Would you like to know what is the real-time status of the European air traffic network? The delay situation or the events that are affecting the network? Then why not go to Eurocontrol’s Network Operations Portal: https://www.cfmu.eurocontrol.int/PUBPORTAL/gateway/spec/index.html

This portal is made up of a number of portlets each giving a distinct piece of information ranging from a map illustrating the network situation to flight and delay situation graphs, to lists of events that will affect the network, to headline news on the subject. A number of other links will lead you to other resources such as the European AIS Database [EAD] or to Eurocontrol’s e-conferencing tool [which only allows authorised access]

Using the tabs towards the upper part of the screen, one can move from the real time situation [tactical tab] to what will happen in a few hours time [pre-tactical] to the plans and expectations in the future [strategic]. One can also see what happened at a given point in history by accessing the post-operations tab.

There are two versions of the NOP, a public version, to which I provided the link, and a restricted version for air traffic management stakeholder usage [e.g. air traffic flow management cells, control centres, airlines, airport operators, military users, etc.

Apart from providing a wealth of information, the NOP provides a transparency of the European air traffic situation that very few other industries do in fact show. This shows clearly the ambition of the industry to keep improving its performance in a collaborative way.<-->

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In order to introduce the world of ATC to potential air traffic control trainees, the Deutsche Flugsicherung [DFS] have put a number of games / tests online for free.

These tests are fun to do and give a good insight of some of the skills one needs to become an air traffic controller including:

• Continously splitting attention over a number of task – whilst maintaining an overall picture.
• Extrapolation of spacial position and conflict resolution through turning [vectoring] of aircraft.
• Memory
• Appreciation of left and right turns
• Etc.

Have a look at these games and tests, I am sure you’ll like them.

My favourite is Pushing Thin [comes with an addiction warning]

Well done to DFS. Great inititive and great tests!

Click here

If anyone know of other similar games and test, please share with the rest of us by commenting to this post.

Thanks!

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I have made several references in the past to various training documents published by Eurocontrol, ranging from common core content syllabi, to training plans, to development and design guidelines and e-learning.

I have not yet given the link to a place where ALL the Eurocontrol Training Related documents could be found. And that was because there was unfortunately no one specific place where to look.

Now this is history, and an online catalogue of training documents is now available.

Goto http://e-learning.eurocontrol.int and click on the Training Publications link on the left hand menu.

Enjoy.

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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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Towards the end of 2009, EUROCONTROL released a Phraseology Database called ‘Say Again’.

Image from Eurocontrol's website

This database [to whose development I participated] provides you with a engine which searches through out ATC phraseology key words. Once you find the phrase you are looking for, you can then retrieve the standard ICAO syntax for the phrase. You are also provided with an example, both written and sound, the context within which the phrase should be used and its relation with other phrases.

Screen shot from Say Again

A special thanks also goes to LFV, Sweden, as a good number of examples originate from its training school.

Goto Eurocontrol’s Training Zone and search for ‘Say Again’ in the course catalogue.

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I have just learned of a new e-learning module developed for the SESAR Joint Undertaking that aims at describing SESAR and the SJU.

I found the presentation as very fresh and informative. The technology used in this presentation is quite innovative and very well polished. It is worth to look at for both the aesthetics and also for its content.

I could not embed the presentation, so click on the image to access the presentation.

In brief, the presentation is divided into three sections: an introduction by the SESAR JU CEO, Patrick Ky, an introduction to the SESAR programme and an Introduction to the SJU.

