Air Traffic Management

As I am writing, 47 days are left before the flight adherence days take place.

The flight adherence days are a European trial that will take place across Europe on the 29^th and 30^th of September 2010. This initiative means that all flights will adhere to the planned cruising level for any portion of the flight as recorded on Field 15 of their flight plan.

The effect this will have on the network will be studied in comparison with the usual situation. The benefits will be considered and will help to think about further ways on how to improve the network performance.

There is a web site dedicated to this initiative which is very interactive and which answers to a number of very interesting and frequently asked questions like whether a controller can still give direct routes during the trials [find out the answer yourself by going to this link: http://www.adherencedays.com/ ]

I close with the rules of the trial:

“Pilots and ATC should not request/allocate an alternative level except in the event of an emergency, weather avoidance or to achieve separation.”

So for the success of this initiative, let us hope that these days will not be characterised by generalised thunderstorm or clear air turbulence

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[It is too early to comment on the effect of the volcanic ash cloud on air traffic management and aviation, I will when the dust will settle ]

Screen shot from the flight level compliance module

Most of us have heard of the butterfly effect metaphor [if you haven't click here] where in a complex system, a small change here causes an overproportionate effect there. ATM is a complex system and the butterfly effect may be of application.

How many times we as controllers have given a level which is different from the one onthe flight plan? How many times have pilots requested different levels themselves?  These seem as begnin actions in the direction of service provision. But are they?

This short, free and readily accessible e-learning module from EUROCONTROL’s CFMU describes the effects.

Click here to proceed and take a look at the image below to quickly find the module

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