VAPORETO - Validation processes for users' requirements in air traffic operations
The European Commission, DG VII, has published the final report of the VAPORETO (Validation processes for users' requirements in air traffic operations) project, supported as an APAS preparatory action prior to the Transport research programme. New validation practices to cope with enhanced air traffic management (ATM) systems in Europe are essential as new advanced systems are developed to manage ever increasing traffic loads. The VAPORETO project aimed to provide an initial step towards the validation of advanced ATM, taking into account its complexity. The report describes a framework for the validation of ATM systems, concepts and procedures. It provides a default overall validation framework which can be used for any validation including validation of existing concepts, systems and procedures. However this framework should be taken as a starting point, with investigation required of the techniques and methods which are missing. Whilst VAPORETO has provided answers to many questions about validation research on ATM, there are still many issues requiring urgent resolution. Many of these are now being addressed in on-going Transport programme projects dealing with ATM validation research under the Fourth Framework Programme (e.g. PATIO, CINCAT, CASCADE, ASIVAL).