SESAR has made significant progress in developing a new set of tools to support controllers in detecting and resolving conflicts in complex airspace. The use of accurate trajectory prediction and “what-if/what-else” functions in the identification of conflict resolutions also reduces the amount of information that needs to be managed by controllers, thereby allowing controllers to efficiently handle more flights. Ultimately, the tools will help to better manage traffic in busy periods and enhance overall flight efficiency and safety.
Bringing together the air navigation service providers (ANSPs) of France (DSNA), Germany (DFS) and the UK (NATS), experts analysed the challenges faced in their respective en-route airspace and designed a common set of requirements to improve the performance of separation in these busy and complex environments where there is a high percentage of climbing and descending traffic with high variety of speed profiles. They identified the need for improved medium-term conflict detection tooling comprising a conflict detection and resolution aid (CD/R to tactical controller), an aid for trajectory adjustment through constraint of time (TRACT), and conflict detection and resolution aid to planner controllers (CD/R aid to PC). Operating with a medium term look-ahead time, these tools are designed to be complementary to existing short term conflict detection tools, some of which provide last minute conflict detection based on current track data.
In the latest validation exercise, controllers from DFS validated the performance of CD/R to tactical controller based on clearance data in a scenario with 150% of current sector capacity values. The controllers reported greater situational awareness and rated as high the quality of the functionalities, reporting no missed conflicts and very few nuisance alerts. Compared to current MTCD tools, the validation team noted significant operational improvements through used of this additional tool – especially for aircraft in vertical transition.
According to one team member, “the tactical conflict detection tools made my way of working in high traffic conditions much easier. Even with the high amount of climbing and descending traffic conflicts were reliably detected, and through the probing functions operationally viable solutions were provided. This helped a lot in maintaining my mental picture and working ahead of the traffic.”
The outcome of this successful validation, as well as the tools’ operational and technical requirements, will be documented and made available to all SESAR partners for industrialisation. Günter Achatz, Director Planning and Innovation of DFS, added: “The results of the validation exercise are really convincing and encouraging. These new tools will deliver considerable benefits in terms of safety, capacity and efficiency.”
These MTCD tools are also an important element in SESAR’s free routing concept, which will be deployed across Europe between 2018 and 2022, as part of the EU’s pilot common project.