Periodic Reporting for period 4 - VLD3-W2 SORT (Safely Optimized Runway Throughput)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-06-30
Since October 2022, flight movements in Europe have increased strongly and developed in line with the post-Covid19 base scenario developed and forecasted by EUROCONTROL. Hence increased pressure on Europe’s airports will come back very soon again. Airports therefore remain looking for ways to improve runway and airport throughput in a sustainable manner while maintaining safety levels.
As per contract and ambition, the EU-funded VLD3-W2 SORT project tested several solutions delivered under the SESAR Joint Undertaking: optimized runway (separation) delivery on final approach (ORD PJ.02-01-01) wake turbulence separations (for arrivals) based on aircraft type specific static-aircraft characteristics (S-PWS PJ.02-01-04) reduction of wake turbulence risk considering acceleration of wake vortex decay in ground proximity (PJ.02-01-07) minimum pair separations based on required surveillance performance (RSP PJ.02-03) trajectory based integrated runway sequence function (IRSF) (PJ.02-08-01 and PJ.02-08-01) and increased runway throughput based on local ROT characterization (ROCAT) (PJ.02-08-03).
In this period Real Time Simulations on arrival demonstrations of Time-Based Separation for London Heathrow with S-PWS and MRS2.0/ROT were performed by NATS and LEIDOS, supported by NLR (AT-One) and EUROCONTROL. This followed an initial activity by NATS to analyze arrival Runway Occupancy Time in the first reporting period, and a series of development simulations in the second reporting period in preparation for the final RTS. LFV, SINTEF and SWEDAVIA worked on further industrialization improvements of the Integrated Runway Sequence Function (IRSF) through a large number of demos with many ATC controllers (ATCOs) and ATM decision-makers. The acceleration of wake vortex decay by plate lines was quantified thoroughly and the resulting potential to reduce aircraft separation minima was assessed. The technical plate design for permanent deployment at an airport was elaborated including all material needed for authority approval.
All above indicated SESAR Solutions worked on successfully passed the Maturity Gate held at 20th of April and achieved TRL7.
This report covers the fourth and final reporting period (i.e. the period 1st of January 2023 till 30th of June 2023).
As per contract and ambition, the EU-funded VLD3-W2 SORT project tested several solutions delivered under the SESAR Joint Undertaking: optimized runway (separation) delivery on final approach (ORD PJ.02-01-01) wake turbulence separations (for arrivals) based on aircraft type specific static-aircraft characteristics (S-PWS PJ.02-01-04) reduction of wake turbulence risk considering acceleration of wake vortex decay in ground proximity (PJ.02-01-07) minimum pair separations based on required surveillance performance (RSP PJ.02-03) trajectory based integrated runway sequence function (IRSF) (PJ.02-08-01 and PJ.02-08-01) and increased runway throughput based on local ROT characterization (ROCAT) (PJ.02-08-03).
In this period Real Time Simulations on arrival demonstrations of Time-Based Separation for London Heathrow with S-PWS and MRS2.0/ROT were performed by NATS and LEIDOS, supported by NLR (AT-One) and EUROCONTROL. This followed an initial activity by NATS to analyze arrival Runway Occupancy Time in the first reporting period, and a series of development simulations in the second reporting period in preparation for the final RTS. LFV, SINTEF and SWEDAVIA worked on further industrialization improvements of the Integrated Runway Sequence Function (IRSF) through a large number of demos with many ATC controllers (ATCOs) and ATM decision-makers. The acceleration of wake vortex decay by plate lines was quantified thoroughly and the resulting potential to reduce aircraft separation minima was assessed. The technical plate design for permanent deployment at an airport was elaborated including all material needed for authority approval.
All above indicated SESAR Solutions worked on successfully passed the Maturity Gate held at 20th of April and achieved TRL7.
This report covers the fourth and final reporting period (i.e. the period 1st of January 2023 till 30th of June 2023).
In the fourth and final period the main technical and management activities performed related to several items.
The Demonstration Plan (DEMOP), i.e. contractual deliverable D1.1 the report that collects all the relevant information related to the foreseen Very Large Demonstration (VLD) aspects, was completed, issued and SJU approved.
