ASPASIA - Aeronautical Surveillance & Planning by Advanced Satellite-Implemented Applications
Overview
Background & policy context:
The Aeronautic world is entering into a new age of aviation - the age of sustainable growth - characterised by the need for more affordable, cleaner, quieter, safer and more secure air travel. European aeronautics is committed to playing a prime role in the shaping aviation of this new age. Research and technology development is essential in responding to this challenge.
Nowadays, concepts, procedures and technologies to optimise task distribution between aircraft and ground with a medium term perspective, including airborne separation assurance system applications are being studied and developed. These concepts and technologies have to reduce uncertainty in the air traffic management system to integrate air traffic flow management, airports, air traffic control centres, aircraft and airline operating centres in a strategic and dynamic layered planning system based on 4D-trajectory information.
Objectives:
The Project objectives were:
- Assessment of the benefits of SatCom systems for ASAS applications:
- simulation of SatCom impact on ASAS applications;
- implementation of four test bed ADS-B applications (ASPA S&M, ASPA ITP, ADS-B-NRA and ADS B ADD) and a TIS-B;
- analysis of performance of test beds when using SatCom technology;
- cost-Benefit Analysis of SatCom technology for surveillance applications.
- Validate SatCom requirements for surveillance applications:
- provide a first architecture for SatCom systems used for surveillance purposes;
- design and implement a simulator of the SatCom system;
- adapt existing satellite platform for surveillance applications (broadcast mode).
- Connectivity, standardisation and networking issues of SatCom systems - Connectivity of Asterix compliant applications with ADS-B systems.
Methodology:
Within the scope of the ASPASIA project an agreed group of ASAS Application Scenarios have been configured for a simulation study of their operation with the availability of satellite data links. In addition to the ASAS scenarios in which satellite based communications provides a means of executing an ASAS manoeuvre, consideration have also been given to scenarios in which the available aircraft borne information is insufficient for a safe and/or efficient devolved ASAS operation.
In parallel to the general study of SatCom applicability to ASAS applications, we have pre-selected four applications in which SatCom provides a clear advantage, and we plan to develop five test beds, one for each selected application and the other for TIS-B, in order to achieve the project objectives.
The following applications were considered:
- Enhanced Sequencing and Merging Operations (ASPA-S&M): This is a well-defined ASAS application in the TMA, where there is ground-radar coverage to support a complete and coherent TIS. Working from this specification of the application as a baseline, 'worst case' SATCOM communications requirements can be identified. For areas without ground radar coverage, e.g. oceanic, the application can be adapted to support en-route manoeuvres. Thus, this test-bed application is based on the requirements of S&M manoeuvres in oceanic airspace.
- In-trail procedure in oceanic airspace (ATSA-ITP). The test bed for this application is a PC computer-based simulation and analysis toolkit with the functionality to evolve to a hardware in-the-loop, real-time simulation facility. To test this application the airspace functions of traffic generation, ATC/ASAS operation procedures and airspace environmental characteristics will be specifically developed.
- ATC surveillance in non-radar areas (ADS-B-NRA). This application aims to provide radar like separation services in non-radar, or other remote, areas where the installation of radar could not be justified otherwise.
- Aircraft derived data for ATC tools (ADS-B-ADD). There are several ground ATC tools that benefit from this application. Concretely we focus on AMAN (Arrival MANager) tool that is a tactical ATC tool helping the final en route and TMA controllers to optimise the aircraft landing sequence by using flight information. To validate this application the adaptation of commercial MAESTRO software tool has been used.
These end-to-end testbeds consisted of the integration of survei
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