[Avionics Today July 1, 2014] A consortium co-funded by the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking has validated a new Air Traffic Management (ATM) procedure that can help better manage the flow of incoming flights during peak hours at congested airports in Europe, a time-based procedure called Target Time of Arrival (TTA).
The procedure was developed by a consortium known as Fair Stream, which included the French Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) DSNA, collaborating with DFS, Skyguide, Air France and Lufthansa among others. According to SESAR JU, TTA is a refined ATM planning element that enables information sharing between a network manager, Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) and airlines.
TTA allows all stakeholders to perform arrival planning earlier in the flight progress, by collaboratively coordinating arrivals.
DSNA’s CEO Maurice Georges said the initial live flight trials have been "promising," with nearly "1,000 commercial flights arriving at Paris-CDG, Zurich and Munich airports have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of this concept with the existing on-board and ground equipment."