Furthermore the Demonstration Report (DEMOR), i.e. contractual deliverable D1.4 the document that reports on all the demonstration outcomes, was delivered at 17th of April 2023, and SJU-approved. All technical WPs contributed intensely to both the DEMOP and DEMOR documents as well as to the Maturity Gate.
This Maturity Gate was held at 20th of April 2023. It had a successful outcome: TRL7 for all involved SESAR Solutions.
In order to achieve this WP2 first continued all the required preparatory work on the NATS demo, strongly supported by LEIDOS, EUROCONTROL and NLR (AT-ONE). This Pair-Wise Separation (PWS) / Minimum Radar Separation (MRS) 2.0 / Runway Occupancy Time (ROT) demonstration was successfully held by NATS in March 2023.
Related to the WP3 developments of the Wake Decay Plate lines by DLR (AT-ONE) and Austro Control (COOPANS), the backup plan was further executed. The actual plate line prototype was further industrialized jointly with company Lattix and would no longer be placed at the Vienna Airport itself but nearby at the antenna test area Raugenwarth.
The comprehensive measurement data collected at Vienna airport was analyzed in order to quantify the accelerated wake vortex decay in ground proximity and the resulting potential of reduced aircraft separation minima was estimated for several use cases.
All the developments needed to have the pre-industrialized plate line prototype installed over there were completed and a successful Open Day was held 14th of February 2023. Furthermore, a few months later a second plate line prototype was installed at DLR premises Oberpfaffenhofen. Contacts with the airports, like Frankfurt, Leipzig/Halle, Munich, Schiphol, Vienna and Zürich were established to bring the plate line concept closer to deployment. Under WP4 EUROCONTROL and partners NLR and NATS coordinated with WP2 on common solutions including Static-PWS- for Arrivals (S-PWS-A) and ROCAT, performed related analysis methodology, and held a project-internal workshop in June 2023 on reducing MRS from 3.0/2.5 to 2.0 NM, addressing the current and evolution needs of regulatory provisions and procedures. Also, EUROCONTROL coordinated with and presented to EASA on the review of the EUROCONTROL safety case on RECAT-EU-PWS, and discussed a way forward for regulatory acceptance and publication.
Under WP5, the Runway Sequence Function (IRSF) was further industrialized by LFV, SINTEF and Arlanda Airport (SWEDAVIA).
The technical WPs prepared and executed the demonstrations.
Related to dissemination and communications, project SORT was present at the AirSpace Worlds Conference in Geneva (in March 2023). As mentioned a successful Open Day was organized in February by Austro Control at their local Tower premises and by DLR on the plate line demo.
On 15th of June 2023 NATS organized a SESAR Arrival Management Streaming and Pair-Wise Open day jointly with the SESAR projects PJ.37-ITARO and PJ.01-EAD.
These event were all accompanied with social media outings.
Finally and noteworthy to mention is that the project has achieved all its contractual goals set out after the Covid19 contract revision.
The Demonstration Plan (DEMOP), i.e. contractual deliverable D1.1 the report that collects all the relevant information related to the foreseen Very Large Demonstration (VLD) aspects, was completed, issued and SJU approved.
Furthermore the Demonstration Report (DEMOR), i.e. contractual deliverable D1.4 the document that reports on all the demonstration outcomes, was delivered at 17th of April 2023, and SJU-approved. All technical WPs contributed intensely to both the DEMOP and DEMOR documents as well as to the Maturity Gate.
This Maturity Gate was held at 20th of April 2023. It had a successful outcome: TRL7 for all involved SESAR Solutions.
In order to achieve this WP2 first continued all the required preparatory work on the NATS demo, strongly supported by LEIDOS, EUROCONTROL and NLR (AT-ONE). This Pair-Wise Separation (PWS) / Minimum Radar Separation (MRS) 2.0 / Runway Occupancy Time (ROT) demonstration was successfully held by NATS in March 2023.
Related to the WP3 developments of the Wake Decay Plate lines by DLR (AT-ONE) and Austro Control (COOPANS), the backup plan was further executed. The actual plate line prototype was further industrialized jointly with company Lattix and would no longer be placed at the Vienna Airport itself but nearby at the antenna test area Raugenwarth.
