The Future Concepts

Question 1

Much development in aviation is to ensure _____ is increased or _____ increased without _____ being compromised.

Answer 1

1. ) Safety.
2. ) Capacity.
3. ) Safety.

Question 2

ATCO’s in LACC now use a system developed by _____ called the ______________________________ (IFACTS). IFACTS became operational in _____ - helping NATS meet projected demand of _____ annual movements at _____ by 2015.

Answer 2

1. ) NATS.
2. ) Interim Future Area Control Tools Support.
3. ) 2012.
4. ) 3 million.
5. ) Swanwick.

Question 3

What are the 3 main objectives of IFACTS for NATS?

Answer 3

1. ) Increase Capacity.
2. ) Eliminate paper flight progress strips.
3. ) Reduce the number of safety significant events.

Question 4

How does IFACTS aim to reduce the controllers workload?

Answer 4

By providing tools to aid in medium term conflict resolution.

Question 5

How does trajectory prediction assist the controller?

Answer 5

By calculating where the ACFT will be in 18 minutes based on the ACFTs speed, level and heading.

Question 6

What happens with IFACTS trajectory prediction if the controller inputs any tactical clearances?

Answer 6

The system automatically updates the trajectory.

Question 7

Tactical controllers have use of a __________ to help monitor traffic in their _____ and it predicts and displays _____ which may happen in the next few minutes.

Answer 7

1. ) Separation monitor.
2. ) Sector.
3. ) Interactions.

Question 8

What is an IFACTS Tactical What-if? (2)

Answer 8

1. ) It predicts what might happen if a particular clearance were to be issued to an ACFT.
2. ) It superimposes on the radar screen the predicted trajectories of ACFT involved.

Question 9

What is Mode S?

Answer 9

A development to supersede present mode A and C technology and their limitations.

Question 10

How does existing Mode A and C technology work?

Answer 10

1. ) Radars interrogate the transponders of ACFT and receive information about the ACFT and its height.
2. ) In high traffic density areas e.g. Heathrow stacks, the integrity of Mode A and C can be adversely affected by the garbling of all the returns.

Question 11

How does Mode S alleviate the shortcomings of Mode A and C?

Answer 11

It targets individual ACFT rather than trying to resolve all the replies.

Question 12

What information which pilots have set in the cockpit does Mode S allow the controller to access and how does this aid the controller and the pilot?

Answer 12

1. ) Selected flight level, indicated airspeed, heading, etc.
2. ) It aids in conformance monitoring and reduces RT for the controller and the pilot.

Question 13

In 2015, NATS was the first ANSP to introduce what? on the Final Approach (Initially at Heathrow).

Answer 13

Time based separation.

Question 14

What is time based separation? (3)

Answer 14

1. ) ACFT spacing is determined by time instead of distance (As has historically been the case).
2. ) Takes prevailing winds and associated wake turbulence being produced by the ACFT into account.
3. ) The stronger the wind, the quicker the produced vortex is dispersed, therefore as wind speed increases, ACFT can be positioned closer in trail on the final approach, therefore increasing the available landing rate.

Question 15

What does SESAR stand for?

Answer 15

Single European Sky ATM (Air Traffic Management) Research.

Question 16

What is the Single European Sky initiative? (2)

Answer 16

1. ) European wide concept which aims to deliver airspace as a function of flows and not borders to allow more direct routing and closer integration between ANSPs.
2. ) Will enable dynamic airspace management and a more efficient ATM capability, ultimately creating additional capacity.