An integrated operations solution for gate-to-gate airline operations

Abstract

Modular systems for integrated airline operations and automated information management — on the ground, in the air and bi-directionally data linked — are challenging aspects to support the three key domains of a future air traffic environment successfully: Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance. In this paper, a conceptual implemented system and operational scenario is described to demonstrate a realistic example in the day of a Part 121 airline operator in 2018. Based on a bad weather situation and airport closure for several hours, the paper showcases the corresponding overall disruption management of a sample airline in a likely NextGen [1] / SESAR [2] environment. The paper describes how Communication, Navigation and Surveillance capabilities and functions, highly integrated between an Airline Operations Center (AOC) and future flight deck systems, could be handled and managed with fully automated and collaborative decision making tools. It is described how the corresponding systems and interfaces interact with each other, to manage the given emergency situation fast, efficient, safe and cost effective for the airline. Special focus is given on the 4D integration and context sensitive depiction of aeronautical information on a future flight deck. An integrated seamless depiction of static and time sensitive data is described, illustrating a bi-directionally data link to real time services in an AOC. A seamless and data driven composition and depiction of airport, departure, enroute and arrival information is explained. Operational and airline specific rules are illustrated to explain how digital information can and is operationally decluttered and filtered to support the pilots workflow and information demands best. In summary, the paper discusses an approach on of an automated and highly integrated AOC system for envisioned operations in 2018, combining systems and activities at an ANSP, at the Airlines OC, in coordination with ATC and by the crew on the flight deck. Key objectives described are looking at optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of airline operations, adaptive to various technical fidelity infrastructure of ATC environments world wide, still ensuring a better situational awareness to operate safe and secure flights at a lower workload than today This is based on the fact that in the long term, the future airline will be connected to a System Wide Information Management (SWIM) as envisioned in the NextGen and SESAR aviation modernization programs [1,2]. SWIM — realized in any specific implementation derivative — will be an exchange network key to ensure situational awareness between the AOC and the future flight deck. In the short term, the implementation of a local SWIM concept between AOC's and airline fleets will enable direct airline business benefits to be generated by assuring the provision of commonly understood quality information, delivered to the right people at the right time.