The current pre-flight briefing for the pilot includes pages of information, called notice to airmen (NOTAM), recent weather reports and forecasts (MET), which have to be integrated into a consolidated operational picture. The documents can be difficult for pilots to use, and no longer satisfy today’s air traffic needs for timely and accurate aeronautical and meteorological information updates. By introducing digital NOTAM and MET data, the briefing could be radically improved.
Aircraft are increasingly equipped with electronic flight bag (EFB) devices which support pre-flight briefing to the pilot and on the ground through provision of flight documentation. The pre-flight briefing could take place directly on the EFB, receiving digital briefings from the ground and updated over a datalink during the flight. Retrieval of the digital aeronautical data, including NOTAM and MET data, is enabled by means of system-wide information management (SWIM) and digital NOTAM. SWIM information exchange and digital NOTAMs can support the graphical representation of data such as meteorological charts, as well as increase the usability of briefing material by making it searchable and interactive.
The digitised information can also be validated and cross-checked automatically (unlike today’s pre-briefing documents) to ensure adherence to ICAO standards and to reduce risk of error. In addition, relevant information can be selected more easily from digital data compared with briefing notes which may include between 10 and 50 pages for a cross-European flight. Real-time simulations assessed enhancements in pilot briefing applications based on digital NOTAMs, digital MET, and air traffic flow management data, with the aim of improving situational awareness for pilots and reducing briefing times.
In terms of benefits, the graphical presentation of digital information, better filtering automatic notification of relevant changes and a more logical organisation of the pre-flight information bulletins can improve pilot and dispatcher awareness, reduce briefing times and reduce the risk of information being misunderstood or missed.
This solution is available for industrialisation and is part of Europe-wide synchronised deployment.
SJU references: #34/Release 5
Benefits
- Enhanced information sharing
- Increased cost efficiency through improved service provision
- Improved situational awareness
Datapack