CASCADE

NEWS

Publication of Preliminary Safety Case Supporting the Use of WAM in a Non-Radar Environment

The Preliminary Safety Case for Air Traffic Control Service in Non-Radar Areas using Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) as sole means of surveillance (PSC WAM-NRA), which was developed together with the support of Air Navigation Service Providers and representatives of industry, has recently passed the review of the Safety Regulation Commission (SRC) and is now publicly available.

This PSC has been developed with the objective of using a similar approach and providing the same level of granularity as it exists for ADS-NRA PSC and SPR (ED-126). This document provides an input to ANSPs who are preparing their own local Safety Case for the implementation of the WAM-NRA.

The document is available here.

Preliminary Safety Case for Enhanced Traffic Situational Awareness during Flight Operations

The Preliminary Safety Case for Enhanced Traffic Situational Awareness during Flight Operations has been completed. It documents the results of EUROCAE ED-164/RTCA DO-319 "Safety Performance and Interoperability Requirements Document for the ATSA-AIRB application". This document aims at being an input for implementers to produce the elements that will be required by the National Supervisory Authority (NSA) for a local implementation of ATSA-AIRB.

The document is available upon request to the CASCADE team.

CASCADE Programme

The EUROCONTROL CASCADE Programme (part of the Directorate Network Management), co-ordinates the deployment of initial ADS-B applications and WAM in Europe. The Programme covers both ground Surveillance (i.e. “ADS-B out” and WAM) as well as airborne Surveillance applications (i.e. “ADS-B in”/ATSAW).

The widespread introduction of ADS-B within European airspace is being facilitated through legislation published by the European Commission (derived from the Surveillance Performance and Interoperability Implementing Rule – SPI IR).

ADS-B

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast is a Surveillance technique that relies on aircraft broadcasting their identity, position and other aircraft information.  This signal can be captured for Surveillance purposes on the ground (ADS-B out) or on board other aircraft/vehicles (ADS-B in).  The latter will enable airborne traffic situational awareness (ATSAW), spacing, separation and self-separation applications. 

The ADS-B applications within the scope of the CASCADE Programme are the following:

• ADS-B in Non Radar Airspace (ADS-B NRA)
• ADS-B in Radar Airspace (ADS-B RAD)
• ADS-B for Airport Surface Surveillance (ADS-B APT)
• ADS-B for Aircraft-Derived Data (ADS-B ADD)
• ATSAW In-Trail Procedure in oceanic airspace (ATSAW ITP)
• ATSAW Visual Separation in Approach (ATSAW VSA)
• ATSAW during Flight Operations (ATSAW AIRB)
• ATSAW on the Airport Surface (ATSAW SURF)

WAM

Wide-area multilateration  is a Surveillance technique that exploits the 1090 MHz transmissions broadcast from aircraft. From these signals it can create a track containing parameters such as aircraft identification, position, height, etc. Active interrogation is also possible in order to trigger transmission.

Although the manner in which WAM constructs Surveillance data differs significantly from ADS-B, the synergies between these two Surveillance techniques in addition to their high performance and lower cost are expected to bring significant operational benefits. Consequently, composite WAM/ADS-B systems are widely offered by industry and deployed by ANSPs in Europe and worldwide, thus exploiting these synergies.

The optimal mix of the various Surveillance techniques (SSR Mode S, ADS-B, WAM) will however depend upon the local environment, operational needs and business case, from an overall ATM Network viewpoint.

ADS-B and WAM are key enablers of the future European ATM Network, contributing to the achievement of the Single European Sky (SES) performance objectives, including safety, capacity, efficiency and environmental sustainability.

In addition, CASCADE participates in the standardisation of the first spacing application:

• Flight Deck Interval Management (ASPA-FIM)