Conflict resolution with dynamic midpoint assignment in free route airspace

In the free route airspace application, users plan direct flights from the entry point of the airspace to the exit point. For possible conflicts at the exit point, air traffic controllers can use separation methods such as level change, vector technique or speed change. Vector separation method can be preferred in heavy traffic flow, when the levels are full, or for aircraft to fly at their optimum levels. There is no specific standard for controllers to apply this technique. Within the scope of this thesis, a proposal has been developed for the solution of conflicts that may occur at the exit of the sector in the free route airspace. It is aimed to reduce the frequency density by solving the overlap with a standard trajectory over the intermediate point instead of the vector technique. This proposal has been tested in real-time air traffic control radar simulator environment, by designing an airspace whose dimensions are suitable for the real sector structure and by experiments carried out. These experiments were completed by experienced air traffic controllers and air traffic control students. The same scenario with conflicts was studied twice with each participant. In the first, the participants were requested to resolve the conflicts using the vector technique. He was asked to resolve the conflicts with the waypoint assignment method proposed in the second study. For both studies, data on the number of instructions given to the aircraft and the number of measurements made for the detection and resolution of conflicts on the radar screen were collected. In addition, an interview was conducted with the participants asking their opinions about the developed method and the NASA-TLX workload index was applied. When all the data obtained were examined, it was concluded that fewer instructions were given to the aircraft in the waypoint assignment method. No difference was observed in the number of collision detection measurements made by the controllers on the radar vii screen. However, it was observed that fewer measurements were made for the waypoint method in the verification measurements made after the solution was provided. This method reduces the need for re-measurement by controllers.