Creating new operational concepts for global automated ATM systems

Abstract

With the availability of new CNS technologies (Communications, Navigation and Guidance, Surveillance) as described by the ICAO FANS agreement and the potential of new tools for Automation at the ATC controller's console, the aviation world is once again in the same position as it was in 1945 when WW2 technologies in the form of radar and ground based radio-navigation aids were introduced to create the present forms of ATC operations. But instead of providing the tools and waiting to see how operational people will use them to create new ATC operating procedures, the introduction of automation and the size and global scope of the new investments make it necessary to do a proper, top down approach to engineering a new ATM system. This means pre-determining the set of new Operational Concepts and their Operational Procedures which are safe and economical, which allow compatible transitions under mixed old and new operations, and which provide a significant increase in capacity needed in certain high density traffic areas. This paper is concerned with establishing a framework for describing and analyzing new ATC Operational Concepts which will then allow the requisite systems engineering task to proceed.