Launch of the ASAS Thematic Network (ASAS-TN)

What is ASAS?

• Objective of the ASAS-TN
• Background
• Approach
• What the ASAS-TN offers
• Management of the project
• Membership of the ASAS-TN
• ASAS-TN Contacts

What is ASAS?

Airborne Separation Assistance Systems (ASAS) is a new technique which, via airborne and/or ground surveillance, presents a flight crew with a traffic picture.

The flight crew may then use the information in a defined way to achieve some operational benefit. This use is defined as an ASAS application and may range from enhanced see and avoid to an aircraft managing its own separation.

Objective of the ASAS-TN

The main objective of the ASAS Thematic Network is to accelerate the implementation of ASAS applications in European Airspace taking global applicability in order to increase airspace capacity and safety. It is a EUROCONTROL led project which has just kicked off.

Background

ASAS-TN is a stand-alone project, arising out of the ASAS work within the programme of Co-operative Actions of R&D In EUROCONTROL (CARE-ASAS). It is organised within the work programme for Competitive and Sustainable Growth of the European Community, Key action 4, New Perspectives in Aeronautics, Target Platform 4, "More Autonomous Aircraft in the Future Air Traffic Management System".

Approach

The two-year project provides a series of workshops on key ASAS issues; a set of web-based discussion forums; work on ASAS research and development, standardisation and certification issues; and a document repository of ASAS related material.

Communication activities are performed by: the creation of an Internet based set of moderated ASAS discussion forums; a Web-based ASAS document repository, three ASAS workshops; a seminar; and the development of guidelines for the implementation of ASAS applications.

The main ASAS Thematic Network outputs consist in the sharing of the current knowledge on ASAS between all European stakeholders and in recommendations for future activities necessary to reach the operational use of ASAS applications.

The three ASAS-TN workshops are:

‘ASAS Expected Operational Improvements’, 28-30 April 2003, Rome.

‘ASAS applications & Procedures’, 6-8 October 2003, Stockholm.

‘Required airborne and ground functions for ASAS’, 19-21 April 2004, Toulouse.

The Final Project Seminar will be held on 11-13 October 2004.

For further information on the Workshops, please contact bill.booth@eurocontrol.int

Further information on the first workshop is available at:

http://www.eurocontrol.int/care/asas/asas_tn_workshop1.htm

What the ASAS-TN offers

The ASAS-TN:

• Facilitates the exchange of ideas to provide a framework for discussion and to ease the dissemination of information;

• Provides a data base of ASAS related documents to support studies and projects;

• Facilitates the training of people involved in the development process of ASAS applications;

• Facilitates co-ordination of on-going Research and Technical Development (RTD) projects related to ASAS and specifically between ground and airborne oriented projects;

• Facilitates consensus for standardisation and certification;

• Provides guidance and recommendations for future ASAS strategy including RTD, technical feasibility, validation and implementation and;

• Allows the presentation of results and discussion of information with stakeholders.

Management of the project

The ASAS-TN is sponsored by the European Commission (DG:Research) and led by EUROCONTROL It is a two-year project that is primarily a communication activity.

The ASAS-TN managing committee is composed of the following organisations:

• BAE SYSTEMS, UK

• ENAV, Italy

• LFV, Sweden

• NLR, Netherlands

• Thales ATM, France

• Thales Avionics, France

The ASAS-TN committee also call on the services of Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination (ATCEUC), International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Associations (IFATCA), International Federation of AirLine Pilots Association (IFALPA) and Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) to provide project input from the Users’ viewpoint.

Membership of the ASAS-TN

ASAS-TN members enjoy access to all the latest relevant ASAS documentation and discussion forums on the key current ASAS-related topic. It is the membership that enables the Network to live and grow as a useful entity.

Membership of the ASAS-TN is free and is enabled via the signature of a simple Membership Agreement Document at an organisational level. Members have to abide by a simple code of polite conduct in the forums and have to actively contribute either through documentation or comment.

Please apply for further information and membership details to Bill Booth.

ASAS-TN Contacts

For further information, please contact:

ASAS-TN Project Leader:

Francis Casaux, EUROCONTROL

ASAS-TN Technical Project Manager:

Bill Booth, EUROCONTROL

ASAS-TN Communications Manager

Catherine Lachiver, EUROCONTROL