Michael Braukus

Headquarters, Washington, DC December 10, 1999

(Phone: 202/358-1979)

Michael Mewhinney
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
(Phone: 650/604-3937)

RELEASE: 99-143

NASA OPENS NEW, VIRTUAL AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER AT AMES

"FutureFlight Central," the world's first full-scale virtual

airport-control tower, will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on
Monday, Dec. 13, at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,
CA.

Constructed at a cost of $10 million, the two-story

FutureFlight Central facility was jointly funded by NASA and the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The facility is designed
to test -- under realistic airport conditions and configurations -
- ways to solve potential air and ground traffic problems at
commercial airports.

"NASA's FutureFlight Central is a world-class research

facility dedicated to addressing the future needs of the nation's
airports," said Ames Center Director Henry McDonald. "This
facility will allow NASA, the FAA and their research partners to
examine ways to increase the flow of aircraft through the national
airspace system safely, efficiently and under all weather
conditions."

Among the invited guests to the ribbon-cutting ceremony are

NASA Associate Administrator for Aero-Space Technology Spence
Armstrong, FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey, state and local
legislators, and a host of top officials from government, industry
and academia.

FutureFlight Central will permit integration of tomorrow's

technologies in a risk-free simulation of any airport, airfield,
and tower-cab environment. The facility provides an opportunity
for airlines and airports to mitigate passenger delays by fine-
tuning airport hub operations, gate management, ramp-movement
procedures, and various other airport improvements. Finally, it
enables air traffic controllers to provide input and become
familiar with new airport operations and technologies before
construction is completed.

Real people interact in the live-action simulation just as in

a real airport. Up to 12 air traffic controllers in the tower cab
are in direct communication through a simulated radio and phone
system with pilots and ramp controllers at stations on the first
floor.

"We can simulate any airport in the world," said Nancy

Dorighi, FutureFlight Central facility manager. "The three-
dimensional visual model of an airport is viewed out the 360-
degree windows of the tower cab. The visual scene, along with
specific airport traffic patterns, fleet mix and procedures, makes
this a very credible operational test-bed."

It is anticipated that airport and airline management and

researchers will want to look primarily at the feasibility, safety
and reliability and cost benefits of technologies prior to
incorporating them into airports. In addition, testing will
provide information that may assist in developing proposed changes
to airport ground procedures and the construction of new airport
facilities. "This is a totally new approach to tower- or airport-
traffic planning that wasn't possible just a few years ago," said
Dorighi.

Twelve rear-projection video screens provide a seamless 360-

degree high-resolution view of the airport or other scenes being
depicted. The imaging system, powered by supercomputers, provides
a realistic view of weather conditions, environmental and seasonal
effects and the movement of up to 200 active aircraft and ground
vehicles.

The facility is dedicated to the memory of Stanton R. Harke,

the facility's first project manager, who passed away on April 25,
1999, at 58 from cancer.

- end -

NOTE TO EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: News media are invited to

attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Ames Research Center, Moffett
Field, CA, for NASA's new FutureFlight Central on Monday, Dec. 13
starting at 9 a.m. (PST). News media may register in the tent
outside the facility at 7:30 a.m. (PST). Tours of the facility
for news media will be provided following the ceremony. To get to
Ames, take the Moffett Field exit off Highway 101. At the Moffett
Federal Airfield main gate, turn right into a small parking lot
and enter the Visitor Badging Office to obtain your entry badges.
You must bring your press credentials and photo ID to gain
admittance.

Images of the facility are available on the Internet at:

http://ffc.arc.nasa.gov
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