Concept of Operations

Stuart Ratcliffe
SME ATFM/CDM
16 – 2o October 2023

Copyright © 2021 CAAS. No part of it may be used, circulated, quoted, or reproduced for distribution outside CAAS without prior written permission. Every care has been taken to ensure that the
information contained here is accurate. Nonetheless, CAAS does not warrant the currency, accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document, nor does CAAS accept liability
for loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from reliance on the information contained in this presentation.
 Objectives

• Obtain a knowledge of the various Concept of Operations (ConOps)

being applied globally

• Understand the requirement for a ConOps

• Understand what a ConOps should contain

• Understand the Distributed Multi-Nodal ATFM Network

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 2

 Content

• Contents of a Concept of Operations (ConOps)

• Domestic ATFM
• Regional ATFM
• Long Range ATFM
• Distributed cross border Multi – Nodal ATFM
• Centralised ATFM
• What ConOps for your country?
• Conclusion

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 3

 Elements of a ConOps

Scope

How
Who
ConOps

When What

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 Why the need for a ConOps?

Determines:
• Scope – What is to be achieved
• What is required for ATFM
‒ Personnel, Resources, Tools

• Who will be involved in ATFM

‒ Management, Stakeholders

• When ATFM will be implemented

‒ “Big Bang” implementation

‒ Stepped approach to implementation

• How ATFM will operate
‒ Standard Procedures

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 5

Elements of a ConOps: Scope

• Supports demand / capacity balancing for all

airports and airspace
• Supports collaborative decision making (CDM)
processes
• Covers current operations and the need for
change
• Provides detailed description of proposed
concept including assumptions, capabilities,
stakeholder responsibilities, and policy
considerations
• Presents a summary of expected benefits
resulting from implementation of proposed
concept of operations

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 6

 Elements of a ConOps: Who

• Roles and Responsibilities

‒ ACC
‒ ATC
‒ Aircraft Operators
‒ Airlines

‒ Private Flights

‒ Military

‒ UAV

‒ Airport Authority
‒ ATFMU

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 7

 Elements of a ConOps: What

• Collaborative Decision Making (CDM)

• Planning Conferences

• ATFM Daily Plan

• Traffic Management Measures

• Compliance

• Post-Operations Analysis

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 8

 Elements of a ConOps: When

• When will demand and monitoring be

implemented

• When will ATFM solutions be implemented

• When will Teleconferences take place

• When will regional traffic be included in ATFM

solutions

• When will international long-haul flights be

included in ATFM

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 9

 Elements of a ConOps: How
• Proposed objectives, capabilities, and project
management plan
• Agree on the traffic management tools that will
be used
• Agree on decision-support tools that will be used
• Define elements for common situational
awareness – MET
• Identify personnel who will lead development
and points of contact
• Develop model for determining dynamic capacity
• Develop operational procedures and training
material
• Identify means of communication
• Train operational staff
• Brief and socialize concept to stakeholders
• Participate in daily teleconferences
• Review and rewrite Letters of Agreement
between FIRs

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 10

 Global ConOps

Domestic ATFM Centralized Regional ATFM Distributed

ATFM Multi-Nodal
Only Domestic Flights Flight from Adjoining
subject to ATFM Measures countries could be ATFM
Only flights departing and
subject to ATFM
arriving from airports in
Australia measures Each state performs
EUROCONTROL are of
ATFM for their area of
Responsibility subject to
FAA responsibility, all states
Colombia ATFM measures
recognize ATFM measures
and follow common
Brazil EUROCONTROL: 41 Canada
operating procedures
states
India Mexico
APAC - 11 States
ASECNA: 18 States
New Zealand MIDEAST – Implementing

South Africa

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 11

ATFM in the USA: FAA

• 31 Core Airports
• Air Traffic Control System Command
Center (ATCSCC)
• 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers
• Approximately 50,000 IFR flights a
day
• 5 slot-controlled airports
• ATFM Measures
‒ GDP / AFP / GS / Re-routes /
MIT
‒ Implemented as appropriate to
manage system /sector
demand

