Computerized ATC

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by cdtaylor_nats

We once designed the perfect ATC Ops Room. Everything computerised and working away. In the corner is a big glass case with an ATCO in it. A notice hangs on the case next to a hammer. It reads

IN CASE OF BLAME, BREAK GLASS

Nonsense!

The notice was actually a computer display, and the ATCO played with the HMI before entering the case. S/he changed the font, the menu display, the mouse pointer and the background all to black, so nobody could read it..........

[T250]

From an aerodrome/tower perspective:

- ASMGCS Level 4, automated taxi routings & guidance (follow the greens)
- Automated AGL
- Automated sequencing for holding points
- Automated (DMAN/AMAN) sequencing for departure/arrival
- Datalink pushbacks
- Datalink clearances
- CPDLC for majority communications - lots of potential for further automation
- AUTO METARs
- DTAXI, GBAS, ADS-B, drones...

All from a remote tower with 1 ATCO now merely monitoring multiple airports on a split screen, it's the future folks!!

[Reverserbucket]

Quite T250, and despite the earlier question about who would shoulder the blame politically in the event of problems, SESAR is an entirely political initiative.

[good egg]

Originally Posted by Reverserbucket

Quite T250, and despite the earlier question about who would shoulder the blame politically in the event of problems, SESAR is an entirely political initiative.

Political/economic?

[ZOOKER]

T250,

Surely you mean 1 'ATMO'?

Have 'Prospect' started working on the details of ATMO Pay-scales yet?

Will the calculations involve 'Square Roots'?

[good egg]

Originally Posted by ZOOKER

T250,

Surely you mean 1 'ATMO'?

Have 'Prospect' started working on the details of ATMO Pay-scales yet?

Will the calculations involve 'Square Roots'?

The square route of the number of jobs the new ‘ATMO’ roll used to need? Might be interested...esp if it’s based at a Band 5 unit...

[ZOOKER]

I remember one of my colleagues challenging 'Red' over 'Pay Banding' nonsense......A splendid piece of research.

Said colleague arrived at a 'Bar-Stool Session' armed with flip-charts and lots of good info.

'Red' almost c*cked himself.

[good egg]

Originally Posted by ZOOKER

I remember one of my colleagues challenging 'Red' over 'Pay Banding' nonsense......A splendid piece of research.

Said colleague arrived at a 'Bar-Stool Session' armed with flip-charts and lots of good info.

'Red' almost c*cked himself.

Ah, who could forget Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen....

[ZOOKER]

It was a pleasure to watch.

But how can you have the square-root of a plane?

[good egg]

Originally Posted by ZOOKER

It was a pleasure to watch.

But how can you have the square-root of a plane?

Hate to be a pedant *coughs*
But really? Is that the best you can do?!?

[ZOOKER]

No hate involved, good egg,

It was a pleasure to watch.

But I can't ever remember vectoring the square-root of a plane.

Did an ATC presentation recently.......Lots of interest from the audience in 'digital towers'.

[good egg]

I’ll bet Zooker.

Lots of interest in reducing cost. The bigger question is in service provision and what the contract stipulates...

[ZOOKER]

But the biggest question of all is safety.

"Safe, Orderly, and Expeditious", good egg.

The words we all had drummed into us from 'Day 1'.

[ZOOKER]

And of course, that famous quote from my all-time favourite 'movie'..........

"It's a false economy to invest in cheap goods".

Oddly enough, the only person who mentioned 'reducing cost' was me!

[good egg]

Originally Posted by ZOOKER

But the biggest question of all is safety.

"Safe, Orderly, and Expeditious", good egg.

The words we all had drummed into us from 'Day 1'.

None of those are questions. That’s part of a statement about Aerodrome Control Services...[CAP493]

Are you still working? Only I think the current wording for the provision of an air traffic service says it “should be based upon expedition consistent with safety”....

[good egg]

Originally Posted by airpolice

Fewer ATCOs, not less.

Cost savings come as a result of not having as many controllers, not from performing liposuction on them.

With all the “hot-desking” planned the ATCOs won’t be able to sit still long enough to have a suction tube attached...

[ZOOKER]

I'm fairly certain that line has always been MATS 1, good egg?

I have my original one up in the loft somewhere, if I can find it, I'll check.

[good egg]

Originally Posted by ZOOKER

I'm fairly certain that line has always been MATS 1, good egg?

I have my original one up in the loft somewhere, if I can find it, I'll check.

Yup, as I said, it’s still there in ADC section.

[amberale]

You may be able to automate some aspects of ATS however you won’t move any more traffic until you either build more runways or build aircraft that don’t need runways.
Aircraft recieve minimal delays enroute these days.
They get delayed trying to get on/off that strip of hotmix.

[parishiltons]

Originally Posted by T250

From an aerodrome/tower perspective:

- ASMGCS Level 4, automated taxi routings & guidance (follow the greens)
- Automated AGL
- Automated sequencing for holding points
- Automated (DMAN/AMAN) sequencing for departure/arrival
- Datalink pushbacks
- Datalink clearances
- CPDLC for majority communications - lots of potential for further automation
- AUTO METARs
- DTAXI, GBAS, ADS-B, drones...

All from a remote tower with 1 ATCO now merely monitoring multiple airports on a split screen, it's the future folks!!

- Autoreleases
- TBS for arrivals

it goes on and what next? Adding ADS-B assigned self separation to arrivals and departures?