The comprehensive measurement data collected at Vienna airport was analyzed in order to quantify the accelerated wake vortex decay in ground proximity and the resulting potential of reduced aircraft separation minima was estimated for several use cases.
All the developments needed to have the pre-industrialized plate line prototype installed over there were completed and a successful Open Day was held 14th of February 2023. Furthermore, a few months later a second plate line prototype was installed at DLR premises Oberpfaffenhofen. Contacts with the airports, like Frankfurt, Leipzig/Halle, Munich, Schiphol, Vienna and Zürich were established to bring the plate line concept closer to deployment. Under WP4 EUROCONTROL and partners NLR and NATS coordinated with WP2 on common solutions including Static-PWS- for Arrivals (S-PWS-A) and ROCAT, performed related analysis methodology, and held a project-internal workshop in June 2023 on reducing MRS from 3.0/2.5 to 2.0 NM, addressing the current and evolution needs of regulatory provisions and procedures. Also, EUROCONTROL coordinated with and presented to EASA on the review of the EUROCONTROL safety case on RECAT-EU-PWS, and discussed a way forward for regulatory acceptance and publication.
Under WP5, the Runway Sequence Function (IRSF) was further industrialized by LFV, SINTEF and Arlanda Airport (SWEDAVIA).
The technical WPs prepared and executed the demonstrations.
Related to dissemination and communications, project SORT was present at the AirSpace Worlds Conference in Geneva (in March 2023). As mentioned a successful Open Day was organized in February by Austro Control at their local Tower premises and by DLR on the plate line demo.
On 15th of June 2023 NATS organized a SESAR Arrival Management Streaming and Pair-Wise Open day jointly with the SESAR projects PJ.37-ITARO and PJ.01-EAD.
These event were all accompanied with social media outings.
Finally and noteworthy to mention is that the project has achieved all its contractual goals set out after the Covid19 contract revision.
The VLD demonstrated new runway operations that are not yet part of today's operation, like Pair-Wise Separation (PWS) in combination with Time Based Separation (TBS), Runway Occupancy Time (ROT) separation, reduced Minimum Radar Separation (MRS) and using an Optimal Runway Delivery (ORD) tool, a novel wake decay plate line and Integrated Runway Sequence Function. All these novel SESAR2020 aspects were brought to TRL7 level and will bring advances to the concerned ANSPs, the air travelers and the community by improving punctionality, optimizing the flight efficiency, hence reducing fuel (emissions) and passenger delays.
The results of the NATS PWS validation activities demonstrated that the operational feasibility was acceptable and provides an increase in arrival throughput in strong wind conditions, with marginal benefits in moderate and light wind. Increased consistency in delivery is to be expected, and the results showed fuel burn savings per flight.
NATS expect to bring PWS into real deployment at Heathrow Airport in second half of 2024. LFV/SINTEF is further industrializing their IRSF in cooperation with SWEDAVIA and is about to bring it to the market. A pre-industrialized plate prototype was installed at Rauchenwarth, near Vienna airport which was presented to an international audience on the visitors day and another prototype was set up on DLR-Oberpfaffenhofen premises. The platne line concept has been brought at the pre-product level, licensed by the Industrial company Lattix which will bring it further to the market. Some airports, like Frankfurt, Leipzig, Schiphol, Zürich and Vienna have shown interest and explorations are continued.
The results of the NATS PWS validation activities demonstrated that the operational feasibility was acceptable and provides an increase in arrival throughput in strong wind conditions, with marginal benefits in moderate and light wind. Increased consistency in delivery is to be expected, and the results showed fuel burn savings per flight.
NATS expect to bring PWS into real deployment at Heathrow Airport in second half of 2024. LFV/SINTEF is further industrializing their IRSF in cooperation with SWEDAVIA and is about to bring it to the market. A pre-industrialized plate prototype was installed at Rauchenwarth, near Vienna airport which was presented to an international audience on the visitors day and another prototype was set up on DLR-Oberpfaffenhofen premises. The platne line concept has been brought at the pre-product level, licensed by the Industrial company Lattix which will bring it further to the market. Some airports, like Frankfurt, Leipzig, Schiphol, Zürich and Vienna have shown interest and explorations are continued.