS Color Display (ACD) and the Remote ARTS Color Display (R-ACD), while STARS uses the Terminal Control Workstation (TCW) and Tower Display Workstation (TDW). Towers are slowly replacing old DBrite (cathode ray type remote displays) with an LCD type manufactured by Barco
Barco
Barco N.V. is a display hardware manufacturer specialising in video projectors, LCD projectors, DLP projectors, LCoS projectors, LED displays, video walls, flat panel displays, automated luminaires, digital lighting and lighting controls....
. However these display replacements are currently installed only at the busiest facilities with lower density traffic facilities slated for retrofit later.