Background
Due to the recovered growth in air transport, airport capacity is expected to become the major bottleneck in the near future. The Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) project EMMA2, the consequent successor project of EMMA, aims to become the most significant Research and Development (R&D) contribution to the Vision 2020 goals in its A-SMGCS subject in the 2006 to 2008 timeframe by maturing and validating the A-SMGCS concept as an integrated air-ground system, seamlessly embedded in the overall Air Traffic Management (ATM) system. In a two-phase approach, EMMA first has consolidated the surveillance and conflict alert functions, and EMMA2 will focus now on advanced onboard guidance support to pilots and planning support to controllers.
Project Objectives
The main objectives of EMMA2 are the consolidation of higher A-SMGCS functions in the operational environment. Build upon the harmonised level 1 & 2 ground movement assistance tools and procedures further functions will be realised and validated. The focus of EMMA2 will be
Within EMMA2 these functions will be developed at least as prototypes, the adequate operational procedures will be worked out and as far as possible the modular system will be validated in an operational environment. Stepping ahead from current Level 1&2 A-SMGCS towards these higher levels, further constraints will be taken into account and further applications become possible to get the full A-SMGCS benefit. The project results shall feed the relevant documents of international organisations involved in the specification of A-SMGCS (ICAO, EUROCAE, EUROCONTROL) and so should be mandatory for all future implementations.
Description of the work
In order to meet the objectives mentioned above, installations at international airports and in test & airline aircraft are promoted and used. Building upon the previous work (e.g. EMMA, EUROCONTROL Airport Operational Panel (AOP)) the harmonised concepts of operations will be applied and validated thanks to functional and operational testing under real operational conditions. Active participation of licensed controllers and pilots from different countries are mandatory. Finally the Integrated Project EMMA2 will lead to comprehensive results which will support the regulation and standardisation bodies as well as the industry in early and efficient implementation of A-SMGCS worldwide. Validation is split into two test phases to ensure an iterative process and provide the chance to build up a full level A-SMGCS. Licensed controllers and pilots as well as simulators, aircraft and ground vehicles will be involved in testing in order to gain realistic results. Controllers and pilots will be trained in simulation and on-site to prepare them to cope with a full A-SMGCS under real operational conditions.
EMMA2 is organised equivalent to the predecessor EMMA in six different sub-projects, which will be co-ordinated by six different partners. There are four vertical development sub-projects, three being dedicated to the development of ground systems for the three test sites and the fourth one being dedicated to onboard systems. These four sub-projects are autonomous and independent. This organisation was used to minimise frictional losses to give the partners involved the chance to use their own existing systems. However, these four sub-projects are inter-linked with the sub-projects 'concept' and 'validation' to guarantee that different systems are based on a common A-SMGCS interoperable air-ground co-operation concept and validated with the same criteria. This structure is surrounded by the overall management and a user forum, which is used as a 'speakers' corner' or as an interface to the project for additional users or other interested stakeholders.
Expected results
At the end of EMMA2 the relevant concept documents will be updated by the results and experiences gained. Furthermore, recommendations will be issued that directly feed the A-SMGCS standardisation bodies.
Therefore the EMMA2 cornerstones are:
4 European Testsites
Information Material on EMMA2
EMMA2 Video
1. DLR -- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (Koordinator) 2. AENA -- Aeropuortos Espanoles y Navegacion Aerea (EPE) 3. AI -- Airbus France 4. ANS -- Air Navigation Service of Czech Republic 5. AUEB -- Research centre of the Athens University of Economics 6. CSL -- Prague Airport. 7. DAS -- Diehl Aerospace 8. DFS -- Deutsche Flugsicherung 9. DSNA -- Direction des services de la navigation aérienne 10. ENAV -- Italien Company for Air Navigation Services 11. ERA -- Radar Technologie 12. ETG -- Euro Telematik AG (Funkwerk) 13. Eurocontrol -- European Organisation for Safety of Air Navigation 14. NLR -- Nationaal Lucht- en Ruimtevaartlaboratorium 15. PAS -- Park Air Systems 16. SELEX -- System Integration 17. SICTA -- Consorzio Sicta 18. SOF -- Egis Avia 19. THAS -- Thales Air Systems 20. THAS -- Thales Aerospace 21. TUD -- Technische Universität Darmstadt