A tablet computer displays air traffic data during ATD-1 flight simulations. (NASA Photo / David C. Bowman)

Landing planes at busy airports can be a challenging work of aerial ballet, and this week, NASA is testing a computerized choreographer to handle the job in the skies over Washington state.

The tests, supervised by NASAs Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, are part of a series of flights known as Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration, or ATD-1.

Three research airplanes have been outfitted with NASA-developed software that keeps track of the speed and position of the airplanes as they approach an airport.

The flight deck interval management software automatically calculates how fast the planes should be traveling to maintain the proper spacingbetween them, and displays that information on a tablet in the planes cockpits.

The software can predict the moment when an airplane touches down within a few seconds. That information should help pilots and ground controllers plot the planes routes more easily and efficiently. The payoff comes in the form of fuel savings, noise and pollution reduction and fewer flight delays.

NASAs Langley Research Center in Virginia and Ames Research Center in California played key roles in developing the software, but the Pacific Northwest provides more open space for trying out the system under real-world conditions.

A Honeywell Dassault Falcon business jet is taking onthe role of prima ballerina for this weeks tests. It broadcasts speed and position data to a Honeywell Boeing 757 based out of Seattles Boeing Field, and to a United Airlines Boeing 737 based out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

During each test flight, the three jets conduct the aviation equivalent of a pas de trois with Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Wash., serving asthe primarystage.

Its a very simple follow the leader operation that is easy to execute by the flight crew, Sheri Brown, ATD-1 project manager at Langley Research Center, said in NASAs preview of the tests.

Performances are taking place all this week, but NASA says the initial ATD-1 flights were already very successful. Heres a Twitter recap of todays test:

Stay tuned for more about ATD-1 as the test flights continue. And stay tuned for the sequel as well: NASA researchers already have started putting ATD-2 through its paces in a 360-degree airport simulator at Ames Research Center.

For more about the ATD-1 flights, check out the report onBoeing Fields Centerline blog and NASAs media advisory.

Read more:

NASA tests next-generation air traffic software in Washington state's skies - GeekWire