Ukraine is fully integrated into activity of EUROCONTROL as Manager of pan-European Air Navigation Network (Network Manager – NM) that directly performs the functions of Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) through NMOC (Network Manager Operations Centre) unit on a tactical level and coordinates ATFM activity on the strategic and pre-tactical levels in European region.
Air traffic flow management procedures are used to organize safe, orderly and accelerated air traffic flow and to provide maximum usage of air traffic control system capacity according to ICAO SARPs.
Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) procedures in Ukraine are provided by EUROCONTROL’s unit - NMOC through FMP organised in each ATM Centre and shall be applied for:
- prevention of ATS units’ workload and compliance of air traffic flow intensity with the capacity of ATC system
- facilitating effective usage of ATC system capacity
- facilitating air traffic flow optimization
- provision of ATFM information to aircraft users for effective flights planning
Flow management position
Flow management position (FMP) is a unit that is created in ATM Center to provide necessary coordination of the Air Traffic Flow Management measures in the area of the responsibility of the appropriate ATM Center.
FMP monitors air traffic flows and analyzes the workload of ATS sectors and aerodromes in relation to the appropriate capacity to define the necessity of ATFM measures. Acceptable level of capacity monitoring, according to which the situation is analyzed, is usually the regulatory level or the reduced one if there are restrictions.
ACC and APP sectors’ capacity
ACC, APP sectors’ capacity primarily depends on the air traffic controllers’ workload (the amount of technological ATS operations fulfilled at a certain period of time). It is determined by the number of aircraft that are under the air traffic controller’s control in certain airspace and at a certain period of time.
ATS sector capacity of ACC/APP is determined via UkSATSE Methodology of ATS sector capacity determination and acceptable number of aircraft that can be in the ATS sector during the ATS provision simultaneously or via EUROCONTROL CAPAN methodology.
CAPAN methodology is a fast-time modeling by means of air traffic controller environment simulation and the process of technological ATS operations in a computer model. As a result of modeling the dependence of air traffic controllers’ workload on the number of aircraft under control is determined. It is ATS sector capacity.
Computer modeling example (aircraft vectoring scheme) that is used for ATS sector capacity determination by the CAPAN methodology (
376Kb)
Civil aerodromes’ capacity
ATFM interaction among aerodrome users, ATS units and FMPs is provided according to local ATFM interaction instructions. ATFM interaction instructions are meant to reduce the possibility of unexpected occurrences at the aerodrome due to adverse weather conditions, aerodrome infrastructure elements utilization restrictions, and to prevent the excess of ATS sectors’ and aerodromes’ capacity by means of ATFM measures.
Aerodrome capacity data notified in appropriate interaction instructions among airports and FMPs are used for ATFM and defined on the basis of:
- real-time simulation (simulation modeling)
- modeling under EUROCONTROL methodologies (PIATA + and others) using real measurements data concerning flight operations at the aerodrome and special software
- information about the aerodrome capacity provided by the aerodrome user (airport)
