PROJECT ID

PJ18-W2 4D

PROJECT TYPE

Industrial research

FLAGSHIP

Not applicable

STATUS

Completed

SESAR PROGRAMME

SESAR 2020

PROJECT DURATION

2019-12-01 > 2023-06-30

TOTAL COST

€ 39 185 498,81

EU CONTR.

€ 18 336 854,44

GRANT ID

872320

PARTICIPANTS

Eurocontrol, Airbus, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Stichting Koninklijk Nederlands Lucht - En Ruimtevaartcentrum, Rizeni Letoveho Provozu Ceske Republiky Statni Podnik, Polska Agencja Zeglugi Powietrznej, Austro Control , Hrvatska Kontrola Zracne Plovidbe, Udaras Eitliochta Na Heireann - The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Luftfartsverket, Naviair, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung , Direction Des Services De La Navigation Aerienne (DSNA), Enaire, Enav, Indra Sistemas Sa, Leonardo, Airtel Atn , NATS, Skyguide, Thales Las France , Thales Avs France , Letove prevadzkove, Oro Navigacija, Saab Aktiebolag, Sintef

Air traffic management (ATM) is a vital part of air transport and aviation. However, ATM is fragmented in Europe. A promising way to improve air traffic operations is through the use of 4D trajectory management (TM). The EU-funded PJ18-W2 4D Skyways project aims to continue research conducted to date on TM in order to enable the deployment of trajectory-based operations under a single European sky. With this goal in mind, it intends to deliver mature TM operational improvements and work on establishing a consolidated TM solution that will address Europe's ATM fragmentation. The project's achievements lead to better ATM that will benefit airlines flying in Europe.

The PJ18-W2 4D Skyway project researched trajectory management (TM) solutions in support of the roll-out of trajectory-based operations (TBO). Specifically the project worked on the following:

  • improvements to the ground trajectory prediction and separation management/ monitoring tools by using aircraft trajectory data, more precise meteo data, improved algorithms and machine learning techniques. This decreases trajectory uncertainty and thus reduces ATCO workload and increase airspace capacity.
  • complex CPDLC clearances sent in advance of the horizontal, vertical and longitudinal trajectory change to enhance the synchronisation of the airborne trajectory with the ground trajectory. Automation keeps the flight crew and the ATCO workload to a low level. It additionally decreases trajectory uncertainty and increase airspace capacity.
  • ground-ground and air-ground TM exchanges between the European ATM actors by consolidating the different initiatives and bridging the gaps. Driving the current and the future TM research and the ICAO FF-ICE discussions. 
  • Define a trajectory common service as an alternative architecture for Trajectory exchanges between ground ATM actors compared to the current European ATM fragmented approach to improve its cost effectiveness.

PJ18-W2 worked on the definition and validation of operational TM solutions using prototypes and the expertise of European ANSPs, ground and airborne industries, research centres, airspace users and EUROCONTROL.

Towards trajectory-based operations with air-ground traffic synchronisation (PJ18-W2-56)

Validation exercise on Adverse Weather Areas & Conflict detection tools

Complex CPDLC simulation

European Union
4D Skyways - Improving trajectory management for European air transport (Wave 2) 4D