Boeing Leverages NASA’s Tech to Improve Flight Trajectory Prediction

The U.S.’s space agency NASA has explored many aspects of aviation and is now focusing on civil space. The agency is working with Boeing on an advanced system that improves flight trajectory prediction for more precise flying.

NASA announced in a press release on 11 December that it has been working with Boeing to conduct real-time tests on an advanced system that improves both flight convenience for passengers and economic efficiency for airliners.

Boeing flew a United Airlines 737 in October, testing a data communication system designed to improve information flow between the flight deck, air traffic control, and airline operation centers with domestic flights based in Houston, and flights over the Atlantic to Edinburgh and Scotland. 

NASA Enhancing Convenience and Efficiency for Flights

Aircrafts often battle with precision in timing for landing, leading to a seeming back and forth delay in the landing despite seeming closeness to the destination.

This is a phenomenon caused by issues with trajectory prediction which causes the plane to change its course to avoid weather or turbulence, thus throwing off its predicted arrival time. This causes a lot of inconveniences for passengers especially if there are delays, and also reduces efficiency for the aviation companies.

NASA has studied the issue for years and is now working with Boeing to test an advanced system that shares trajectory data between an aircraft and its support systems. The test is a part of Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator Explorer program which has NASA as part of its flight partners this year.

The agency developed an oceanic trajectory prediction service, and the collaboration allows it to get a more accurate look at what’s required to reduce gaps in data sharing. After the test, Boeing and the ecoDemonstrator collaborators intend to put the data communication system in operational service as soon as possible.

NASA’s Adventures in Aviation Technology

NASA has recently been exploring some aspects of aviation, both for civil flying and for space exploration. The agency has started testing special drones for exploring Mars in upcoming expeditions. It has also worked with the war department in the U.S. to start flying autonomous cargo drones.

However, the partnership with Boeing to test the data sharing system is one of the most significant so far when it comes to civil aviation research. It is expected that the final system will greatly improve aviation in general.

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