ASAS Thematic Network Project Completed

The Airborne Separation Assistance System Thematic Network (ASAS-TN), a two-year project (sponsored by the European Commission) was primarily a communication activity amongst the ATM community. We have a network of some 1200 contacts and a library has been developed on OneSky Team (Eurocontrol extranet) which contains some 400 documents.

The ASAS-TN consortium was composed of the Eurocontrol Experimental Centre (co-ordinator), six principal contractors: BAE Systems, ENAV, LFV, NLR, Thales ATM, Thales Avionics and a body of members of Professional Associations: ATCEUC, IFATCA, VC.

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

Results

Three workshops took place:

· “ASAS Operational Improvements – Dream or Reality?”, 28^th-30^th April 2003, Rome.

· “ASAS - What does it mean operationally?, 6^th-8^th October 2003, Malmö

· “ASAS – Making it happen”, 19^th-21^st April 2004, Toulouse

The ASAS Implementation Strategy was developed taking into account the issues and work reported at the Workshop events. This includes ten recommendations for an early implementation strategy.

A final project seminar "ASAS Time for Decisions: The Way Forward" was held on 11-13 October 2004 in Brighton, UK.

Panel discussions at the Brighton seminar with the participation of:
ATA, DGAC/CENA, the European Commission, EUROCONTROL, IFATCA, IFALPA.

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.

Stakeholder views were given via a series of focused workshops. Reports for these and the final project seminar are available via the project website.

Final seminar in Brighton

The ASAS-TN consortium invites the global ATM community to accept the following commitments:

Commitment 1: ASAS and ADS-B applications shall be an integral part of the European ATM Master Plan. They have the potential to enhance the ATM system in the areas of safety, capacity, flexibility, efficiency and environment.

Commitment 2: It is now necessary to conduct operational trials in Europe involving revenue flight. This will include in-situ certification and operational approval of the applications.

Commitment 3: ASAS application must be studied as an integral part of the ATM system. Synergies with other new concept elements should be identified in order to maximise benefits.

Commitment 4: Stakeholders must participate in ASAS-TN2 activities to ensure a common understanding. In addition to workshops and seminars, these should include contributing to the ASAS-TN2 library and providing inputs to the Internet forums of discussion.

To continue this work a follow-on project, ASAS-TN 2, is due to start in April 2005.

For further information please contact Catherine Lachiver.