CM-0200-B — Flight-centric ATC in Non-Geographically-Constrained, Low and Medium complexity environments

In Low and Medium complexity environments above a certain Altitude / Flight Level, depending on local organization and applicable working methods, non-geographical flight-centric method of ATC could be applied. A flight (trajectory) remains under the control of the same ATCO throughout the whole, or a significant part of its route segment, within the designated Airspace (e.g. sector family as defined in 4.2 S2 DOD).
A number of flights are assigned to an ATCO, unconstrained by geographical location, sector or national boundaries including in full Free Routing environment, where ATC operations became less dependent to structured route organisation and much more on flight monitoring, conflict detection and resolution tools. The systems will allow distribution of Flight related workload between controllers in the same airspace entity, e.g. ATSU, on the basis of 'next-suitable controller', i.e. each new flight entry within the ATSU will be considered against the existing ATCO workloads.

Advanced, workload prediction, conflict detection and resolution tools are needed for the effective distribution of trajectories, reducing the number of potential conflicts through Extended ATC Planning and for assisting the ATCOs in resolving conflicting situations when they occur. Since the working method is quite unique, it will require completely new approach to HMI which is traditionally based on geographically organised operations. In addition, new procedures for handling the transition between different modes of ATC operations have to be put in place.