I personally found that the introduction by Patrick is very well made. So is the introduction to the SESAR programme part. It gives in a brief and simple manner the challenges of aviation and air traffic management and the objectives of the programme. I found that the part describing the SJU was a bit less well made. There are considerable portions of this part where the narrator is reading extensive passages of text that are being type simultaneously on the screen. I did not know what to concentrate on: reading or listening? [this effect was not present in the previous part of the presentation]

The SJU calls this module an e-learning module, while I tend to call it a multi-media presentation. The reason I say this is that even if it is very ‘flash’ and polished, it severely lacks in interaction with the user as well as on feedback mechanisms which for me are necessary elements in learning. The navigation is also very basic, i.e. that of a standard video. I would expect a better pedagogical approach for an e-learning module. The presentation could be at least divided into three chapters – even if it is within the same video. Chaptering would enable direct access to a part you would like to go into again. Also I do not know if it is the streaming server or my receiving server which was particularly slow, but at one point the presentation blocked and no matter how many times I tried to rewind or forward the navigation pointer, it stayed blocked until I refreshed the screen.

As a conclusion, this presentation for me opens a new way of presenting things in the multi media environment for air traffic management. The approach and the look and feel are very fresh and made well in simply and succinctly presenting some complex ideas. There is some more work to do to turn this kind of presentation into an e-learning module mainly interactivity with the user [which for example could be an extra part of the web page on which the video is embedded] and better navigation mechanisms which would improve the direct access of certain information time and time again.
Finally I think the presentation was developed by Emakina [the video is hosted on their server]. Well done EMAKINA for the graphical effects!

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Three years ago, Eurocontrol set to develop training material to sensiblise air traffic controllers on the risks that can occure during position handovers and to provide suggestions and tools to minimise these risks.

In preparation for the development of this training material, a research study was conducted to identify the factors affecting handovers and takeovers. The document referred to here reports the findings of this research. It includes the following sections:

• A literature review including reports on the study performed by the National Air Traffic Services Ltd. UK (NATS) on handovers and the establishment of best practices based on this study;
• Interviews of Safety Experts which summarises the interviews on handover-related safety hazards conducted with the safety managers of two Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSPs);
• Training Material Review, the existing pedagogic material relative to position handovers in Europe is reviewed and analysed (prior to the Web-based training on factors dealing with handover/takeover produced by EUROCONTROL in 2006);
• Identification of the Main Handover-related Safety Issues’, provides, based on the information collected during the study, a preliminary list of the main handover-related safety issues that should be addressed to improve handover processes and
• Key findings of this preliminary study on handover

It also contains  a number of checklists whcih were in use in different European ANSPs

It can be found here

Enjoy the read.

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What is the ceiling or range of an Airbus 380? What is the MTOW of a Boeing 737-800? What is the expected performance of an aircraft? How does it look like? It is all freely available on the Eurocontrol Aircraft Performance database for 300 aircraft types.

Eurocontrol aircraft performance database

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From the Eurocontrol IANS website:

“To support innovation in its training activities, EUROCONTROL is introducing a new LMS . The new system, which is accessible via the link below, is a flexible and user-friendly system. It provides an online training catalogue, e-learning delivery and classroom management under one umbrella. The new system also increases information security. The LMS has been in operation since the beginning of 2009.

All e-learning courses available from the Institute are already delivered through the new LMS . From the 2nd semester of 2009, all classroom courses will also be managed on this system…

…If you are an individual wishing to study e-learning modules then please consult our online training catalogue. If you are a recognised training provider or operational centre and wish to use the LMS for e-learning delivery please contact elearning.services@eurocontrol.int”

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The human is a key part of the ATM system, right?  So if a piece of this system is changed or a new piece added [or an old piece taken out for all that matters!] the human may be affected.

The HF Case is a process which when used within projects aimed at conceiving, designing and or implementing significantly assists in the identification of issues that will likely effect the human and likewise proposes ways of finding means to deal with these issues, by either preventing or by curing.

Would you like to know more? Why not start with the e-learning module which has just been developed? [I participated in this project...]  It is clear and concise and takes the student through an interactive and concise journey [25 mins] of discovery of the HF Case phases and the tools and models used.

The training module is for free…If you’re interested, click on the image:

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HF Case Module [click to start module

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