New Technologies and Future Concepts Flashcards
What is the purpose of new developments in aviation?
To either increase safety, or
to increase capacity without compromising safety
What is IFACTS?
IFACTS stand for Interim Future Area Control Tools Support used in LACC.
Became operational in 2012 helping NATS to meet the project demand (3m at Swanwick by 2015)
What are IFACTS’s objectives?
3 main objectives:
- Increase capacity
- Eliminate paper flight progress strips
- Reduce the number of safety significant events
Also to reduce controller’s workload by helping them in medium term conflict resolution
What is the trajectory prediction?
Trajectory prediction calculates where the aircraft will be in 18mins based on the aircraft’s level, speed and heading.
What is a separation monitor?
Helps to monitor traffic in their sector and displays the interactions that are predicted to happen within the sector in the next few minutes.
What is a so called ‘what-if’?
Allows the controller to check what might happen if a particular clearance were to be issued.
‘What-if’ will place or lay (the predicted trajectories of the aircraft involved, so that both are still evident, on the radar screen.
What are Mode A and Mode C?
Mode A - is one dimensional transponder, only gives the aircraft identification
Mode C - is two dimensional and gives both the identification and altitude of the aircraft
What is Mode S?
Mode S is a development to supersede the present Mode A and C technology and the limitations that this system has. For example, in high traffic density the integrity is adversely affected.
Mode S target individual aircraft rather than try to attempt to resolve all the replies.
Mode S provides the controller with more information, e.g. Selected FL/IAS/heading etc which the pilot selected in the cockpit to aid with conformance monitoring and reducing RT
What is Time Based Separation?
In 2015 NATS was the first ANSP to introduce TBS on final approach at LL.
Instead of the space between aircraft being determined by distance, the gaps are based on time, taking into account the prevailing wind and the associated wake turbulence being produced by the aircraft type.
The stronger the wind, the quicker the vortex will be dispersed. As the wind speed increases the closer the aircraft can be positioned in trail on final approach, therefore increasing the available landing rate.
What is SESAR?
SESAR stand for Single European Sky ATM Research.
It’s a wide concept that aims to deliver a restructuring of airspace allow more direct routing for aircraft and closer integration between ANSPs.
To enable dynamic airspace management and a more efficient Air Traffic MAnagement capability, creating additional capacity.
