|
|
|
 |
|
AAA - Aircraft and ATM Automation |
| |
|
| Project objectives are: |
|
| |
|
 |
Start date |
|
TBD |
|
|
Duration |
|
12 months |
|
|
EC Program Ref.: |
|
6th FP
Aeronautics & Space Program |
|
|
|
|
The first objective of this specific support action is to set up a conference gathering people acting in aircraft operational exploitation: air operators, companies and pilots (professional schools, training centres), air traffic managing organizations (exploitation, schools, training centres) aircraft and systems manufacturers, authorities, European Commission DGs RTD and TREN, cabin crew organizations, IATA, psychologists, passenger organizations, etc. |
|
The second objective of the conference and associated workshops will be to exchange points of view on the future automation in aircraft operation with a target of twenty years. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The proposed subject is quite unattended: are we going to a full automation of the Air Traffic System (ATS), including aircraft and traffic control, as it is the case now in many subways in the world? Particularities of aircraft lie in the fact that it cannot be stopped when a failure occurs on board.
It is time to open discussions on this subject in order to understand well the goals to be reached at different time horizons. A symposium at international level (including some participations from the United States) is the most efficient manner to open the way.
It is proved that automation is one of the major trends to satisfy fleet growth and safety improvement. Discussions between specialists (… and psychologists) engaged in aircraft design, aircraft control and persons responsible of operating a fleet of planes are urgent.
Implementation of a second global positioning system, GALILEO, will provide integrity, continuity, availability and precision of a global localization. It may allow a complete aircraft automation.
From another side, the rapid development of UAVs calls for evaluation of enlarging their performances, first in the freight and civil surveillance (forest, pipelines …) domains. Their inclusion in civilian traffic will become mandatory soon. Remember that, one-year ago, Boeing has announced the development of a project concerning UAV for freight transportation between the East and West coasts. FAA has announced studies about fully automatic flight control, both from ground centres and from aircraft systems (extension of free flight).
The object of the symposium is to open discussions on theses subjects in order to optimise the developments of automation both on aircraft and traffic control centres. Full automation is not the prime objective of the discussion. However, it could be a conclusion. If so, the transient period in which fully and non-fully automatic planes will co-exist in fully and non-fully automatic airspace should be considered; it will be certainly a long period.
Air transportation has provoked important developments in Europe's infrastructure. It has contributed massively to the economies of Europe and the wealth of a number of its regions; it employs a huge workforce (more than one million jobs depend directly or indirectly) and offers an easy mobility, contributes strongly to Europe's ability to develop the quality of life of its citizens.
The evolution in systems automation in the past fifty years has stemmed from a growing demand and the twin ambitions to maintain the safety rate whilst improving performance. Transport systems, especially commercial aviation, require some of the greatest demands on safety levels. Automation of the system may have a favourable impact on environmental and societal issues.
It is urgent to organise a symposium for exchanging viewpoints on the development of air transportation system within an optimisation model: the TOULOUSE, FRANCE, site seems to be a suitable one.
The conference will be organized by the Académie Nationale de l'Air et de l'Espace in the second half of 2005. TOULOUSE is by now the favourite location.
|
| |
|
EXPECTED RESULTS |
|
|
|
| |
The conference expected results are exchanges of prospective ideas, which could lead either to a cycle of conferences or a thematic network on the issue or both.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Links 
