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Modernizing Air Traffic with MFF Programme - European Consortium's Revolutionary Approach

In an effort to cope with the escalating air traffic demands by 2020, the MFF Programme brings together a consortium of experts from 9 countries to revolutionize Air Traffic Management through the development and validation of Free Route and ASAS applications in the Mediterranean airspace. This pre-operational program aims to define operational capabilities, quantify benefits, and evaluate Human Factors and technological aspects to enhance efficiency and safety while reducing delays and improving airspace management. The MFF Programme collaborates closely with military authorities and parallel projects to ensure comprehensive airspace user autonomy and delegation of separation responsibilities from ground to air, leading to improved flight efficiency, reduced workloads, and economic growth in the Mediterranean region. By validating ASAS applications and implementing innovative CNS/ATM infrastructure, the MFF Programme sets the stage for the future of air traffic control in Europe.

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Modernizing Air Traffic with MFF Programme - European Consortium's Revolutionary Approach

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  1. WHY MFF • Where we were ! • 6 years ago • Big delays • Disrupted schedules • Industry losing millions • If we want an ATM system capable to safely, efficiently and cost effectively satisfy a doubling of traffic by 2020 • We can’t do it with conventional thinking • We need a radical change

  2. MFF Programme - Consortium • MFF is a five-year programme co-funded by the European Commission DG TREN within the TEN-T Framework • Experts from 9 countries with different cultural backgrounds participated in the programme: • ENAV (Italy – Project Management) • AENA (Spain) • DSNA (France) • HCAA (Greece) • LFV (Sweden) • MATS (Malta) • NERL (United Kingdom) • NLR (Netherlands) • EUROCONTROL

  3. MFF Programme - Overview • MFF is a pre-operational programme aimed at defining, testing and validating Free Route (FR) and ASAS applications and procedures within en-route scenarios in Free Flight airspace (FFAS) and Managed Airspace (MAS) as well as the transition between the two • In particular, MFF simulations and trials aim to: • Demonstrate the operational capabilities and define relevant procedures for the most promising Free Route and ASAS applications; • Demonstrate and quantify the operational benefits; • Analyse the relevant Human Factors aspects; • Perform evaluations related to the CNS/ATM technologies enabling the introduction of (FR) and ASAS applications in the Mediterranean area; • Define the guidelines and requirements for the implementation of the above applications in suitable areas of the Mediterranean airspace.

  4. MFF operational requirements and procedures Technological framework - Operational Scenario Simulation Trials - (Integrated ATM simulator prototype) Flight Trials (“Autonomous Aircraft” Platform) Operational Benefits and Safety Case Validation Release of end results MFF Programme - Organisation

  5. MFF Programme – Operational Scenario • Mediterranean airspace is a transition area between Core Area (high density traffic and good CNS infrastructure) and North African airspace (low density and poor CNS infrastructure) • North African airspace could benefit from an early evolution towards Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) and Airborne Separation Assurance System (ASAS) operations • A complete ADS-B network to support ASAS operations was provided by ADS-MEDUP programme.

  6. MFF Programme – MEDUP ADS-B Network

  7. MFF Programme - Co-operation • Close co-ordination with the military authorities to take onboard the military requirements and constraints while developing the programme Military experts provided support and/or took part in the main experiments performed (e.g. MBS, RTS, Flight Trials) • Participation in the definition of ASAS Package 1 • Cross-fertilization from and to parallel related projects (e.g. AFAS, MA-AFAS, CoSpace, CARE_ASAS, NUP, SEAP) and standardisation fora (e.g. Requirements Focus Group) were assured

  8. Airspace User Autonomy - Degree of Delegation Today Future ? Centralised Control (GROUND) Coordinated Control (GROUND/AIR) Autonomous Aircraft (AIR) ATM Scenario Evolution

  9. MFF Programme – ASAS Applications • 5 ASAS Applications were identified, each of which representing steps towards the implementation of ASAS Self Separation (Free Flight) • This classification allows for a progression of delegation from ground to air of separation assurance responsibility

  10. MFF Programme – Results by Application DEGREE OF DELEGATION ASAS SPACING ASAS SEPARATION ASAS SELF-SEPARATION FREE ROUTING FF Airspace Managed Airspace

  11. MFF Programme – Expected Benefits • Improvement of flight efficiency by allowing the use of preferred trajectories and reducing ATC delays. Analysis shows that quite significant fuel savings will be obtained • Elimination of bottlenecks by establishing new more direct, conflict free routes to\from Europe towards Africa and Middle East • Reduction of ATCOs workload • The use of the MFF programme results as guidance for the deployment of improved and more cost effective CNS/ATM infrastructure/facilities wherever beneficial or necessary, may support economic growth and mobility in the Mediterranean area

  12. MFF Programme – Validation Activities • 9 Model Based Simulations • 9 Real Time Simulations • 135 hours in aircraft simulators • 240 hours of Flight Trials using the MEDUP infrastructure and properly equipped aircraft (transponders plus CDTI with ASAS functions) • Validation was performed by addressing 8 different objectives ranging from pilot and controllers acceptance, safety, military aspects, economic benefits, environmental impact and future capacity gains • VDL Mode 4 proven adequate for ADS-B & TIS-B and compliant with ADS-B requirements

  13. MFF Programme – The Way Forward • MFF validated main ASAS applications whose implementation ranges from mid to long term (Free Flight) • MFF results are expected to provide significant contribution to the definition phase of the SESAR Programme with special focus on ADS-B/ASAS • The participation of several Mediterranean ANSPs in MFF paved the way to ADS-B/ASAS buy-in

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