The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation

CFMU User Forum ‘09Why Flight Plan and ATFCM adherence?

Christian Faber

Head of Investigation

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The problem

Traffic exceeds capacitiesTraffic exceeds capacitiesby more than 10% = ATFCM "over delivery"by more than 10% = ATFCM "over delivery"

Not flying at the requested flight level (RFL)Not flying at the requested flight level (RFL) Arriving in the sector earlier or later than Arriving in the sector earlier or later than

plannedplanned Departing at times different from Departing at times different from

EOBT/CTOTEOBT/CTOT Deviating from their original planned routeDeviating from their original planned route

Network effect impacting SAFETY!Network effect impacting SAFETY!

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Example 1

distanceADEP ADES

FL380

FL340

“Request FL 380!”

regulated airspace

re-filed FPL

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Example 2:Example 2:over delivery in Austriaover delivery in Austria

16 flights flying higher than filed

comparison between ETFMS counted and actual flights

33

00

10

20

30

40

50

60

no

of

flig

hts

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

ETFMS counted flights

Actual flights

Capacity

5353

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What’s the effect…

Potentially excessive workload,Potentially excessive workload, Wasted capacity in some sectors, Wasted capacity in some sectors, An overall lack of confidence in the An overall lack of confidence in the

accuracy of forecast traffic counts,accuracy of forecast traffic counts, Protective capacity reduction,Protective capacity reduction, Increased workload, stress or working Increased workload, stress or working

conditions such that the ability of ATC conditions such that the ability of ATC controller may be significantly impaired and controller may be significantly impaired and thus a safety issue.thus a safety issue.

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FPL routeFPL route - real routereal route

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The network impact

FPL routes

Actual routes

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Flight Plan and ATFCM adherence awareness campaign

Three main elements of adherence1. Adherence to requested FL (one of the main reason for over-

deliveries)2. Adherence to Flow Measures, mainly CTOT (thus arriving too

early/late in the sectors)3. Adherence to filed route (incomplete or incorrect ATFCM picture)

Procedures and rules exist already

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ICAO Doc 7030/4 (EUR)

““ATC is responsible for departure slot monitoring at departure ATC is responsible for departure slot monitoring at departure aerodromes…aerodromes…””

“…“…Aircraft operators shall inform themselves ofAircraft operators shall inform themselves ofand adhere to… current ATFM measures…and adhere to… current ATFM measures…””

““AnyAny changes to the EOBT of more than 15 minutes for any changes to the EOBT of more than 15 minutes for any IFR flight within the IFPZIFR flight within the IFPZ

shall be communicated to the IFPSshall be communicated to the IFPS””

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Commission regulation (EC) No 1033/2006 (1st January 2009)

““The operator shall ensure that the conditions of acceptance The operator shall ensure that the conditions of acceptance of a flight plan and any necessary changes thereto as of a flight plan and any necessary changes thereto as

notified by IFPS to the originator are incorporated into the notified by IFPS to the originator are incorporated into the planned flight operation and communicated to the pilotplanned flight operation and communicated to the pilot.”.”

““The operator shall ensure prior to operation of the flight that The operator shall ensure prior to operation of the flight that the content of the initial flight plan correctly reflects the the content of the initial flight plan correctly reflects the

operational intentionsoperational intentions.”.”

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Possible reasons for non-adherence (received via ‘Support Request’ on Skybrary)

Pressureto make up

lost time

Lack oftrust in load

figuresUnderestimationof the network

effects

Weatherproblems

Inefficientturnoverprocess

Congestionon theground

Reason forNon-adherence

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Recommendations(received via ‘Support Request’ on Skybrary)

et cetera …

Change of FLonly to ensure

safe separation

OPS Mgmtto promote strict

adherence

Provide ATFCMtraining for TWR

and AO

ATC & cockpitsystem to display

ATFM info

UpdateEOBTs

Solve problemof delayed OBT

EnableDCT filing

Move awayfrom RPLs

Recommendations

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Publications:Publications:Website*, brochures, flyers, posters, presentations, WBT (e-learning)

Promotion with international organisations Promotion with international organisations and working groups:and working groups:

IATA, IACA, IFATCA, IFALPA/ECA, IFALDA, ODSG, DOP

Contacted:Contacted: ANSPs, ACCs, AOs, AOs military, FPL Service Providers to AOs, Airports, Pilots (via IATA / IFALPA), Industry.

What has been done?

*http://www.eurocontrol.int/dmean

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What has been done? CTOT adherenceCTOT adherence

Following countries are/were involved or have been contacted regarding CTOT adherence:EB, LK, HE, LF, LG, LH, LT, EG

OPS evaluationOPS evaluationMaastricht and Rhein UAC operational evaluation of requested FL

TrainingTrainingSkyGuide include subject in ATCO refresher training (MUAC plans to do the same)

SystemSystemSkyGuide system trial of identification of flights at differing RFL prior to ACC entry.

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From awareness to improvements

Continue awareness activities and assessments at local, regional and network levels

Continue to address adherence issues at individual airports and ACCs with ANSPs, AOs and authorities concerned

Best Practices (local initiatives, ATCO & pilot training, etc)

Trials, comparison exercises (routes filed versus flown) and simulations to show impact

Adherence Day (see next slide)

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Adherence Day

Objectives:

• Measure the effectMeasure the effect of adherence to FPL and ATFCM measures

• Determine benefitsDetermine benefits arising from accurate EOBT/CTOT & RFL with regard to sector counts (potential release of capacity)

• Improve the qualityImprove the quality of FPL with regard to routes (incl. DCT) and FLs

One day operational evaluation through ‘full’ application of adherence procedures

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Benefits of adherence

reliable and accurate data for all involvedreliable and accurate data for all involved improved predictability of trafficimproved predictability of traffic improved network demand-capacity balancingimproved network demand-capacity balancing increased capacityincreased capacity increased safetyincreased safety flight efficiencyflight efficiency

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Questions