Onsite with the FAA in Oklahoma City
Tim Lovell
January 2011
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As a multi-discipline engineer in MITRE's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), Tim Lovell provides his FAA sponsors with assistance on instrument procedure design and air traffic control issues at MITRE's Oklahoma City, Okla., site. |
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After nearly 30 years as an air traffic controller, Tim Lovell came to MITRE with a wealth of experience in the development of arrival and departure flight paths, generally referred to as flight procedures, and air traffic control issues. He puts that experience to good use in Oklahoma City, Okla., where he and two other MITRE staff are onsite at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, one of the Federal Aviation Administration's largest facilities.
Lovell is a multi-discipline systems engineer in MITRE's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), which serves as the federally funded research and development center for the FAA. Since coming to MITRE in 2007, Lovell has supported the FAA's Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, the Flight Procedures Standards Branch, and the Flight Procedures Implementation and Oversight Branch.
Creating a Knowledge Repository
When Lovell joined MITRE, most of the work he did supported the FAA's knowledge management efforts and drew on his expertise in flight procedure design. "My first project was to set up an information repository on instrument flight procedure design criteria," he says. "The repository allows people from the FAA and the aviation industry to submit their questions about flight procedure design criteria. The questions are then answered by the FAA and tracked throughout their lifecycle."
Prior to the repository's creation, there was no readily useable methodology for tracking questions about these rules (also called criteria), and how to apply them to flight procedures as they are developed. "It's become the 'go-to' place for information on flight procedure design criteria," he says.
"Working on the project gave me the opportunity to do some computer programming, which I really enjoyed. Basically, we took an off-the-shelf software system, customized it, and reprogrammed it to work specifically for the FAA."
Developing a Software Validation Plan
More recently Lovell has been on the CAASD team responsible for developing a software validation plan for the Terminal Area Route Generation and Traffic Simulation (TARGETS) flight procedure design tool. TARGETS is a MITRE-designed system that supports the implementation of area navigation and required navigation performance operations (RNAV/RNP) in the U.S. and internationally. RNAV and RNP use advanced satellite-based navigation and procedures that allow equipped aircraft to fly more direct routes into and out of airports. Using RNAV/RNP enhances efficiency of arrivals and departures while saving time and fuel.
MITRE's Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, site
MITRE established a site in Oklahoma City in 2007. The site is located at the FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center at the Will Rogers World Airport. |
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"The software validation requirement is a relatively new mandate by the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO]. It states that all software used to develop instrument flight procedures must be validated," says Lovell. As an ICAO member state, it is important that the U.S. follow this guidance.
"Essentially the validation process entails looking at what the software can do and developing a method to verify that it's done in accordance with the flight procedure criteria that the tool is applying."
Lovell was also on the team that developed the Flight Validation Toolset, which helps FAA-certified airlines create and validate their own enhanced flight paths.
"My day-to-day work involves all kinds of things. It's almost an ambassador's role. My colleagues and I serve as a direct link between MITRE and the FAA in Oklahoma City. At any given time, we may have a major project we're working on, but we're also answering questions, resolving issues, acting as an intermediary, setting up and participating in meetings.
"I think the most challenging aspect of my job is ensuring that the people we work with directly and indirectly understand our role as an FFRDC," he says. "With only three of us here, we're a very small representation of MITRE, while there are a huge number of FAA employees and contractors at this facility."
Appreciation for the Diverse Landscape
A native of the United Kingdom who has lived and worked around the world, Lovell has enjoyed his time in Oklahoma. "My wife and I are able to live out in what we call the country—it's a subdivision but not a city subdivision. We're relatively close to Oklahoma City so we have access to many urban amenities—professional sports, an orchestra, a symphony, plays, museums—everything a major metropolitan area could offer."
He also appreciates the rich variety of outdoor life. "We love to go boating and camping," says Lovell. "We take our dog, get in the RV, and travel as often as we can. I think many people have the misconception that Oklahoma has a flat and boring landscape but that's not true at all. The state has forested mountains, desert mesas, great plains, and prairies."
This geographical diversity took Lovell by surprise. "I wasn't expecting Oklahoma to have such a diverse ecosystem. It's quite fantastic actually. We truly have enjoyed exploring the area."
—by Kay M. Upham
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