  |
|
 |
|
|
Tactical Load Smoother (TLS) |
|
|
|
|
The PHARE Tactical Load Smoother (TLS) was developed to be an aid to controllers in the multi-sector-planning rôle known as Multi-Sector Planners (MSPs).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Link to Multi-Sector Planning Concept
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| A view of the Tactical Load Smoother (Click image for a larger view) |
|
|
The main purpose of a Tactical Load Smoother is to predict and then analyse the air-traffic situation that will evolve some tens of minutes later in the Multi-Sector Area (MSA) with which it is associated. The purpose of the analysis is to determine the "complexity" of the predicted air-traffic situation, resulting in the generation of relevant indicators for the Multi Sector Planner.
There are 3 main indicators of future complexity in the Multi-Sector Area: the total number of aircraft; the number of conflicts; the complexity of the trajectories as assessed by number of vector changes. The look-ahead time ranges from 10 to 40 minutes.
These three types of indicator can be displayed to the Multi Sector Planner for each sector in the form of a Traffic Load Graph, a Problem Load Graph, and a Complexity Graph respectively. For each of these, a threshold level can be set. When all the plotted values for a particular sector are below the appropriate threshold, the controllers responsible for that sector should have no problem performing their tasks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
| |
A view of the Tactical Load Smoother (Click image for a larger view) |
|
If one (or more) of the values passes the threshold level, an alarm can be generated to indicate to the Multi Sector Planner that the air-traffic situation in that sector is predicted to be becoming complex.
Before the Multi Sector Planner can take action more precise information about the predicted air-traffic situation is required. Therefore, the Tactical Load Smoother software can also generate information about the level of complexity of the predicted air-traffic situation at a particular moment of time as a function of ground position. This information can be displayed on a Complexity Map. A Complexity Map is generated for the whole of the Multi-Sector Area (MSA). The main purpose of the Complexity Map is to indicate regions where the local complexity of the predicted air-traffic situation is too high. Such a localised region of high complexity is known as a “hot spot”. The Multi Sector Planner can interrogate the Tactical Load Smoother software to determine the identity of the aircraft whose planned trajectories are predicted to generate a particular hot spot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Tactical Load Smoother is documented in:
|
|
|
|
| |
