Frequentis discuss bridging the air traffic capacity gap

Capacity challenge

By 2040, air traffic in Europe is expected to reach 16 million flights. Current capacity expansion plans are not sufficient and will leave a predicted 16 per cent of flights without the capacity to support them. To solve capacity problems within airports’ existing limits the density of air traffic must be increased. However, managing the increasing number of flights with the same workforce increases the pressure of achieving timely and accurate air traffic control (ATC), as well as increasing the complexity for controllers.

Rising air traffic volume is adding to controllers’ workloads, as they manage multiple workflows across distinct systems for visualisation, surveillance, flight data handling, information, control, and voice communication. As the workload increases and the number of different screens grow, it becomes more challenging for controllers to manage operations efficiently and maintain a clear mental situation picture. Adding more staff to manage increasing traffic is not usually an option due to cost constraints, which includes the expenditure for refitting an entire control room to add additional controller working positions.

To continue increasing capacity, organisations need to provide a more tightly integrated working environment for controllers. To manage new demands within constrained budgets while continuously improving safety and compliance, the industry needs to introduce more scalable approaches to ATC. By deploying highly integrated workflows across a united set of solutions for monitoring and managing traffic, ATC organisations can increase capacity and efficiency — enabling them to handle more complex operations with their existing workforce.

Time for change

Controllers entering the workforce are accustomed to intuitive and highly flexible user interfaces. In the typical ATC tower today, users must navigate between multiple disconnected solutions, rekeying data and manually stepping through the stages of complex memorised workflows. Controllers expect to be able to switch from one mission to another rapidly and seamlessly, which is typically challenging within the rigid constraints of legacy working positions. Instead, ATC organisations should link all functional elements via an integration layer, enabling the creation of fully or semi-automated workflows that support the controller in determining the next action. By helping controllers to continue to maintain a clear mental picture of the current situation, they can work more efficiently and effectively, focusing on what they want to achieve and fully exploiting their skills and experience. 

Working smarter

To help controllers focus on the right elements at the right time, the integrated controller working position of the future should provide all required systems, including voice communication, within a compact, highly visual interface that promotes a ‘clean desk’ philosophy. The operator’s precise role should determine which modules are made available to them — rather than taking a one size fits all approach, it should be possible to reduce complexity. Users should be able to rearrange interface elements to fit their preferred ways of working, creating an intuitive environment across just one or two screens for greater situational awareness and safer, more efficient operations.

By deploying an integrated controller working position solution, ATC organisations can bring all essential information and controls into a single, operator focused interface. Choosing a modular solution will help ensure scalability from small use cases such as remote towers right up to large airports. With the availability of solutions that integrate voice communication alongside ATC specific functions, organisations can free controllers from switching between multiple systems, helping them focus fully on safety while guiding traffic efficiently.