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First ATC Support Tools Implementation programme ready to stand alone

7 DEC 2011

Geneva ACC, by courtesy of Skyguide

Geneva ACC, by courtesy of Skyguide

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The FASTI programme is now drawing to a close, given that there is enough momentum for deployment in the years to come. Benefits are fast emerging.

Protecting air traffic controllers workload

The FASTI Programme’s objective is to prevent tactical controllers from becoming overloaded when it gets busy. The Programme looks at the sector team’s tasks of conflict detection, planning, monitoring and coordination and given both the right kind of tools as well as system support to reduce workload per aircraft. It also aims at re-distributing work, taking it from the tactical controller and passing it on to the planner controller. New tools are allowing controllers to move away from the old “reactive” type of ATC to more pro-active planning.
As the First ATC Support Tools Implementation (FASTI) programme approaches the end of its lifecycle, a FASTI Workshop was held on 29-30 November 2011, hosted by Skyguide in Geneva (Switzerland). It gave a unique opportunity to all partners to assess where they are in relation to the programme’s objectives and to decide what still needs to be done before declaring the work complete.
The workshop gave participants the opportunity to look at future strategies for ATM development, verifying that what we have all been working on for so many years fits with future concepts and plans.

What has been achieved?

The FASTI community has grown over the last six years, creating solid relationships with many partners.
Up to 36 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and their suppliers participated on various levels. A number of ANSPs across Europe are already using the tools while others are either have FASTI plans or are implementing it. Both groups conveyed the same clear messages.
ANSPs now see either planning or conducting FASTI implementation as an integral part of deploying new systems or upgrades.

• Three approaches to procurement and implementation were evident: R&D followed by industrialisation, direct procurement of Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) products or the forming of ANSP associations to benefit from shared resources, definition of common requirements and joint procurement
• In general, deployment of FASTI tools is well underway – particularly in areas where it is most needed
• The FASTI Concept has been adapted to meet local environment needs
• Improving the level of service results in improved capacity. Since 2007, skyguide declared 25% increase in capacity , after having introduced new systems and tools at Geneva UAC. NATS expect capacity benefits of up to 20% in some sectors, with an average of 12% across London Area Control operations, following the implementation of the iFACTS tool at the end of November at Swanwick
• The FASTI programme facilitated exchange of plans and solutions between the European ANSPs, providing a platform for a more coherent ATC developments
• and, most importantly, the FASTI Programme was deemed fit for purpose.

"NATS is always willing to support these initiatives and provide input, support, presentations and demonstrations to ensure that the community as a whole benefits from these types of event" said Steve Pybus, Head Of NATS Roadmap Development.
What do we still have to do?

From now on, ANSPs and industry will need to consider new FAB and Network Management operations and SESAR results when developing their roadmaps for the future. The key question will remain – how to get from here to there?
Right now, we need to speed up full cross-border implementation of system supported coordination so that local ones can work together and, most importantly, greatly improve overall Network performance. Taking increased trust and confidence between neighbouring ACCs to the same level as the one you enjoy with your internal partners will guarantee seamless operations and improved performance.
The FASTI programme will now end, as we are secure in the knowledge that there is sufficient momentum in this domain to ensure full deployment in the coming years. In the last year alone, there were significant deployments in the core area of Europe. Distinct benefits are emerging and we can tell that there is considerable potential for improvement in the FASTI tools’ performance.
Even in the relatively short lifecycle of FASTI, we have seen priorities change. The emphasis has moved from requests to boost capacity to calls for cost-cutting in both the air and on the ground, along with a stronger need to consider environmental issues. Safety remains priority number one. The FASTI tools are instrumental in providing ANSPs with the capabilities to address these changing requirements.
Better integration of ATC into the network is one of the Network Manager’s priorities. A critical success factor is increased participation from ATC, airports and airspace through the systematic application of highly cooperative mechanisms - done by all partners, at all levels.
In this sense, FASTI has paved the way as it has provided the groundwork for the future Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) trajectory-based operations. We expect that FASTI ‘s rich experience and lessons learned will make a valuable contribution to expediting and optimising deployments of controller support tools in the years to come.

https://www.eurocontrol.int/news/firs...dy-stand-alone