MEDITERRANEAN FREE FLIGHT PROJECT
Results Of Real-Time Simulation No1
SUMMARY
The first Mediterranean Free Flight (MFF) Real-Time simulation was held at the ENAV (Ente Nazionale Assistenza al Volo) Experimental Centre in Rome between April 22nd and May 24th 2002.
A multi-national team of Italian, Maltese, Greek and Swedish controllers took part in the experiment which was the first of a series of 3 large scale simulations proposed in the MFF project plan.
The simulation was designed to study aspects of the Free Route concept and the Airborne Separation Assistance System (ASAS) Spacing concept as described in MFF documents. The study airspace was the central Mediterranean between Sardinia and the southeastern tip of the Italian mainland. This airspace was designated as Free Route airspace above FL245 surrounded by fixed route airspace for the purposes of the simulation. Traffic samples represented future traffic volumes of up to 60% increase over September 2000.
The simulation included 4 measured sectors each equipped with executive and planner control positions. A military sector ensured a realistic environment. The simulation facility was an advanced electronic ATC system configured on the Eurocontrol ESCAPE simulator newly installed at ENAV premises in Rome. Advanced tools were provided to assist the controller in the application of the 2 MFF concepts tested.
Results show that the Free Route Concept was successfully applied in the subject airspace but that controllers will need efficient supporting tools. Military findings include the need for improved co-ordination techniques and improved data display due to the major impact that Free Routes will have on military operations.
The transition between the adjacent fixed route airspace to/from Free Route airspace was satisfactorily managed and also the transition to/from the underlying fixed route airspace.
The ASAS Spacing concept was found to be useful under certain circumstances as traffic converged on the Free Route exit points of the subject airspace. However, traffic flows did not lend themselves to its widespread application. Controllers provided suggestions for improved tools and phraseology and future simulations will look more closely at appropriate airspace and traffic flows.
Many lessons were learnt in all aspects of conducting highly complex real-time simulation in a multi-national and multi-cultural environment. These will be applied in forthcoming MFF real-time simulations.
LINKS TO FULL REPORTS
MFF RTS1 Trial Results and the Analysis Annex
THE TEAM
MFF Real-time Simulations are prepared, conducted and reported on by a small ENAV EUROCONTROL joint team based at the ENAV Experimental Centre in Rome.
