TOPMET, a SESAR demonstration project led by THALES, is bringing together seven European partners* to test a new set of meteorological services for use in Air Traffic Management (ATM) for the first time.  Taking place in early 2014, the tests will aim to demonstrate improved accuracy in the monitoring and forecasting of adverse weather conditions, such as thunderstorms and severe ice.

Tailored and optimised meteorological services are seen as essential components for the modernisation of Europe’s ATM system. The new services have been developed within the context of SESAR (WP 11.2) with the support of the EIG EUMETNET, a grouping of 31 national meteorological services that provide a framework to organise cooperative programmes between members. Building on existing national capabilities, the “new generation” of services will aim to improve efficiency at European level by providing the following:

• Consistent meteorological (MET) information regarding location, time and user application to reduce the risk of conflict and to enhance ATM predictability
• Common and harmonized MET information
• MET information based on the latest science and enhanced observation and forecasting capabilities
• MET information integrating forecast uncertainty  to aid the determination of uncertainty and risk and serve ATM decision making
• Interoperable MET information within the European ATM system via SWIM (sharing data between airlines, navigation services and airport operators)
• Integrated MET information into ATM decision making whether automated  human

Following specific training for pilots, airline ground flight dispatchers, and air traffic controllers on the use of these services, TOPMET will aim to validate the following:

• Flight planning, flight briefing, and flight execution - from an airline point of view
• Management of traffic flows  - from an ATC point of view - of several hundred Brussels Airlines commercial flights (medium-haul and long-haul flights)

TOPMET Project Manager Daniel Muller said: “TOPMET is a unique opportunity to foster a tight cooperation between MET specialists, Air Traffic Controllers, and Airline staff, and to explore together the way to interact more efficiently. The promising expected results let us anticipate  an operational deployment of new Awareness and Cooperative Decision Support services in the short term, on the ground for ATC and Airline Operational Centers, and in-flight for pilots. ”

The final results of this SESAR demonstration activity are expected to be published in September 2014. These new services will be assessed in terms of improvements to fuel efficiency, flight punctuality, passenger comfort and safety, and network predictability, compared to the current practices using the existing meteorological services for aviation.

Copyright TOPMET Consortium 2013

TOPMET- Illustration of aircraft trajectory coupled with meteorological data.

1- Visual interface for pilots

2- Visual interface for AOC

3- Visual interface for ATC

*THALES Air Systems (project coordinator), THALES Avionics, DSNA (French ANSP), Brussels Airlines and three members of EUMETNET:  Météo France (French MET services), Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD-German MET services) and MET OFFICE (UK MET services).