12
 ATFM in the USA: FAA – Lessons Learned

• ConOps needs to involve stakeholders,

with strong collaborative decision-
making processes in place

• Transparent post-operational
evaluations must be conducted to
ensure continuous improvement

• Evaluation results must be

communicated and trained

• Decision-support tools should be used

to reach best solution

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 13

911 presentation

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 14

September 11, 2001

• Concept of Operations and communications systems

in place

• Automation to rapidly implement grounds stops with

increasing scope

• Advisory system and OIS to inform and update

stakeholders.

• Hotline activated with FMUs to provide real-time

direction

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18

15
Jan 2019
Colombia

• FMU - Started 2005

• Strategic Slot Allocation Bogota
• GDPs As Needed (arrival and departure)
Original FMU
• Domestic traffic only
• CDM – Web Portal Slot Swaps
• No Planning Telcons
• DCB requirement
• DCB for Arr/Dep flights
• Weather Constraints

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 16

Colombia

• Increased predictability New FMU Plans

• Reduced TMA and airport
congestion
• Reduced departure congestion
• Situational awareness
• Reduced airborne holding
• Reduced taxi times
• Reduced ATC work load
• Analysis being done

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 17

Colombia – Lessons Learned

• No clear ConOps at implementation

resulted in less-than-effective solutions
New FMU
• Rotating FMU managers results in
inconsistent approach – FMUs should have
dedicated staff
• Post-ops analysis should be performed to
improve performance
• New CDM process and engagement with
airlines

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 18

ATFM in South Africa

• 3 airports slot-coordinated
• At 0200 system automatically allocates slots
• GDP is active 24 hours per day
• Only domestic flights are subject to ATFM
measures
• CDM is performed through web portal
• Flow Manager can adjust flow rates as
required
• Compliance Window - 5 and +10

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 19

ATFM in South Africa

• Reduced airborne holding

• Reduced taxi-time
• Common awareness
• Improved predictability

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 20

ATFM in South Africa – Lessons Learned

• Senior management’s support is critical

• Comprehensive ConOps developed even
though no ICAO guidance existed
• Initial airline participation low, need to be
included from outset
• Ensure all stakeholders attend training
• Ensure ATFM staff have requisite
experience/qualifications to gain
credibility
• Develop comprehensive FUA procedures

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 21

ATFM in Australia

• 3 airports are coordinated

• Schedules initial demand
prediction
• GDP were issued at 1800 for next
day - now as required
• Domestic flights only
• Aircraft operators perform CDM on
web portal after GDP is issued
• GDP revised in morning
• Compliance Window - 5 and +15
• GDP active 24 hours with reviews
occurring

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 22

ATFM in Australia

• Manage Noise-sharing
• TMA congestion
• Reduce Airborne holding
• Common Situational
Awareness
• Improved predictability
• Airline CDM

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 23

ATFM in Australia – Lessons Learned

• Stakeholders must be included in

development, training, and
implementation steps to achieve
a common objective
• Comprehensive procedures must
be developed and trained
• Airport slots should be
implemented prior to
implementing arrival GDPs
• Airline participation in initial
development was high

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 24

Los Cabos, Mexico – Remote Implementation

ZMP

ZLC
ZAU ZOB

ZDV
• San Jose Los Cabos experienced large
ZKC
ZID

amount of arrival delay

ZLA
ZME
• Seasonal demand increased delay
and airborne holding in the terminal
ZTL
ZAB
ZFW

ZHU
ZJX area and en route
• Ground Stops implemented because
ZMA
of airspace congestion

