CoSpace - Getting down to final approach with ASAS
- Controller November/December 2003 experiment
Principles: A new allocation of spacing tasks between controller and flight crew is envisaged as one possible option to improve air traffic management. It relies on a set of new “spacing” instructions, whereby the flight crew can be tasked by the controller to maintain a given spacing to a target aircraft. The motivation is neither to “transfer problems” nor to “give more freedom” to flight crew, but really to identify a more effective task distribution beneficial to all parties, without modifying responsibility for separation provision. Airborne surveillance (ADS-B) is required along with cockpit automation (Airborne Separation Assistance System, ASAS).
Experiment: The objective was to assess
usability and usefulness of time-based spacing instructions in TMA under very
high traffic. Six approach controllers from Gatwick, Orly
and Roma participated during 4 weeks.
Initial results: Overall feedback was positive. The proposed
working method, though implying significant changes as compared to today,
seemed easy to use and assimilate. Controllers perceived benefits: reduction of
workload, more anticipation in sequence building and more regular spacing on
final. However, the perceived reduced monitoring for aircraft under airborne
spacing, led controllers to question their ability to detect unexpected events.
The number of manoeuvring instructions seems to be significantly reduced.
Geographical distribution of instructions shows the impact of airborne spacing:
relief from late vectoring and earlier flow integration. With airborne spacing,
the inter aircraft spacing on final is more regular and trajectories are
straighter. More extensive data verification and further data analysis
(including eye movement) have now started.
The final
report is expected end of July.
Contact Eric Hoffman or Karim Zeghal
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