A review of over 500 techniques related to safety in nine industries has
been carried out, to determine what ATM safety can 'borrow' from other industry
best practice. A set of 19 techniques has been recommended for adaptation to
ATM over the next five years. The first of these are already being tested on
some EEC-related projects. Human error analysis using an approach called
TRACER, trying to predict what errors by pilots and controllers could occur in
future systems, has already been applied to five EEC-led projects (Co-Space,
Time Based Separation, Conflict Resolution Assistant, Mediterranean Free
Flight, and Arrival Manager). This has proven successful, by predicting not
only credible future errors, but also indicating how such errors can be avoided
by appropriate system development. This approach not only tests the systems, it
therefore also helps to make them more robust against human error. Training
courses are now also available on approaches such as TRACER (rachael.gordon@eurocontrol.int).
Another technique being applied is HAZOP, also used for predictive
safety work. This is a very robust technique developed for the chemical
industry thirty years ago, and now used in a range of industries. HAZOP has
been applied to three of the projects mentioned above, but is also being used
to consider the safety of some of Eurocontrol's live
trials (e.g. MTCD and MFF, and possibly AMAN). This technique therefore helps
ensure that problems that can surface during a live trial of a system cannot
actually lead to real safety problems. HAZOP will also be used to assess the
safety aspects of the proposed TCAS RA Downlink solution to the mid air
collision problem.
Other techniques from the review will be gradually developed and tested
here in the EEC by the Safety Research Team working with the Research Areas on
individual EEC projects, before being transmitted to
Two 'Notes' detailing the review results are being placed on the
intranet.