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 25

Los Cabos, Mexico – Remote Implementation

ZMP

• In the Winter of 2006, the FAA ZLC

ZAU ZOB

implemented an Airspace Flow Program ZDV

ZID

(AF) for flights arriving at MMSD ZKC

• This was used to effectively manage the ZLA

ZAB
ZME
ZTL
ZFW

demand arriving at MMSD to reduce

ZJX

holding and balance the demand to

ZHU

meet capacity ZMA

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 26

Los Cabos MMSD Traffic
before
the ATFM Solution

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 27

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 28
 MMSD Traffic

after
the ATFM Solution

2
CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019
9
Los Cabos Operating Cost Savings through use of AFP

Operating Cost Savings for Saturdays December–April

• Average of 52 air carrier flights per Saturday
• ATFM/CDM reduced average block time by: 7 minutes per flight (departures from
Canada and USA)
• Primarily B737 = Operating costs @ $103 per flight minute
• 7 minutes per flight x $103 savings = $721 per flight
• 52 air carrier flights x $721 = $37,492 savings per Saturday
• 15 Saturdays during holiday season x $37,492 =
$562,380 direct operating cost savings per season

3
CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019
0
Los Cabos Operating Cost Savings through use of AFP

CO2 Savings for Saturdays December–April

• Average of 52 air carrier flights per Saturday
• Average block time reduced by 7 minutes per flight
• Primarily B737 = Fuel burn @ 39 kg per flight minute
• B737 CO2 emissions @ 125 kg per flight minute
• 7 minutes per flight x 125 kg reduction = 875 kg reduction per flight
• 52 air carrier flights per Saturday x 875 kg = 45,500 kg CO2 per Saturday
• 15 Saturdays during peak season x 45,500 kg =
682,500 kg CO2 reduction per season

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 31

Los Cabos, Mexico – Lessons Learned

• Reactionary ground stops do not solve routine

volume issues
• Use of Metron’s DCB tool:
‒ Diversions due to excessive holding were
eliminated
‒ Airborne holding greatly reduced
‒ Arrival flows smoothed
‒ Greater predictability for ANSP and
stakeholders
‒ En Route congestion eliminated
‒ Controller workload reduced

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 32

ATFM – Europe (EUROCONTROL)

– 97 airports are coordinated in EUROCONTROL Member States covering

between 85% to 95% of all traffic
– ACC and airports communicate changes in sector capacities
– ETFMS compares traffic demand with ATC sector capacity
– CASA allocates slots if a “Regulation” is put in place
– Flights are issued CTOT to meter flow through sectors
– Re-routes can be implemented
– Revised messages can be sent
– AO can request a change to CTOT
– Slot swaps done via E-helpdesk

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 33

CANSO ATFM Data Exchange Network for the Americas

United Airlines Caribbean Airlines

ICAO Mexico United States Copa
ACI
Azul Central America Dominican Republic

Sky Airlines Panama Jamaica IATA

Columbia Cuba Avianca
Jamaica Air
Volaris
Uruguay Curaçao Delta
ALTA Paraguay Trinidad & Tobago
NBAA Spirit Argentina Venezuela Jet Blue
Aero Mexico Chile Brazil American

CADENA Members Stakeholders Observers

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 34

CADENA Implementation Roadmap

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 35

Improving Common Situational Awareness

• ATFM and CDM requires timely

communication, collaboration, and
coordination

• CADENA conducts both regularly

scheduled and tactical web
conferences

• The CADENA Operational Information

System has improved situational
awareness [Link]

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 36

 LR-ATFM

ICN

Challenges:
• Transiting multiple FIRs
• Multiple ATFM Measures
• Distribution of CTO
• Lack of common surveillance
FAOR FIR CTO
• Non-compliance
Issued

CTOT FAOR
Constraint
Issued

FACT

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

Long Range ATFM

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 38

ATFM Measure Effectiveness: Participation

– Demand Capacity Balancing requires sufficient participation of

demand
• 70% participation of flights is necessary to achieve desired results
and to make an ATFM Measure fair and equitable
• Aircraft Participation
• Domestic flights
• International/Regional flights with flight duration of approximately
4 hours
• International long haul flights

