Newly Developed Aircraft Systems
Airspace System Integration
FRA’s pilots, air traffic controllers, and systems engineers are working today in support of the FAA and NASA towards enabling “routine access” of new aircraft systems into our National Airspace System (NAS). FRA has become a “one-stop-shop” for NASA and the FAA for the operational and engineering expertise required to provide the data necessary for policy makers to create guidelines that Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and UAS operators must comply with when flying in the NAS. As developers of UAM and UAS technologies, operator and traffic manager interfaces, including displays, flight controls, and communication hardware, firmware, and software require extensive operator input in the design process. FRA is perfectly positioned to assist in this phase of development.
Modeling and Simulation
FRA’s core competencies in aircraft system integration stem from early involvement in NASA’s aerospace modeling and simulation activities. From initial development and operation of NASA’s Virtual Airspace Simulation Technology (VAST), to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects with Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) Distributed Environments for UAS and UAM research, FRA is at the center of these efforts. Our aviation operations experience and expertise, coupled with our expertise in distributed modeling and simulation technologies, make FRA an obvious choice for all new aircraft system modeling and simulation endeavors, including operator interface design and development, simulation scenario development and execution and data collection.
Subject Matter Expertise
There are many so-called “subject matter experts” in the field of air traffic management, airline operations, modeling and simulation, UAS and now UAM. FRA walks the walk. With over 1,000 aviation professional in our constantly renewing database, we are continuously ensuring our experts are current and qualified, with recent and relevant experience. Our associates are comprehensively screened to ensure they are who they say they are, and that they are truly EXPERTS. Most of our associates have cut their teeth on research projects at NASA Ames Research Center in the Aviation Systems Division. They have been exposed to, and part of, leading-edge research and development of new aerospace capabilities, ranging from NextGen air traffic management, to unmanned systems, to new concepts of operations, such as single-pilot operations, and remote co-pilots.