AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT (ATFM)

Refresher Training & Hands on Practice for

Flow Management Positions
 Concept of ATFM
• ATFM is a concept and an Art of Balancing
Demand Versus Capacity.
• ATFM can optimize airspace and Airport
capacity.
• ATFM by itself can not perform magic to
increase airspace or Airport capacity.
Capacity
• But ATFM can provide early warning to
planners, the requirement for initiating
Demand
action to increase capacity at airports and
in airspace.
 Why ATFM?
• Schedule (slots) based on ideal • Efficient Information gathering enables
(predicted) airport capacity. ATFM to predict delay.
• On the day of Operations Air Traffic • It is always cheaper to take delay on the
Congestion happens because: ground than in air.
– Airline induced delays • Congestion in air is a safety concern.
– Airport Infrastructure delays
• However, short holdings are essential to
– ATC Capacity Delays
ensure regular supply of arrivals for
– Weather delays
optimum resource utilization.
– En-route delays
The essence of flow control is the principle of Pre Tactically or Tactically matching
the demand with capacity by imposing delay on the ground or in air
ATFM reduces airborne holding without compromising the airport and
airspace capacity.
 Process of ATFM
Develop
Identify
strategies to
constraints in
mitigate
the system
constraints

• ATFM is a collaborative
process involving many
ATC

stakeholders with
Flight
Operators
Multi-
national
Collaborate
diverse goals.
(ICAO)
Monitor
system status
and demand
TFM with service
providers and
stakeholders
on solutions
• CDM enables the
Airport
Operators
Military
stakeholders to share
the resources optimally.

Implement
Analyze post- and manage
operation actions
 Interfaces / Inputs for ATFM Service

ATFM Service relies on a number of supporting systems, processes and

operational data in order to function effectively:

 Traffic Demand – Airline Flight Schedules, RPLs, FPLs & ATS messages.
 Capacity constraints due to airports and ANS facilities outages.
 Meteorological situation.
 Tactical, dynamic traffic situation by Processed RADAR feed.
 Airspace allocation by AMC under FUA concept.
 Integration of A-CDM concept.
 CDM Partners
ATM
• The CDM (Collaborative Decision
Making) process is a key enabler of GENERAL
AIRLINES
an ATFM strategy.
AVIATION

• CDM ensures transparency and that ATFM

decisions are based on the best AIRSPACE
MANAGMENT
REGULATOR

information as provided by the

participants in a timely and accurate
manner.
AIRPORT
MILITARY
OPERATOR
 ATFM Architecture
• The Central Command Center
(CCC) will receive strategic and ATFM
WEB PORTAL

tactical FPL, Weather, Airspace, Central

Command
Traffic, Airport information for Centre
APP-
accurate Situational Awareness. ACC-
FMP
FMP

TWR- ACC-
FMP
• Flow Management Position(FMP) FMP TWR-
FMP

will be the unit implementing

ATFM program. APP- APP-
FMP FMP
Measures Available In Phase - I

S. No. Name of the Program Regulated Element

1 Ground Stop Program (GSP) Aerodrome

2 Ground Delay Program (GDP) Aerodrome

3 Blanket Delay Program (BDP) Aerodrome

 Phase II ATFM Meassures
S. No. Name of the Program Regulated Element Delay type

Miles-in-trail (MIT)/ Airways Segment, FIX, Nav-Aids Ground/Airborne

1
Minutes-in-trail (MINIT)

2 Arrival Sequencing Program (ASP) Aerodrome

Airborne

3 Departure Sequencing Program (DSP) FIX, Nav-Aids Ground

4 En-route Sequencing Program (ESP) FIX, Nav-Aids Airborne

5 Fix Balancing Program (FBP) SID /STAR/ENROUTE Fix Route change

 Phase II Meassures
S. No. Name of the Program Regulated Element Delay type

Aerodrome FIX, Nav-Aid, SUA,

Airborne Holding Program (AHP) Polygon, FIR Sector, FIR Sector
6 Airborne
Group, TMA Sector, TMA sector
Group
Airways Segment, FIR Sector,
Flight Level Adjustment program (FAP) FIR Sector Group, TMA Sector,
7 Route Change
TMA Sector Group, SUA,
Polygon
FIR Sector, FIR Sector Group
8 Reroute Program (RRP) TMA Sector, TMA Sector Group Route Change
Polygon, SUA

Sector Balancing Program (SBP) FIR Sector, FIR Sector Group,

9 Ground/Airborne
TMA Sector, TMA Sector Group
 ATFM Daily Plan
Issued at 1330 UTC for the Next Day
(ADP)
ATFM Daily Plan (ADP) is a set of tactical ATFM measures that will tentatively be
in force in the Indian Airspace on the following day.

