The network operations plan (NOP) developed during SESAR 1 is a powerful tool to help balance capacity and demand. The Network Manager (NM) receives up-to-date and reliable information from most of the major airports about departure planning information (DPI), including taxi time, planned departure runways and departure routes.

This solution defines new information flows to airspace users to provide full operational capability (FOC) about the departure phase of the flight in a more dynamic way. Integrating elements of the airport operations plan (AOP) and NOP is important for flight planning and helps to better align airspace user and NM trajectories, improve fuel prediction and support target times management.

Among potential applications of integrated AOP/NOP departure planning information, airspace users can take into account the planned taxi time and departure runway and nominate a preferred airborne route when filing the final flight plan. Alignment of the preferences of airspace users, NM and airports in the planning phase through the exchange of dynamic AOP/NOP departure information leads to increased predictability and a more accurate and up-to-date shared 4D trajectory.

SESAR JU partners analysed differences between planned departure routes by airspace users and NM; analysis of departure routes, runway and taxi times included in DPI messages in order to refine operational scenarios and use-cases; and shadow-mode human-in-the loop sessions involving dispatchers from various airlines. The exercises assessed technical feasibility of relaying information for an airline flight planning system and looked at some of the qualitative benefits.  

The results showed the use of departure information as provided by AOP/NOP led to more accurate final flight plans and increased situational awareness.

The solution is ready for industrialisation with some minor additional work, for example, studying the impact on current rules relating to the prioritisation of information used in trajectory prediction. It relies on SWIM-based information dissemination and impacts the NM, airports, and airline flight dispatchers.

The solution is available for industrialisation and has been implemented in the Czech Republic.

BENEFITS

• Reduces impact of network constraints
• Improved accuracy of filed flight plans
• Enhanced safety and cost-efficiency

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Contextual note
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