Produced by NASA Ames Research Center and the Federal Aviation Administration

Welcome aboard Gate to Gate, a multimedia experience that introduces you to the air traffic management system: the people, tools and work of air traffic control. This experience is brought to you by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Student Logbook is designed to enhance your multimedia experience as it relates to careers in air traffic management.  You can view the Student Logbook on the FAA Career page of this web site.

Air traffic is expected to continue to grow rapidly well into the 21st century. For this growth to occur without producing gridlock in the sky and at airports, the capacity of the air traffic control system must be increased substantially. NASA Ames Research Center in cooperation with the FAA continues to develop software tools and procedures to assist air traffic controllers in managing air traffic more efficiently throughout all phases of flight. These tools are known collectively as the Center TRACON Automation System or CTAS. The heart of CTAS is a set of trajectory prediction algorithms which combine air traffic control radar data, aircraft performance data, flight plans, and wind predictions to compute a predicted trajectory for every aircraft being tracked by the air traffic control facility. Two of these tools, the Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) and the Final Approach Spacing Tool (FAST), are being prepared for delivery within the next few years to select air traffic control facilities. These tools will assist in the Approach phase of flight. At the same time, long term efforts are being directed at the Departure and En Route phases of flight. These new tools and procedures will enable controllers to work together with airlines and pilots to reduce delays and improve the predictability of airspace operations while also reducing the controller workload.

The purpose of this CD-ROM, Gate to Gate, is to familiarize you with the air traffic system as it operates today, and to demonstrate how some of these new tools fit into this system, providing a significant improvement in the flow of air traffic, thus allowing the capacity of the national airspace system to keep up with the demand from the traveling public.

This CD-ROM is divided into 7 sections: Preflight, Takeoff, Departure, En Route, Descent, Approach and Landing. Each section is a phase in a commercial flight profile. These sections give information about the air traffic management system’s contribution to each phase of a commercial flight. A typical commercial flight profile is briefly summarized in section one "Student Activity Packet" on pages 9-10.

The complete CD-ROM is 248MB, we have provided all of the video. We were not able to reproduce their interface which enhances the presentation, but does not affect the material.  Reporters may obtain a copy by calling 202-267-3462.   Members of the public may request a copy via email to Karen Stewart or call 202-267-9840.

The complete CD is outstanding, with easy navigation using Shockwave Flash.  Still the file sizes are quite large.  Not too bad for those of you with high speed internet access, but fairly long for those of you with dial-up ISP service.  Have fun!