Definition
Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) refers to adjusting the air traffic volume(capacity) in airports and airspaces (space above the sky in which aircraft can operate) so as not to exceed air traffic volume of their own(capacity). It's safe, orderly and able to do your job.
Function
As many vehicles rush on narrow roads and parking lots, the risk of accidents increases, as unacceptable traffic is concentrated in limited spaces such as airspace and airports, the safety and convenience of aviation operation can not be assured. Air traffic flow management secures the stability of aircraft operations in the airspace and airport as a whole and minimizes unnecessary delays to be reduced by managing the range of traffic volume controlled by the control agency in charge of a specific airspace or airport.
In other words, by adjusting the departure time of the aircraft in advance, the aircraft can prevent unnecessary operations in the air, and minimize the waiting time in the aircraft by allowing the passengers to board in accordance with the previously adjusted departure time, thereby reducing passenger inconvenience. It plays a functional role of the back
Function of air traffic flow management
Ensure safety
Prevention of excess airport/control capacity
Maintenance of optimal traffic volume, rapid response to abnormalities
Delay reduction
No prior traffic management system
(Passenger boarding delay, air waiting)
Apply scientific management system/reduce delay
Reduction of passenger discomfort
Increased passenger discomfort due to unpredictable delay
(Passenger boarding delay, air waiting)
Boarding after allocating the available departure time
(Along with waiting for the destination airport, it decreases)
Reduced return
Absence of integrated management system, a large number of round trips occurred
(Destination airport crisis (runway/airport closure, etc.) propagation delay)
Response systemization/return minimization
Fuel reduction
Increased fuel consumption due to delay
Prevent unnecessary fuel consumption in advance
Environment friendly
Increase in fuel consumption = increase in emissions
Reduced fuel consumption = reduced emissions
National competitiveness
Inefficient operation, decreased competitiveness in the air transportation industry
Highly efficient operation of aviation resources, strengthening national competitiveness
Work procedure
The general business procedure of air traffic flow management is as follows.
Stage
Air traffic flow management work steps
-
1. Strategic
Typically, this stage starts from two months before and ends one week to specific event. At this stage, the continuous data collection and analysis is carried out, and also a rough plan for flow management measures can be established on this stage.
-
2. Pre-tactical
In general, this stage is performed from one week before the event to 2 hours before the day, and it adjusts the pre-established plan by analyzing the traffic demand for the event day and by comparing to the collected data in the strategy stage.
-
3. Tactical
Traffic volume is managed actually with flow management solutions and measures carried out 2 hours before the day including actual management, and the appropriate information sharing among each agencys enabling to predict the accurate capacity, which is a very important factor of maximising the capacity.
-
4. Post-operations Analysis
As the last step of flow management measures, evaluating the adequacy of the measures, discovering inadequate matters, and devising a plan for future improvement are performed. Most importantly post-analysis can identify problems with flow management measures and can be used very effectively for future improvement.
Strategy
- Establishment of flow management measures plan
- Data collection and analysis
2 months ago ~ 1 week ago
Pre-Tactical
- Analysis of traffic volume on the day
- Comparing and revising the plans established at the strategic stage
1 week ago ~ 2 days ago
Tactical
- Prediction through accurate information provision
- Implement flow management measures and maximize capacity
2 days before ~ At the end of the situation
Post analysis
- Data analysis on flow management measures
- Appropriateness and evaluation of measures
- Identify shortcomings and discover improvements
- The situation ends ~ End of post-analysis
The situation ends ~ End of post-analysis
Measure
There are various methods for flow management measures for safe operation of aircraft as follows, and they can be flexibly applied to each situation.
- Ground Delay Program: When it is not possible to fly to the destination due to limitations from neighboring countries’ capacity reduction in the airport or airspace, etc. this measure delays the departure time on the ground before aircraft departs in order to minimize economic loss caused by air delays. For this purpose, the control center issues Calculated Take Off Time (CTOT) for the aircraft, and each control agency and airlines must observe this CTOT.
- Ground Stop: This is a measure to stop a specific aircraft on the ground according to unexpected circumstances such as the runway closure at the destination airport. It is a measure to make aircraft waits on the ground until a further instruction. If the ground stop is prolonged, the flight may be cancelled by the decision of the airline.
- Minutes in Trail · Miles in Trail: Air traffic volume measure by allowing aircraft to pass a specific fix (FIX: a specific point on an airway) at certain time intervals or at certain distance intervals.
- Re-routing: This is a measure to make certain aircraft to divert to other routes when any congestion or delay is expected due to the large number of aircrafts scheduled to operate at a specific route during a specific time.
- Level Capping: This is a flow management measure that limits the number of aircraft using certain altitude when a specific altitude is not available.
The control center mainly performs flow management through ground delay programs and ground stop, and the control agency performs time or distance separation, Re-routing, and Level Capping. As described above, the control center and the control agency have their own duties and roles, but in order to perform such flow management measures, they must consultate with each other, and all information must be shared.
In addition, although these measures are very effective for managing air traffic, inadequate measure may lead to delays and economic loss, and the measures should be performed within the extent of minimizing the impact on aircraft operations.
Work system between the control center and the control agency
