Network Manager B2B Concept of Operations

The NM B2B ConOps document presents the Concept of Operations (ConOps) for the future NM Business-to-Business (B2B), which will be delivered through the integrated Network Management (iNM) Programme.

This ConOps is aligned with the High-Level Network Concept of Operations 2029 and is developed in accordance with the Network Flight (4D Trajectory), Flow and iDL (integrated Data Layer) ConOps documents, in terms of intent, data definition, processes, roles, and responsibilities of the Network operational Stakeholders.

The primary objectives of the NM B2B evolutions can be summarised as the delivery of significant improvements in the following areas:

Operational Efficiency: Help NM B2B Stakeholders to integrate the operational requirements from regulations (e.g. CP1), improve their operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance productivity through the NM B2B services.
Development Planning: Help NM B2B Stakeholders to build their operational development plans (driven by changes to operational requirements) as well as their technology evolution plans (mostly driven by total cost of ownership considerations, e.g. deprecation of legacy protocols), through the provision of the NM B2B development plans, in a collaborative manner through the NM CDM Process.
Quality of Service: As all trends today move the ATM community from older technologies to modern SWIM ones, this document emphasises efforts made in the area of Quality of Service (QoS), considering the intensive use of Internet and its inherent issues (e.g. DDoS), more generally on the many aspects related to risks on service delivery, including scalability and contingency.
User Support: In addition to the QoS objective, the ConOps aims at describing more specifically how NM intends to improve the current User support to address issues promptly and ensure a positive User experience. This implies strengthening the relationships with existing Users, in particular gathering feedback from Users and building on their feedback to continuously enhance the NM B2B services.

Across all these objectives, the NM B2B ConOps aims at realising the appropriate and agreed balance between change and service stability: one should not change for the sake of changing. Consequently, the NM B2B ConOps makes sure that the proposed evolutions are duly motivated either by regulatory context, and/or obsolescence of technology, and/or business evolution, and/or clearly identified values for the Users.

The transition to the improved NM B2B will be conducted in a phased approach, ensuring business continuity and alignment with existing regulations and requirements. The initial deliverables are expected by 2026, with full implementation projected for 2029.

The NM B2B CONOPS 1.1 represents a comprehensive strategy to significantly evolve in the way ATM/AIM while avoiding disruptions of data exchange processes within the European Aviation Network, fostering a more integrated, efficient, and collaborative environment for all Stakeholders.