Initial results from a SESAR validation exercise have indicated how extended planning and conflict detection tools can help controllers to deal effectively with traffic in a free route environment, a key element in the Europe’s future ATM system as outlined in the EU’s deployment plans[1].

In current operations, airspace users must follow a fixed route which takes into account sector boundaries to allow for adequate controller support. With the move to a free route environment, airspace users can generate their own optimised route, which is more efficient for them. However, this new environment means that controllers need improved coordination tools to handle the more complex airspace, in which conflicts near sector boundaries can result in flight separation issues.

The exercise took place in Toulouse at the end of 2015, and was conducted by SESAR JU member, Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne (DSNA), as part of a larger validation exercise[2]. In this timeframe, three different environments (fixed route, direct route, free route) were simulated based on the operational sectors of Marseille air traffic control centre (ACC) upper airspace.

The simulations involved mainly controllers from the German air navigation service provider, DFS, and DSNA who used the following new functionalities to handle traffic:

• Conflict organiser and Signaller (COS): an innovative medium-term conflict detection (MTCD) tool, which detects only the most probable conflicts in the next 20 minutes, thereby minimising false detection. Designed for the planning controller, the COS is complemented by another detection tool at the tactical time horizon (TCT);
• Extended ATC Planner (EAP): a new control function supported by a tool which seeks to de-complexify the traffic before sector entry time horizon, so that it balances workload on sectors without disturbing controllers.

Although analysis is still in progress, the first outcomes suggest that the COS and coordination tools can address issues that are specific to a variety of free route environments.

A full report of the larger validation exercise will be published later in 2016.

[1] ATM Functionality #3 in the EU’s Pilot Project - (EU) No 716/2014 of 27 June 2014

[2] This DSNA exercise is part of the wider validation exercise, entitled “Conflict detection and ATC interoperability in free routing environment”. (EXE-04.03.VP.797)