4DCO-GC - 4 Dimension Contracts - Guidance and Control
Overview
Background & policy context:
Aim of the project was to go deeper into the definition of the '4D contract concept' that had been developed in the FP6 IFATS (Innovative Future Air Transport System) project and was mentioned in major research programmes and projects such as SESAR (IP3), ASAS (Airborne Separation Assistance System) and NEXTGEN.
Objectives:
The 4DCo-GC project aimed at exploring the concept of '4D Contract guidance and control of the aircraft' as a step change in air transport operations by providing a more radical and environmentally efficient solution for management of the airspace. Scientific objectives of 4DCo-GC were:
- To model 4D contract concepts (on strategic, tactical and emergency levels);
- To develop the algorithms (strategic, tactical planning), process and functions (failure management, emergency separation) needed to use 4D contracts;
- To define and develop a global tool architecture to demonstrate and analyse the key operating advantages of the 4D contract concept, including man's role;
- To elaborate an assessment methodology and metrics to qualify and quantify 4D contract characteristics and performances for control and guidance of the aircraft;
- To perform a real-time assessment of 4D contract concepts of operations - organise dissemination and demonstration workshops in front of an external audience;
- To derive, from this qualification and quantification work, recommendations for future 4DT system development.
Methodology:
Project 4DCo-GC brought together the expertise of 13 European and associated partners coming from 7 countries. The project was built on the results of several past EU programmes and projects.
The main expected results from the 4DCo-GC project were technological components (software/hardware/architectures) and recommendations for future 4D trajectory guidance and control systems, addressing several priorities of ACARE. Regarding the short/middle-term expected evolutions of the European air transport system, 4DCo-GC was fully aligned with the orientation of SESAR, and particularly the so-called 'ATM Target Concept'.
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