Project ATCOSIMA – Air traffic Control Simulations at the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences

Air traffic controller training is a highly regulated sector. It is prescribed by international rules and requirements. The important segment of training is the provision of practical exercises on air traffic control simulators. Although regulations prescribe required performance objectives for initial training, they do not set any assessment criteria on how to assess the candidates, nor do they consider any flight efficiency indicators. In this paper, an overview objectives of the ATCOSIMA project is presented. Baseline air traffic simulations performed at the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences of the University of Zagreb were analysed in more detail explaining exercises, assessment criteria description, as well as the achieved candidates’ scores

Project ATCOSIMA – Air traffic Control Simulations at the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences

Air traffic controller training is a highly regulated sector. It is prescribed by international rules and requirements. The important segment of training is the provision of practical exercises on air traffic control simulators. Although regulations prescribe required performance objectives for initial training, they do not set any assessment criteria on how to assess the candidates, nor do they consider any flight efficiency indicators. In this paper, an overview objectives of the ATCOSIMA project is presented. Baseline air traffic simulations performed at the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences of the University of Zagreb were analysed in more detail explaining exercises, assessment criteria description, as well as the achieved candidates’ scores

Subjective Air Traffic Complexity Estimation Using Artificial Neural Networks

Air traffic complexity is usually defined as difficulty of monitoring and managing a specific air traffic situation. Since it is a psychological construct, best measure of complexity is that given by air traffic controllers. However, there is a need to make a method for complexity estimation which can be used without constant controller input. So far, mostly linear models were used. Here, the possibility of using artificial neural networks for complexity estimation is explored. Genetic algorithm has been used to search for the best artificial neural network configuration. The conclusion is that the artificial neural networks perform as well as linear models and that the remaining error in complexity estimation can only be explained as inter-rater or intra-rater unreliability. One advantage of artificial neural networks in comparison to linear models is that the data do not have to be filtered based on the concept of operations (conventional vs. trajectory-based).</p

Free Route Airspace for Efficient Air Traffic Management

Free route airspace is a new concept in airspace management that has emerged from the Single European Sky ATM Research program. The goal is to allow aircraft companies to freely plan their routes between predefined points, rather than force them to follow conventional pre-established routes. This mode of airspace management can short-en trajectories, reducing fuel consumption and environmental impact. However, intersection points in a free route airspace are “invisible” at a strategic level, which can increase traffic complexity, increase the workload on air traffic controllers under certain conditions, and indirectly affect flight safety and efficiency of air traffic management. This review examines the implementation of free route airspace and its effects on air traffic management efficiency, leading to suggestions for future research

Determining Air Traffic Complexity – Challenges and Future Development

Air traffic complexity is one of the main drivers of the air traffic controllers’ workload. With the forecasted increase of air traffic, the impact of complexity on the controllers\u27 workload will be even more pronounced in the coming years. The existing models and methods for determining air traffic complexity have drawbacks and issues which are still an unsolved challenge. In this paper, an overview is given of the most relevant literature on air traffic complexity and improvements that can be done in this field. The existing issues have been tackled and new solutions have been given on how to improve the determination of air traffic complexity. A preliminary communication is given on the future development of a novel method for determining air traffic complexity with the aim of designing a new air traffic complexity model based on air traffic controller tasks. The novel method uses new solutions, such as air traffic controller tasks defined on pre-conflict resolution parameters, experiment design, static images of traffic situations and generic airspace to improve the existing air traffic complexity models.</p

Free Route Airspace for Efficient Air Traffic Management

Free route airspace is a new concept in airspace management that has emerged from the Single European Sky ATM Research program. The goal is to allow aircraft companies to freely plan their routes between predefined points, rather than force them to follow conventional pre-established routes. This mode of airspace management can short-en trajectories, reducing fuel consumption and environmental impact. However, intersection points in a free route airspace are “invisible” at a strategic level, which can increase traffic complexity, increase the workload on air traffic controllers under certain conditions, and indirectly affect flight safety and efficiency of air traffic management. This review examines the implementation of free route airspace and its effects on air traffic management efficiency, leading to suggestions for future research

Air Traffic Complexity as a Source of Risk in ATM

In this chapter the connection between air traffic complexity and risks in air traffic management system will be explored. Air traffic complexity is often defined as difficulty of controlling a traffic situation, and it is therefore one of the drivers for air traffic controller’s workload. With more workload, the probability of air traffic controller committing an error increases, so it is necessary to be able to assess and manage air traffic complexity. Here, we will give a brief overview of air traffic complexity assessment methods, and we will put the traffic complexity assessment problem into a broader context of decision complexity. Human reliability assessment methods relevant to air traffic management will be presented and used to assess the risk of loss of separation in traffic situations with different levels of complexity. To determine the validity of the human reliability assessment method, an analysis of conflict risk will be made based on the real-time human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulations

Zagreb Terminal Airspace Capacity Analysis

The paper deals with the Zagreb Terminal Airspace capacity. The basic scenario has been modelled using the RAMSPlus simulator and capacity has been calculated by using the WMSE method which takes into account the peak-hour workload based on air traffic controllers’ tasks. The problem of traffic congestion has been analyzed and several case study scenarios have been simulated. The conducted simulations have demonstrated that in the conditions of increased traffic loads (traffic demand amounting to 6% annually) the working technology and the airspace organization of Zagreb Terminal Airspace will become a restricting factor at peak-hour workloads. The new technologies in Zagreb Terminal Airspace (P-RNAV routes and airspace sectorization) will enable the reduction in air-traffic controller’s workload regarding radar vectoring, radio-telephony and coordination tasks. This should increase the airspace capacity and thus enhance the safety and orderly flow of air traffic. KEY WORDS: terminal airspace, capacity, simulation, workload, task, sectorizatio

Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS)

The function, working principle, the principles of usage andthe advantages of modern Automatic Dependent Surveillancesystem (ADS). The functions of the mentioned system aremanifold and its primary function is to enable the automaticexchange of various data between air traffic control units withthe aim of maintaining the safe separation of aircraft. Datasuch as call sign, aircraft position, time, altitude, vector information,speed, meteo information etc. can be fonvarded periodicallyor on request, and are received automatically in theaircraft via flight management computer (FMC). Also, theoverview of the possible communication systems which enablethe usage of ADS is given, with special emphasis on ADS aspart of further global development of navigation and air trafficsafety system, which was approved by the International CivilAviation Organisation (JCAO). Finally, a new, improved versionof Automatic Dependent Swveillance, ADS- B (Broadcast)is briefly outlined, a version which enables omni-directionalemission of addressed infonnation