Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FASTNet (Future dAta Services and applicaTions for airports and Network)
Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-12-31
FASTNet (“Future dAta Services and applicaTions for airports and Network”) is part of the Fast-Track SESAR3 Industrial Research Programme and brings together key airport stakeholders, with the aim of enhancing collaborative data exchange at local airport level, towards improving the communication links between airports and the European Air Traffic Management Network. FASTNet is structured around two solutions:
• FASTNet solution 1 introduces the collaboration and coordination between airports directly, in the tactical phase of operations, ensuring an optimal traffic demand and capacity balancing prior to coordination with the Network Manager. The aim is to ensure that airport pairs (origin-destination airports) play an active role in the overall Air Traffic Flow and Capacity Management (ATFCM) process.
• FASTNet Solution 2 reinforces the information sharing between airports and the Network manager in the strategic and pre-tactical phase of operations. The aim is to ensure that the right information is shared as early as possible between the key stakeholders to ensure that tactical operations have been planned in an optimal way.
The outcomes of the FASTNet project are linked to 4 demonstrations across the two Solutions.
For airports, the proposed solutions are expected to enhance the stability and predictability of operations from strategic planning up to the tactical phase. This will be achieved through the consolidation of Airport Operations Plan (AOP) information. The use of additional information provided by Airport, Airspace Users and Network, supported by artificial intelligence/machine learning, will allow better planning predictions for all operational actors. The participation of airports in the Network Demand and Capacity Balancing (DCB) process will as well be reinforced through the use of machine learning in the derivation of important local data to be shared with the Network Manager, such as improved taxi time values, which accurately take into account local information, such as stand and runway usage, as well as weather conditions.
At the level of the European ATM Network, the enhanced traffic predictability provided through the FASTNet project will lead to reduced, as well as more stable, ATFM measures by ensuring that sector count predictions are better aligned to the real traffic flows. The time horizon at which pertinent data and information is shared bi-directionally between airports and the Network Manager will be extended into the pre-tactical and strategic phases of operations (more than 7 days before the day of operations), using existing B2B services and data sharing protocols, ensuring that all actors are able to plan their operations and resource allocation based on the most accurate information available.
• FASTNet solution 1 introduces the collaboration and coordination between airports directly, in the tactical phase of operations, ensuring an optimal traffic demand and capacity balancing prior to coordination with the Network Manager. The aim is to ensure that airport pairs (origin-destination airports) play an active role in the overall Air Traffic Flow and Capacity Management (ATFCM) process.
• FASTNet Solution 2 reinforces the information sharing between airports and the Network manager in the strategic and pre-tactical phase of operations. The aim is to ensure that the right information is shared as early as possible between the key stakeholders to ensure that tactical operations have been planned in an optimal way.
The outcomes of the FASTNet project are linked to 4 demonstrations across the two Solutions.
For airports, the proposed solutions are expected to enhance the stability and predictability of operations from strategic planning up to the tactical phase. This will be achieved through the consolidation of Airport Operations Plan (AOP) information. The use of additional information provided by Airport, Airspace Users and Network, supported by artificial intelligence/machine learning, will allow better planning predictions for all operational actors. The participation of airports in the Network Demand and Capacity Balancing (DCB) process will as well be reinforced through the use of machine learning in the derivation of important local data to be shared with the Network Manager, such as improved taxi time values, which accurately take into account local information, such as stand and runway usage, as well as weather conditions.
At the level of the European ATM Network, the enhanced traffic predictability provided through the FASTNet project will lead to reduced, as well as more stable, ATFM measures by ensuring that sector count predictions are better aligned to the real traffic flows. The time horizon at which pertinent data and information is shared bi-directionally between airports and the Network Manager will be extended into the pre-tactical and strategic phases of operations (more than 7 days before the day of operations), using existing B2B services and data sharing protocols, ensuring that all actors are able to plan their operations and resource allocation based on the most accurate information available.
Since 1st of June 2023, the FASTNet project has made significant progress in developing the solutions to improve the operational efficiency of airports and the air traffic management network. Below are the activities performed and the main achievements:
Development of the operational concept:
• Methods, use cases, and requirements for a new integration between airports (AOP-AOP) and the enhanced integration of AOP - AOP the Airport Operations Plan (AOP) and the Network Operations Plan (NOP) in the pre-tactical and strategic phases were defined and refined.
• Identification of Performance requirements linked to the Key Performance Areas (KPA) impacted in both Solution were identified.
• Detailed descriptions of the operational environment and methods, along with use cases.
Development of the technical concept:
Technical and interoperability specifications (TS/IRS) were prepared and reviewed as part of the solutions data package.
Models and prediction capabilities were developed in collaboration with project partners, establishing a solid foundation for operational use.
Development of tools and prototypes:
Close coordination with partners was maintained to align system architecture, data structures, communication between systems and formats necessary for the effective development of tools.
Discussions on the design of HMIs to visualize the required info during the validations were initiated, ensuring stakeholders can interpret and act on the generated data.
Validations:
Solutions Validation Plan (VALP) was prepared in several iterations, and close coordination with partners was ensured for the successful execution of related activities during 2025.
Evaluation of needs for STAND and REG:
Additional iterations of the Standards (STAND) and Regulations (REG) documents were produced and reviewed to ensure the solution's compliance with industry standards and regulatory needs.
The results obtained to date demonstrate significant progress towards achieving the project's objectives, with notable advances in the definition and development of operational and technical concepts, as well as in the preparation and execution of validation activities.
Development of the operational concept:
• Methods, use cases, and requirements for a new integration between airports (AOP-AOP) and the enhanced integration of AOP - AOP the Airport Operations Plan (AOP) and the Network Operations Plan (NOP) in the pre-tactical and strategic phases were defined and refined.
• Identification of Performance requirements linked to the Key Performance Areas (KPA) impacted in both Solution were identified.
• Detailed descriptions of the operational environment and methods, along with use cases.
Development of the technical concept:
Technical and interoperability specifications (TS/IRS) were prepared and reviewed as part of the solutions data package.
Models and prediction capabilities were developed in collaboration with project partners, establishing a solid foundation for operational use.
Development of tools and prototypes:
Close coordination with partners was maintained to align system architecture, data structures, communication between systems and formats necessary for the effective development of tools.
Discussions on the design of HMIs to visualize the required info during the validations were initiated, ensuring stakeholders can interpret and act on the generated data.
Validations:
Solutions Validation Plan (VALP) was prepared in several iterations, and close coordination with partners was ensured for the successful execution of related activities during 2025.
Evaluation of needs for STAND and REG:
Additional iterations of the Standards (STAND) and Regulations (REG) documents were produced and reviewed to ensure the solution's compliance with industry standards and regulatory needs.
The results obtained to date demonstrate significant progress towards achieving the project's objectives, with notable advances in the definition and development of operational and technical concepts, as well as in the preparation and execution of validation activities.
Validation activities have not been performed yet, so there are not results to date.