In order to meet the forecast traffic growth, and improve environmental sustainability, GALAAD developed concepts, tools and procedures to increase the capacity of Terminal Manoeuvring Areas (TMAs) in a safe, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner. This aimed to be achieved by taking advantage of the latest technological developments from both an airborne and a ground-system perspective.
The project addresses a concept for PBN (Performance Based Navigation) route structures (trombones, point merge or other) to be activated or deactivated depending, for example, on the time of day, for noise control purposes, or depending on traffic demand, so that the use of more complex route structures is avoided during periods of low demand, enabling agile responses to variations of operational conditions in the terminal area such as traffic density, airspace availability or environmental constraints. The end-to-end concept is addressed with the delivery of the appropriate STAR clearance to each aircraft via voice or CPDLC (Controller Pilot Data Link Communication) thanks to enhanced onboard capabilities to support the Pilot in his/her decision for proposed trajectory acceptance.
Arrival Manager (AMAN) system with enhanced functionalities as needed, is expected to support ATCO for the dynamic assignment of the optimal and most eco-efficient PBN route structures, depending on metrics such as predicted arrival airborne delay. The dynamic use of PBN route structures will allow trade-offs and optimisation of benefits depending on traffic demand (e.g. improved capacity during peak periods, fuel-efficient operations during off-peaks, reduced noise footprint at night) in the TMA.
GALAAD will concentrate its efforts on enhancing operations within the terminal area airspace, with a specific focus on achieving greater fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability without compromising capacity, safety, human performance and cost efficiency.
To measure the realization of the objectives and expected benefits, the project will adopt a standard methodology and metrics, complemented by metrics developed by EUROCONTROL to measure flight efficiency improvements derived from changes to the airspace structure and the operation.
This will be achieved through the development and validation of the concepts defined in the operational improvements to aim at achieving the TRL4 (V2) Maturity Level at the end of the project.
