Human Systems Integration Division researchers, who are part of the
Air Traffic Management eXploration (ATMx) project, partnered with
Collins Aerospace and
Wisk Aero to assess the use of ground-based surveillance data as a potential service to support safe, routine operations for emerging aircraft operations.
On August 21, 2025, Wisk Aero piloted their Bell 206 helicopter on a route contained within the surveillance volume of Collins Aerospace's Skyler ground-based surveillance system just north of Hollister Municipal Airport (KCVH). Throughout this test flight, Members of ATMx, NASA Ames Aeronautics leaders, and researchers from Wisk Aero observed the flight activity from NASA Ames'
Mission Visualization and Research Control Center (MVRCC), collecting valuable data which will be used to characterize the performance of the Skyler ground-based radar and its conformance to current standards.
Ultimately, this effort will enable new entrants and communities to better understand what infrastructure is needed for lower-altitude, air taxi-like flights that can help move people and cargo around in novel ways. NASA's history of air traffic management research provides us with the insights to be able to inform integration of these new use cases into tomorrow's airspace.
