The proposed tools provide the operator with a unique conformal representation of all the needed information that's currently provided by means of several visual inputs. When low visibility conditions apply, the use of RETINA tools leads to the reduction of current restrictions due to LVP, with consequent increased throughput. Moreover, the proposed solution provides quantified benefits in terms of mental/temporal workload, performance, effort, frustration, information accessibility, and head-down time. As far as safety is concerned, the RETINA tools proved to preserve safety, leading to its improvement as they enhance situational awareness (SA).
All in all, the development of the proposed solution will provide high-quality 4D information (position, height and speed over time) to concerned actors in any operational condition, thus improving the overall controllers’ SA.
Significant benefits are expected for the whole aviation system, including, but not limited to:
financial savings for carriers and ANSP, improved safety for passengers, environmental pollution reduction, and increased resilience and efficacy for the control tower IT systems.
The proposed solution will allow Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) equipped aircraft to operate at synthetic vision equipped airports thus improving the overall air traffic system capacity and, indirectly, alleviating congestion on nearby airports. Complex airports will benefit from the implementation of such technology by preserving airport capacity level in all weather conditions, even when Low Visibility Procedures apply. Smaller airports will benefit from the implementation of the RETINA concepts by enabling a visual tracking/surveillance system, by means of limited investments with respect to those required for a an A-SMGCS system.
This will result in substantial financial savings for carriers and larger incomes for ANSP. Also, with fewer delay, a reduction of the environmental impact of flights in terms of fuel burnt, emissions, CO2, etc. will be achieved.
