Air Traffic Management Concept Baseline Definition - The Boeing ...

A key concept in the definition of future ATM systems is that of Required Monitoring
Performance (RMP). The term ‘Monitoring Performance’ refers to capabilities of an
airspace user to monitor other users and be monitored by other users to a level sufficient
for participation of the user in specified strategic and tactical operations requiring
surveillance, conflict assessment, separation assurance, conformance, and/or collision
avoidance functions. RMP is intended to characterize aircraft path prediction capability
and received accuracy, integrity, continuity of service, and availability of a monitoring
system for a given volume of airspace and/or phase of operation.
Aircraft path prediction is a key function for airspace management and monitoring.
Aircraft path prediction capability is defined by a position uncertainty volume as a function
of prediction time over a specified look ahead interval. Monitoring integrity (assurance of
accurate, reliable information), where there is availability of service, must be defined
consistent with desired airspace operations. Continuity of service and availability also
must be defined consistent with desired airspace usage. Development of these concepts is
currently in progress by various standards organizations.
5.1.4.2 Surveillance System Objectives
Surveillance is a key function for airspace management and supports both tactical
separation assurance of aircraft and strategic planning of traffic flows. The primary
objective of the surveillance function is to support the following types of airspace
management functions:
• Short Term Separation Assurance
The surveillance function provides current aircraft state information on controller displays
and as inputs to separation automation functions, i.e. the short term Conflict Alert system
for detecting immediate path conflicts, and the Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW)
system for detecting potential flight into terrain. In addition, future automation functions
may require inputs for path lateral and vertical conformance monitoring and for automated
checking of path intent versus path clearances.
• Medium Term Separation Assurance
The surveillance function currently provides state information for sector-based airspace
planning and load management. In the future, additional automation functions such as
Medium Term (~ 20 min. lookahead) Conflict Probe may be used to detect and resolve
potential airspace conflicts, enhancing the productivity of ATC centers. These automation
functions will probably require enhanced surveillance in order to provide accurate and
reliable path predictions for medium term lookahead periods.
• Medium Term Airspace Planning
In the future, the surveillance function must support medium term flow planning and
airport arrival/departure management in congested hubs and other areas where traffic
loads can lead to flow inefficiencies and saturation of airspace throughput. Automation
tools such as the Center-TRACON Automation System (CTAS) arrival manager and
proposed dynamic sectorization tools will require higher levels of surveillance
performance if safety and capacity goals are to be achieved as traffic demand increases.
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