26/11-08   -   Press releases

Inter Airport China 2008: Delair and DFS present A-CDM in China

The ATM system supplier Delair Air Traffic Systems GmbH and the German air navigation service provider DFS present their advanced collaborative decision-making (A-CDM) product suite at the German pavilion (hall 8 b, stand 524) at the Inter Airport exhibition from 2 to 4 December in Beijing, China. The platform comprises solutions for the optimisation and harmonisation of air traffic operations at and around airports. Part of the A-CDM is the cooperative arrival and departure manager “darts 4D". In addition, the multi-radar and air situation data processing and display system “Phoenix" will be demonstrated at the stand.

The A-CDM product suite
The A-CDM platform connects existing systems at an airport with the applications in use. An essential part of the A-CDM platform is the so-called harmonisation module, which merges the data that is received by the different interfaces into one data set providing each module with a consistent set of data.

With the “darts 4D" system, air traffic tower controllers can precisely plan and control arrival and departure traffic and thus reduce staggering times and optimally use runway capacities. Based on flight plans, radar and weather data the controllers are provided with an optimum sequence of arrivals and departures plus the corresponding departure and arrival times.

In addition, the A-CDM product suite comprises the resource management system “sally" for the use of stands, gates, check-in, counters and baggage belts as well as the electronic flight strip system “focus". The different systems can be added or modified individually.

With the A-CDM product suite, existing capacities can be more efficiently used and delays can be reduced. Less holding patterns, shorter taxi times before departure and optimised procedures result in reduced fuel consumption, less noise pollution and emissions and thus save costs for the parties concerned.

A-CDM as an operational process
However, the systems are just the basis for an effective collaborative decision- making process at an airport. The main challenge is to create common processes between air traffic management, airline, ground handling, air traffic flow management and airports. Together with the international Munich airport, DFS has introduced and implemented such an operational process at Munich airport. It is the first existing process that is in accordance with Eurocontrol and the Central Flow Management Unit’s message dialogue.

“The result is a harmonised traffic flow from which all parties involved can benefit – airport providers, carriers, passengers and even residents through noise reduction. Existing capacities can be optimally used, the turnaround can be optimised and costs can be considerably reduced", says Stefan Lentz, Director of Aeronautical Solutions at DFS, who is responsible for consulting solutions at DFS.

The German air navigation service provider DFS, which has been advising organisations from all over the world in air traffic management matters and training provision, and Delair as system supplier complement each other and work together in this area.

The radar system "Phoenix"
The multi-radar and air situation data processing and display system “Phoenix" is Linux-based and runs on a single laptop as well as in a network with more than 120 clients. It is implemented at more than 16 international and 10 regional airports in Germany. The system is also used as a fallback radar system at DFS control centres as well as by the Portuguese air navigation service provider NAV Portugal in the Lisbon control centre.




For more information please contact:
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, Nanda Geelvink, Phone: +49 (0)6103 707-1308, Fax: +49 (0)6103 707-1395, E-mail: Nanda.Geelvink@dfs.de

Delair Air Traffic Systems GmbH, Martin Wiesner, Phone: +49 (0)531 21536-12, Fax: +49 (0)531 21536-19, E-mail: martin.wiesner@delair.de