AIRSPACE UTILIZATION REPORTING SYSTEM FOR THE R-2508 COMPLEX

Abstract

Increasingly, military managers are requiring better and more efficient use of Special Use Airspace (SUA) and Military Operating Areas (MOA). To date, there has been no automated method for determining airspace utilization within the R-2508 Complex. This paper describes the development of a computer based airspace management tool called Airspace Utilization Reporting System (AURS). AURS receives aircraft beacon radar data from an air traffic control automation system used within the R-2508 Complex. The system processes this data in a customized Oracle database format and responds to query requests, making any information about aircraft activities and airspace utilization available to the user. AURS operates continuously 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The system provides a tool for near complete analysis of all transponder equipped aircraft activities and utilization information within the 20,000 square miles R-2508 airspace Complex. In this paper we also provide detailed AURS reports and examples of military and civilian aircraft activities obtained with AURS.