For Spacious Skies: Self-Separation with "Autonomous Flight Rules" in US Domestic Airspace

Wing, David; Cotton, William · 2011 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.2514/6.2011-6865

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This paper proposes "Autonomous Flight Rules" (AFR), a new set of operating regulations designed to enable aircraft to self-separate from traffic and weather while navigating on tracks of their choice. The authors argue that current air traffic control (ATC) systems, which rely on ground-based separation, impose significant restrictions on navigational flexibility and limit airspace capacity due to controller cognitive workload. While historically necessary due to limited navigation and surveillance capabilities, these constraints are no longer justified given modern technological advancements. The paper aims to demonstrate how AFR can coexist with existing Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to unlock aviation’s potential for greater efficiency and safety. The proposed AFR concept relies on the integration of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for precise navigation, Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) for airborne surveillance, and advanced onboard computing for conflict management. Under AFR, aircraft operators assume full responsibility for separation, utilizing automated systems to detect and resolve conflicts without ATC intervention. The paper outlines a mixed-operations framework where AFR aircraft share airspace with IFR and VFR traffic. To ensure seamless integration, AFR aircraft are required to yield right-of-way to IFR aircraft, and controllers remain responsible only for separating IFR traffic. This design preserves the existing ATC infrastructure while allowing AFR operators to bypass many procedural restrictions, such as structured routes and altitude stratification. The authors contend that AFR offers significant benefits, including restored navigational flexibility, increased en-route airspace capacity, and reduced operational costs. By shifting the separation burden from ground-based controllers to airborne automation, the system can accommodate higher traffic densities without disrupting current ATC processes. The paper emphasizes that AFR is not intended to replace IFR or VFR but to serve as a complementary third option, allowing operators to choose the most appropriate flight rules based on their mission requirements, equipment, and training. Safety is maintained through robust redundancy in navigation and surveillance systems, as well as strict adherence to separation criteria that account for interactions with non-AFR traffic. The significance of this work lies in its potential to modernize the National Airspace System by leveraging existing technologies to reduce reliance on ground-based control. The authors conclude that implementing AFR represents a prudent evolution of aviation regulations, balancing the need for safety with the demand for operational flexibility. By enabling self-separation, AFR addresses the inefficiencies of the current system while preserving the integrity of established flight rules, ultimately supporting the growth and prosperity of aviation in the United States.

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