ASAS Sequencing and Merging applications allow flight crew to achieve and maintain spacing for a designated aircraft. The applications are specified in new ATC instructions, instructing flight crew to achieve and maintain a given spacing for a designated aircraft, in time or in distance. Separation provision, however, remains the controller’s responsibility and applicable separation minima remain unchanged.

Description of the exercises

A combination of flight trials and real-time simulations taking place in Rome and Toulouse respectively will aim to demonstrate the compatibility between Airborne Spacing - Interval Management, Sequencing and Merging (ASPA-IM-S&M) and initial four dimension trajectory (i4D)/Controlled of Time of Arrival (CTA) operations.

Expected benefits

Enhanced safety, thanks to a reduction in the controllers’ workload