> 70% participation ideal

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 39

Domestic ATFM

Most airports supported by

traditional ATFM systems
have sufficient participation
from domestic operations

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 40

Proximity to Destination

• FAA, EUROCONTROL, and Airservices Australia have sufficient access to domestic

flights within 1500nm of the destination airport
• FAA sets the distance to include departure airports based on the situation
o Typically between 1000–1600nm
• Australia exempts Perth flights from east coast GDPs

~1500nm across

CANSO ATFM Workshop – Singapore 14–18 Jan 2019 41

Multi-Nodal ATFM ConOps

NavCanada
National
Operations Center

EUROCONTROL
Network Manager
Operations Centre
FAA ATC System Command (NMOC)
Center

Japan JANS
Air Traffic Management
Centre (ATMC)

South Africa ATNS

Central Airspace Airservices Australia
Management Unit Network Operations
(CAMU) Centre (NOC)

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

How Multi-Nodal Came About?

To start, what do we know about ATFM around the world?

• Most operate as single / centralized entity providing ATFM service within FIR or area of
responsibilities

• Most focus on domestic flights or flights within area of responsibilities, which captures
>70% of overall traffic

• Most exempt international and long-haul traffic from outside the area

WHY DOES THIS NOT WORK FOR SOME REGIONS?

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

Why a Different ConOps for some regions?

Why does conventional ATFM concept not work for some regions?
0%
Hong Kong International,
Singapore Changi, Doha, Dubai Domestic

100%

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Kuala Lumpur International

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta
19.5
22.7% 33.3
%
%
66.7
80.5
77.3 %
%
%

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

How Multi-Nodal Came About?

Why does conventional ATFM concept not work for some regions?

70% domestic participation is NOT met for most airports

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

How Multi-Nodal Came About?

…but can be met with regional international traffic

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

How Multi-Nodal Came About?

Distributed Multi Nodal Regional ATFM

Concept
2014 - ….

Research Collaboration on Regional ATFM

Concept
2013

CANSO Whole of flight CDM

Pilot Project between BKK-SIN
2011-2012

Tripartite CDM Project between BKK-HKG-

SIN
2012-2013

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

What is Multi-Nodal Concept?

Distributed Multi-Nodal ATFM Network: The Concept

Bases:
• Common ATFM principles and guidance with
harmonized protocols supported by agreed
Common Operating Procedures (COP)
• Effective information sharing and
dissemination framework

Concept:
Independent “virtual” ATFM nodes supported by
interconnected information sharing framework

Supplemented by : A-CDM Process

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

What is Multi-Nodal Concept?

Distributed Multi-Nodal ATFM Network: The Environment

Flight Operations Centre

ATS Units Pilot

ATFM Unit
ATFM Unit
ATFM
Information

ATS Units

MET Info
A-CDM

Airport Operator
ARRIVAL ATFM NODE
DEPARTURE ATFM NODE

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

 Centralised Multiple FIR ATFM - ASECNA

• Centralised ATFM
• Cloud Based ATFM System
• No onsite hardware
• Secure
• Quick Installation
• Low implementation costs
• Common Surveillance picture
• Cost Effective
• Common Situational Awareness

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved. 50

Global Implementations

QUEEN ELIZABETH
ISLANDS

Greenland
(DENMARK)

N O RW AY
U . S. ICE LAND
SWEDEN
FINLAND R U S S I A
EST.
LAT.
CANADA UNITED
KI N GDOM LITH.
DENMARK
POLAND BELARUS
IRELAND
L NETH.
Island of GERMANY
Newfoundland UKRAINE
MOLDOV KAZAKHSTAN
FRA NCE
ROMANIA MONGOLIA

