Considerations for Facility Consolidation ATC Guild, New Delhi, India October 21, 2010 Mimi Dobbs
Overview Why consider consolidation? Co location vs Consolidation Consolidating Methodologies Areas to consider Complexity of Airspace redesign 2
Why Consider Consolidation? Potential for more efficient operation Simplified coordination and communication Internal External Fewer operational positions can be achieved through the airspace redesign Better Service to airspace users Simplified Air Traffic Management processes 3
Benefits of Consolidation Single physical facility to manage and operate Personnel efficiencies controller staffing, automation systems staffing administration and facility support personnel One ATC support infrastructure Automation/Communication Replacement of aging infrastructure Improved employee working conditions More efficient collaboration with customer community 4
Co location Facilities and personnel at a common location without integrating ATC functions Business as usual No operational Benefit Training is minimized Ease transition to new facility 5
Co location Methodology Simplest form of transition from two facilities to one Airspace redesign is not considered Number of operational positions and support equipment is based on current floor plan New ACC Facility ACC 1 ACC 1 Airspace ACC 2 ACC 2 Airspace 6
Consolidation Combine and integrate the airspace, personnel, functions, and equipment of separate facilities into a single operations complex Improved airspace redesign potential Service enhancements to the customer Design airspace around traffic flows and functions Eliminates artificial barriers to effective airspace design Facilitates modernization of the air traffic services Improves coordination between operational positions Potential to manage higher number of traffic with current level of operational positions and total staffing required 7
Consolidation Methodology (1 of 3) Need to determine number of operational positions for building design Need to perform detailed airspace analysis Design airspace boundaries for traffic flows and better service Determine automation systems to support coordination and communication changes ACC 1 New ACC Facility Merged ACC ACC 2 8
Consolidation Methodology (2 of 3) Review operational procedures and determine the key operational services provided by the transferring facility How is the service currently being provided How is information shared (manual or automated methods) Will relocation affect how this information is shared? How might operational issues associated with relocation be addressed? Characterization of airspace Airspace Class Overflight, arrival, departure Special use 9
Radar coverage Consolidation Methodology (3 of 3) What type of coverage is available Identify areas of surveillance and non-surveillance Identify areas with radar coverage sufficient for 3 nm separation Characterization of traffic Percentage of traffic shared between operational positions Traffic Density/Flow Identification Function mix (climbing, descending, cruise) Routes are not changed; airspace boundary changes to accommodate dominant flows 10
Consolidation Area of Specialization Types After airspace is defined, ACC positions may be divided into areas of specialization based on operational criteria Areas of specialization make up sectors that manage related flows/functions Flow Based Areas of specialized are based on primary flows to and from a major airport Layer Based - Areas of specialization are based on altitude layers from the surface to the upper vertical limit of the facility Function Based Areas of specialization are based on the function being performed in a specific volume of airspace Airport Based Areas of specialization are based on a specific (primary) airport or airports (satellite) Facility Based Areas of specialization are based on one or another facility if several facilities are being consolidated into a single facility
Floor Layouts Operational Concept Floor plan is designed to increase controller productivity, facilitate information flow, and decrease controller workload Including dynamic airspace configurations will allow flexibility in adverse weather scenarios and are managed internally Traffic Management function provides operational oversight from a centralized position within the operations area Control positions should be established in a manner that enhances situational awareness and controller productivity in a single-facility Coordination and movement of traffic is better managed in this environment Accommodate major flows and flow interactions Control positions with shared traffic are in close proximity Airspace design avoids boundaries on flow interactions
SMS Applies to all Aspects of ATC and Navigation Services 13
Recommendations We must continue to reinvent our operational concept to ensure it is fully optimized and safe. Plans should remain fluid and well coordinated with the systems stakeholders. Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) saves investment $ s and ensures a higher degree of implementation success. No one person or entity has all the answers. We collectively, together have much to learn from each other.
It is not appropriate or safe to alter one portion of the aviation system without regard for the whole.
Questions