AOP16 — Guidance assistance through airfield ground lighting
Guidance assistance through airfield ground lighting (AGL) is intended for controllers, flight crews and vehicle drivers. It corresponds to the A-SMGCS Guidance function foreseen in ICAO’s A-SMGCS Manual (Doc. 9830). It links aerodrome lighting infrastructure with the taxi route management system (Routing & Planning), thus providing an unambiguous route for the taxiing aircraft/vehicle to follow.
To achieve this, taxiway centre line lights are automatically and progressively activated (switched on to green), either in segments of several lights or individually, along the route cleared by the controller. If this cleared route includes a limit and if a physical stop bar exists at this point, this stop bar is also automatically activated (switched on to red) when the mobile nears it. The solution strongly relies on the surface movement surveillance system to provide accurate aircraft position data.
Taxi clearances given to aircraft and vehicles are input in the system by the controllers and, the flight crew or vehicle driver is instructed to follow the greens up to a given clearance limit.
The automation might also include the management of priorities at intersections, based on pre-defined criteria (e.g. aerodrome rules, speed or target times). However, controllers are able to override the guidance decisions, which shows activated lights on the HMI.
Implementation of the objective AOP13 (Automated Assistance to Controller for Surface Movement Planning and Routing) is a pre-requisite for this objective.
NOTE FOR MILITARY AUTHORITIES: It is the responsibility of each military authority to review this Objective IN ITS ENTIRETY and address each of the SLoAs that the military authority considers RELEVANT for itself. This has to be done on top and above of the review of "MIL" SLoAs which identify actions EXCLUSIVE to military authorities.
- Edition
- 2022
- Stakeholders
- Air Navigation Service Provider / Airport Operator / Airspace Users / International Organisations and Regional Bodies
- Type
- SESAR
- Scope
- Local/Airport
- Status
- Active
Applicability Area(s) and Timescales
- Applicability Area:
-
(Subject to local need)
| Timescales | From | By | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOC used for Analytics functioning only - not for implementation planning | 31-05-2019 | — | Applicability Area |
| FOC used for Analytics functioning only - not for implementation planning | — | 01-01-2030 | Applicability Area |
Links to ATM Master Plan Level 2
Operational Improvment Steps
| Code | Title | IOC | FOC | Related Elements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AO-0222-A | Enhanced Guidance Assistance to mobiles based on the automated switching of Taxiway lights and Stop bars according to the 'Airfield Ground Lighting' operational service | 31-03-2022 | 31-12-2027 |
     |
Links to SESAR Solutions
| Code | Title | Program | Related Elements | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #47 | Guidance Assistance through Airfield Ground Lighting | SESAR1 |
 |
Analysis |
Links to PCP ATM Sub-FunctionalitiesExpected Performance Benefits
- Safety
- Increase of situational awareness from pilots perspectives. Reduction of unplanned / unwanted taxi route deviations. Significantly lower runway incursion risk
- Capacity
- Reduction of controller workload (radio communication / instructions) will have a positive impact on the capacity of the airport’s ground movement system in particular at the aerodromes with multiple complex taxiways system and large manoeuvring area
- Operational efficiency
- Significant reduction in taxi time in both good and low visibility conditions. The reduction is strongly dependent of local conditions and will therefore differ per airport. The variability of taxi times (for the same combination of used parking position and runway) might be reduced
- Cost efficiency
- Identified by local business cases
- Environment
- Fewer speed changes as also reduce the number of stops along routes between runway and parking position (and vice versa). This reduces the fuel burn for taxiing both in good and low visibility conditions, although the benefits have been shown to be larger during low visibility
- Security
- Not identified
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| AOP16 | 20190531_20300101 | |
| ASP01 | ||
| ASP02 | ||
| ASP03 | ||
| ASP04 | ||
| ASP05 | ||
| APO01 | ||
| APO02 | ||
| APO03 | ||
| APO04 | ||
| USE01 | ||
| USE02 | ||
| INT01 | ||
| INT02 |
Supporting Material
| Title | Related SLoAs |
|---|---|
|
EUROCAE - ED-87E - MASPS for A-SMGCS including Airport Safety Support Service Routing Service and Guidance Service - April 2022 / 04/2022 |
ASP01, ASP02, ASP03, ASP04 |
|
EUROCONTROL - SPEC-171 - EUROCONTROL Specification for Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) Services - Edition 2.0 / 04/2020 https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/eurocontrol-specification-smgcs-services |
APO02, APO03, APO04, ASP01, ASP02, ASP03, ASP04, ASP05, USE01, USE02 |
|
ICAO - Deliverable of SLoA INT01, ICAO PANS ATM Amendment. |
APO03, APO04, ASP02, ASP03, ASP04, INT01, USE02 |
|
SJU - SESAR Solution 47: Data Pack for Guidance assistance through airfield ground lighting https://www.sesarju.eu/sesar-solutions/guidance-assistance-through-airfield-ground-lighting |
APO02, APO03, APO04, ASP01, ASP02, ASP03, ASP04, ASP05, INT01, INT02, USE01, USE02 |