Solution PJ.09-W2-44 achieved V3 maturity level addressing the blocking issues identified in V2 regarding human performance and safety assessment and addressing the full integration of DAC into DCB in the pre-tactical and tactical phase.
The concept document aims at defining operational services and environments within the scope of the PJ.09-W2-44:
• the DAC process consisting in organising, planning and managing airspace configurations
• The INAP function
• how to bridge the gap between INAP actors and DAC in an integrated Demand and Capacity Balancing process
The exercises covered six operational improvements (OIs) looking for more flexible and efficient Sector Design and Configuration (SD&C) processes and procedures; higher automation in the Airspace Management (ASM) process; a better use of complexity to support them both; and the achievement of an effective integration of demand and capacity measures to implement DCB processes at INAP timeframe. The validation of these OIs implied the validation of new roles and responsibilities for the Local Traffic Manager (LTM), Extended ATC Planner (EAP), Air Traffic Service Unit (ATSU) Supervisor and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCO) as well as their system support needs.
PJ.09-W2-44 validation prototypes include:
• Improved ASM and Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) tools supporting DAC.
• DCB tools supporting FMP and EAP in the assessment, monitoring and implementation of the DCB measures, integration of automated complexity assessment, integration of ATCO resource management and sector configuration planning, coordination with DMA design and integration with NM services.
• Controller Working Position (CWP) support functions to ATC task in DAC environment.
• A total of seven validation exercises involving up to ten European ANSPs (ENAIRE, DSNA, NATS, ENAV, SKYGUIDE, CCL, Naviair, LFV, ACG and PANSA) and EUROCONTROL to validate the concept over European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) area.
Validation exercises combined FTS (Fast Time Simulations), RTS (Real Time Simulations) and Shadow Mode techniques to emulate the full process of DAC as integrated within the DCB process, including the evaluation of the ATC service in DAC environment once the output of the DCB process is implemented.
The Architecture, Services and Technical Specifications of the systems supporting the Solution are defined in the TS/IRS deliverable. The functional breakdown is consistent with the EATMA methodology. The architecture has been developed in a MEGA environment implementing all EATMA standards.
A Cost Benefits Analysis has been performed too.
The main results of the validation activities are:
• The integration of DAC with DCB allows ANSPs to plan and manage airspace configurations based on predicted traffic.
• The combination of STAM measures and rerouting limits the impact of DMAs on civil traffic.
• DAC contributes to have fewer regulations with less delay and fine-tuned parameters.
• Workload is better distributed and more balanced if the sector configuration is carefully selected.
• Predictability metric improved.
• Cost efficiency is improved. There was an overall reduction of delays and improvements regarding elaboration times, Situational Awareness, and Mental workload.
• Improvement on flight efficiency and fuel consumption when including DAC into the DCB process.
• N?o negative impact on safety in the pre-tactical and tactical phase.
Cost Benefits Analysis performed show that expected benefits are an increase in En-route capacity with no detrimental impact on safety), an increase in ANSPs Cost efficiency a reduction in fuel burn, CO2 emissions and flight time, and improvements in predictability and punctuality.