ITALY BULGARIA GEORGIA

UZBEKISTAN
KYRGYZSTAN
PORTUGAL ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN NORTH KOREA
SPAIN TURKMENSTANI
GREECE T URKE Y
TAJIKISTAN
UNITED STATES SOUTH
JAPAN
KOREA

REPBLIC
TUNISIA SYRIA
LEBANON
IR AQ
AFGHANISTAN CHINA
ISRAEL JORDAN IRAN
MO ROCCO
KUWAIT
ALGERIA PAKISTAN NEPAL BHUTAN

MEXICO
THE
BAHAMAS

Curacao
LIBYA
EGYPT SAUDI BAHRAIN

ARABIA
QATAR
UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES
BAN GLADESH OF
KOREA
CUBA OMAN Myanmar
DOMINICAN
INDIA LAOS
REPUBLIC MAURITANIA
BELIZE JAMAICA
HAITI MALI
PUERTO
GUATEMALA HONDURAS RICO CAPE VERDE NIGER ERITREA YEMEN THAI L AND
SENEGAL CHAD VIETN AM
BURKINA PHILIPPINES
NIC ARAGUA FASO CAMBODIA
ELSALVADOR THE GAMBIA
SUDAN DJIBOUTI
GUINE A-BISSAU GUINEA
NIGERIA
COSTA CÔTE
RIC A
PA NAMA
VENEZUE L A
SIERRA
D'IVOIRE GHANA
CENTRAL
ETHIOPIA
LEONE
AFRI CAN REPUBLIC SRI
GUYAN A
SURIN AME
French Guiana
LIBERIA CAMEROON SOMALIA LANKA
BRUNEI I N D O N E S I A
COLOMBIA EQUATORIAL GUINEA
M A L A Y S I A
U GAN D A
SAO TOME AND PRI
NCIPE
REP. OF KEN YA

ECUADOR GABON THE

CONGO
DEMOCRA SINGAPORE
I
RWANDA
REPUBLIC
OF THECONGO BURUNDI PAPUA
TANZANIA NEW GUINEA SOLOMON
ISLANDS

PERU
BRAZIL

BOLIVIA
ANGOLA
ZAMBIA
MALAWI SINGAPORE V
MOZAMBIQUE
ZIM BABWE
NAMIBIA M AURITIUS
MA D AG AS C AR
PARAGUAY B OTSW AN A

SWAZILAND
AU S T R A LI A
LESOTHO
SOUTH
CHILE AFRIC A
URUG UAY

ARGENTINA
ARGENTIN A
NEW
ZEALAND

Level Characteristics
1 Advanced and Integrated ATFM/CDM Procedures & System
Company Confidential
2 Mature ATFM/CDM Procedures and Initial System
3 Initial ATFM/CDM Procedures but No System
4 No ATFM/CDM Procedures or System

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

What Has been learnt with the Multi-Nodal ConOps?

In developing and testing the Multi-Nodal ConOps, we learned to…

 Collaborate among ANSPs in the region
 Include stakeholders throughout the process
 Take heed of and respect regional political environment
 Transparently share information and lessons learned
 Proceed methodically, and
 Provide room for regional players to come onboard as and when ready

Projected Benefits 2014 2019

Domestic and Regional ATFM US$660–810M US$1.1B–$1.4B

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

ConOps: Contrast and Compare

U.S. Columbia South Africa Australia ASECNA EUROCONTROL APAC

CFMU – CFMU – Cross Multi-
Type CFMU CFMU CFMU CFMU
Cross FIR country Nodal

ConOps Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No

Telecons Yes No No No No Yes No

CDM Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No

Post Ops Yes No No Yes No Yes No

What ConOps for your Country?

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

What Have We Learned?

• Understanding of the various Concept of Operations (ConOps) being

applied globally
• Understand the requirement for a ConOps
• Understand what a ConOps should contain
• Understanding of what is required for particular country
• Why a ConOps is essential for effective ATFM implementation
• Why a ConOps must be developed for particular country

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2015 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. All rights reserved.