The Daily Plan is Published/Disseminated by CCC on the basis of following

criteria. An ADP includes the following items of information:

 Aerodrome or Airspace Sector Identification,

 Description of Constraints,
 Time Frame,
 Proposed ATFM measures; and
 Remarks/other relevant information.

ADP is distributed to stakeholders by Email and in future, may be, through the
ATFM Web Portal of the SKYFLOW System.
Sample ADP
 ATFM Measures (CDM) Timeline
“CDM BEGIN TIME” = ‘T’

• “INITIAL CDM SCENARIO FOR PREVIEW” = CDM BEGIN TIME MINUS 4 HRS OR EARLIER (T-4 HRS)

•“WINDOW FOR UPDATION” = CDM BEGIN TIME MINUS 3 HOURS (T- 3 HRS; DURATION : 1 HR)

•“Final CTOTs” = CDM BEGIN TIME MINUS 2 HOURS 15 mins (T-2 hrs 15 min)

​S. NO.​ SCENARIO NAME CDM BEGIN TIME (T) CDM END TIME FINAL CTOT TIME
01​ CDM​2_VOBL_290119 ​1400 UTC 1600 UTC 1145 UTC
Roles Of Flow Manager (FMP)
Check demand of the station for the CDM scenario in Public/Applied States, ensure that
CHECK
RPL's and Filed FPL's at the station are reflected in the demand.

Ensure that FPL, CHG, DLA, DEP, ARR, CNL etc., messages are sent to SKYFLOW
ENSURE
(VIDPCTFM). Coordinate with CCC for correction/addition/ deletion.

Ensure CTOT Compliance and CTOTs are passed to all the concerned ATS units and for
ENSURE
Non-SKED Operators who have no prior arrangement of obtaining CTOTS.

INFORM Inform termination or cancellation of ATFM measures to WSO/ ATS units.

Post ATFM Provide ATFM measures feedback reports to CCC for compliance and adherence to
Measures ATFM measures (provide ATOTs /ATA’s through Google form)

GENERATE Generate inoperability in SKYFLOW and send it to CCC. (NOTAM, SUA etc.)

Assist CCC in preparation of ATFM Daily Plan (ADP) by collecting, collating the required
ASSIST
information necessary for preparation of ADP.
 Post ATFM Measures
• Departure (CTOT) Compliance Sheet:
https://goo.gl/JNZkn6
• Arrival (CTOT) Compliance Sheet:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=136Da9Y_AtZSZpmOb88ZBJ
VPN6DeEsKdAMbk3hAgYg4
• Review the filled CTOT Compliance Report:
https://goo.gl/bNLakt

NOTE: The above mentioned compliance report for the current day, is to be filled
before 1700 IST of the next day.
Post ATFM measures….
• Duplicate data creating false demand leading to improper strategies.
• Non Operational Flights
• Arrival/DEP messages are not being sent by the ATS automation system. Therefore,
the ATOT & ATA displayed by the SKYFLOW is not always correct.
• The window provided to stakeholders for making any changes i.e. exemptions,
swapping etc. is not being utilized by airlines and such requests are being made after
CCC has "applied" the CDM scenario.
• Non adherence to CTOTs and Flight Schedule
• Genuine requests for revision of slot allocation have to be turned down by CCC as there
is no provision of revision of CTOT in SKYFLOW system after the use of "APPLY"
feature. This is an important factor for determining over or under delivery of flights to a
constrained Airport.
• Lack of awareness about ATFM measures in vogue.
 Hands on Practice- Lessons

• Accessing Demand in CDM Scenario

• Extraction of CTOTs from CDM Scenario
• Creating In-operability in SkyFlow
• ATFM Web Portal-Overview
 Information

ATFM Web Portal:

www.atfmaai.aero/portal