Improving collaborative decision making between airspace users and airports

PJ07 aims at improving airspace users’ processes and tools. A key component is the User-Driven Prioritisation Process (UDPP), which provides airlines with the flexibility to reduce the number of missed passenger connections as well as lower the cost of delay in capacity-constrained situations, what is a major step forward compared to conventional “first-planned first-served” CASA regulation.

In PJ04, the Airport Operations Centre (APOC) represents the command and control system for collaborative airport performance management and decision-making, including both landside and airside.

A validation platform connecting INNOVE, UDPP server, flight operation centre (FOC) positions and an airport simulator supported the validation exercise.

The prototype FOC positions contained a dedicated cost model, transforming delay into cost of delay based on the daily operations plan of the airline.

The benefit of the joint exercise was to improve collaborative decision-making (CDM) between airports and airspace users. February and March 2019 saw operational experts from airlines (Air France, Air Baltic, Lufthansa Group/Swiss, HOP!, Transavia, El Al) and IATA use UDPP in coordination with APOC experts from Schiphol, Munich and London-Heathrow airports.

The February session aimed at integrating the UDPP processes on both sides from operational and technical perspectives, and showed major benefits for AUs. For example, on its hub, an AU could reduce the impact of capacity deterioration on its cost and passengers connection by 70%.

The March session revealed a real benefit of improving information exchange between AUs and Airports to make better decisions in case of important delays. As an example, several priority flights could be protected by airports.