Overview
Based on the trans European Transport Network (TEN-T) research project called North European ADS-B Network (NEAN) conducted between 1995 and 1998, the NEAN Update programme was launched in 1999. Whilst NEAN was looking at understanding the potential benefits and assessment of the supporting technologies and operational procedures with Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), the NUP Programme targeted operational introduction. The methodology applied was intended to eventually lead to the certification, safety approval and operational introduction of these concepts. Validation activities included practical trials, simulations and analyses.
Due to the outstanding issues from the earlier phase of the NEAN Update programme an extension was granted (hereinafter NUP II+) funding by the European Commission DGVII under the so called Indicative Multi-annual Programme (MIP) for granting of Community financial aid to projects of common interest in the area of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T).The purpose of NUP II+ was to develop/modify/improve a set of applications, based on 4D Trajectory and ADS-B data, and bring them into operational validation if they were agreed beneficial from the user/investor point of view.
The project defined four high-level objectives that were more of guidelines for the validation and developments to be made trough out the project. The project also founded so called Key Performance Areas (KPAs) that was agreed by all project participants to be important. These KPAs were Environment, Efficiency, Cost-effectiveness, Predictability, Safety, Capacity, Flexibility and Security.
- Management - responsible for the overall management of the project in accordance with the Commission decision and the Partners Contract.
- Application Development - definition and development of the application requirements for the NUP II+ applications as well as analyse the user benefits.
- Airborne Equipment - technical platform on the aircraft to meet the application requirements of NUP II+.
- Ground Equipment - technical platform in the ground systems to meet the application requirements of NUP II+.
- Validation of each application in accordance with the project validation approach based on the application of the European Operational Concept Validation methodology (E-OCVM).
The NUP II+ Project focused on the development and the validation of a set of applications, based on the use of 4D Trajectory (4DT) and ADS-B data. The addressed applications were DMAN, Green Approach, Collaborative Decision Making (CDM), Surface Operations, ADS-B in Non Radar Airspace (ADS-B NRA) and a Meteorological Tool (MET). These applications were expected to improve the air traffic management from Gate-to-Gate.
All of these applications were operationally developed and tested through Studies, Real Time Simulations (RTS) and Live Trials during the life time of the project. The tests have been carried out in Sweden, mainly at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport and in Austria at Vienna Airport. The applications have been validated.
Funding
Results
The operational concepts addressed in NUP II+ contribute together to the improvement of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) in different areas and conditions. Different Key Performance Areas (KPAs) were affected such as environmental sustainability, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, predictability, safety, flexibility, capacity and security.
Feedback to the identified KPAs could not be completed by the validation of the different applications. This because most of the validation activities could not focus on the validation of KPA due to the immaturity of the concepts, operational methodology, technical enablers together with certification and safety issues. Instead, most of the work has been addressing operational acceptability and technical feasibility. Despite this fact the results achieved shows both great potential and has encouraged many of the participants in the project to further validate or even implement some of the applications.