AAA - Aircraft and ATM Automation Symposium
Overview
Background & policy context:
The rapid growth in air traffic is leading to congested airspace and airports. The high level of safety currently achieved is in danger of becoming insufficient due to the difficulties in traffic management and the psychological impact of an increased number of full losses.
Automation of airborne tasks has been a major factor in increasing flight reliability and safety. One of the main innovations for aircraft was the introduction of fly-by-wire controls. Statistics show that accidents rates are cut by half in more highly automated aircraft and it is generally accepted that aircraft automation will become more and more sophisticated. Some actions still have not been included in on-board flight management software but there is no particular difficulty to their insertion.
On the contrary, Air Traffic Management has been less automated; electronics aids to controllers are permanently being developed and introduced but the controller still has the last word. ATM automation, whether in en-route phases, approach or climb, raises many more problems than aircraft automation, especially in the airspace where traffic is congested and flight parameters constantly changing.
Objectives:
The objective of this Specific Support Action was to assemble people acting in aircraft operational exploitation: air operators, companies and pilots, ATM organisations, aircraft and systems manufacturers, passenger and cabin crew organisations, psychologists, aviation authorities, IATA, European Commission. The conference was organized by the Académie Nationale de l'Air et de l'Espace in October 2005 in Toulouse.
A colloquium at international level (including US participation) was the most effective way to encourage exchanges on this subject so as to reach a better understanding of the goals to be reached. The expected exchanges of prospective ideas could lead either to a cycle of conferences or a thematic network on the issue or both. The evolution in systems automation in the past fifty years stemmed from a growing demand and the twin ambitions of maintaining the safety rate whilst improving performance.
It was essential to persuade European leaders of the benefits of automation for increasing efficiency of air transportation. At the same time it was important that any evolution in the system take into account all the different parameters. The colloquium set out to address the various issues raised.
The AAA project first goal was to gather together leading players from the various fields of international aircraft operations:
- airlines and pilots, ATM organisations, aircraft and systems manufacturers, passenger and cabin crew;
- organisations, psychologists, aviation authorities, IATA, European Commission.
Its second goal was to encourage a pooling of information at the highest level on current automation initiatives.
Its third goal was to encourage an exchange of views on fixture automation projects within a time-scale of twenty years in an effort to promote harmonious development of automated systems.
Methodology:
The colloquium proceedings, which were sent to all participants and interested parties, circulated the information as widely as possible. A booklet containing a résumé of discussions and conclusions and a number of recommendations for the attention of the relevant authorities also was published and disseminated.
ANAE carried out the general management of the project and was the interface between the European Commission and the partnership, for both managerial and scientific / technical aspects.
Two committees were set up:
- a programme committee, an international group in charge of defining subjects to be treated, of contacting specialists for lectures and / or round tables. Bernard Ziegler, former vice-president of Airbus, member of ANAE, was president of the programme committee;
- a steering committee, a national group which chose the conference site, organised the conference schedule, managed the mailing and the diffusion of the announcements and took charge of finances. The steering committee met roughly once a month during the project duration. The coordinator acted as chairman of the steering group, with the responsibility of carrying out correct procedures and meeting all deadlines and obligations.
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