Meilin Schaper

Trajectory based ground movements and their coordination with departure management

Today no detailed ground trajectories exist; although trajectory based ground operations would improve the runway sequence optimization by more accurate taxi times. The aim of this study was to extend the time-based trajectory management to the ground and link it with departure management. A specific futuristic mean to achieve time-based trajectories on ground is by precisely controlling the speed of aircrafts. A concept for a surface management system is introduced, which supports air traffic controllers in this task. The interactions between this advanced surface management system and departure management are studied by building and extending surface and departure management research prototypes. Preliminary results from a workshop with air traffic controllers indicate that our concept is promising.

Departure flow control through takeoff sequence optimisation: Setup and results of trials at Athens airport

The paper at hand gives a short overview on “DMAN” (Departure Management System), also in the context of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM). It describes the CADEO-tool (Controller Assistance through Departure Optimization), which was used to support the trials at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport. The passive and the active trails, which were performed with a core team of six Air Traffic Controllers, are described, results analyzed in form of data and human factors impact assessment. It can be said, that taxi times were reduced, controller training was very effective and that the way opened shall continue with full implementation in the foreseeable future.

First results of coupling of ATM planning systems with different time horizons

With the implementation of Total Airport Management we expect that the pre-tactical airport planning for a 24h period will be tool supported in future. Usually decisions made and implemented in those pre-tactical phase influence the tactical planning. The paper at hand describes the trials performed with coupled ATM planning systems for the mentioned pre-tactical planning and the tactical controller assistance systems. It starts with a brief description of the pre-tactical planning system prototype from DLR and our research prototypes for arrival and departure management. The conceptual idea of coordination profiles to couple both kinds of planning systems are explained in short before selecting two coordination profiles for the trials. The result confirms our expectation: With the coupling the traffic flows entering the tactical planning are smoothed.

Ecological Interface Design and its application to Total Airport Management

The concept of Total Airport Management aims at harmonizing and optimizing the processes at an airport through the implementation of an airport operations plan. For this purpose and to guarantee the acceptance of the airport operation plan from all stakeholders, it was proposed to develop a control room in which stakeholders negotiate a quality of service contract and airport processes. This control room will, amongst others, be equipped with a large videowall, which should enable stakeholders yielding sound common situation awareness. This paper introduces an information representation for the videowall, which should support knowledge-based behaviour, and, thus, applies the Ecological Interface Design Guidelines. Therefor, it discusses how the Total Airport Management systems functional purpose, abstract functions, generalized functions, physical processes, and physical form may be presented appropriately on the videowall. Herewith, this paper generalizes the Ecological Interface Design approach to airport management and provides a theory-based proposition of the videowalls design.