Rockwell Collins teams with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and FAA to improve aircraft situational awareness

Rockwell Collins recently joined Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in a two-phase launch of the Aircraft Access to System-Wide Information Management (SWIM) program that utilizes national airspace data to improve aircraft situational awareness. Rockwell Collins’ Data Management Service (DMS) was utilized in Phase 1 of the program to demonstrate one-way access to SWIM. Phase 2 of the program will demonstrate the capability for two-way data transfer.

“The goal of the aviation community is to create innovative tools that improve safety, cut business operating costs and improve the passenger experience,” said John Borghese, vice president, Advanced Technology Center for Rockwell Collins.

Aircraft Access to SWIM (AAtS) could help decrease delays and airlines’ associated operational costs by enabling collaboration and informed decision making. Rockwell Collins puts the gate-to-gate data accessible through SWIM to work, allowing real-time situational awareness and enhanced connection to the terminal.

In addition to working with ERAU, the AAtS program provides an opportunity for Rockwell Collins to work closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in defining Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) situational awareness capabilities that will enable pilots to improve decision making as it relates to weather, airspace status and equipment performance.

”A key element to the success of AAtS Phase 1 was the demonstration of connectivity using existing commercial infrastructure, rather than creating a whole new infrastructure,” said Jon Standley, project manager for the FAA’s AAtS Demonstration. “AAtS Phase 1 demonstrated the ability for aircraft to connect to FAA SWIM and retrieve information to display in the cockpit in a flexible model. Phase 2 will take that connectivity and begin to look at how operators can use the information to interact with the FAA to create a truly collaborative air traffic environment.”

Phase two of the program is expected to be completed in June 2016.