1. AIDC safety benefits & limitations
AIDC Implementation Seminar
28th – 31st October 2014
Adam Watkin
Airservices Australia

2. Introduction Implementation of AIDC Safety benefits
Presentation title
Introduction
Implementation of AIDC
Safety benefits
Data adaptation issues to consider
Limitations

3. Safety benefits Coordination errors - reduced
Coordinated data should be extracted automatically from flight data processing system
Coordination should occur automatically
Controller workload - reduced
Less reliance on intercom/phone lines
More time available to complete other tasks
Efficiency - increased
Controller can manage increased traffic levels
Support DARPs etc

4. Considerations – Adaptation data
What AIDC messages to send?
ABI, EST/ACP; or
ABI, CPL/ACP
What about ICD V3 messages such as TRU, FAN, FCN etc
Coordinating changes
CDN; or
Voice
Will AIDC hand offs be used?

5. Considerations – Adaptation data
When are AIDC messages sent?
Timing parameters
When does automation send AIDC messages?

6. Considerations – Adaptation data
Format of Field 14 (Estimate data) supported by neighbouring ATS Units
Block levels
Weather deviations and offsets
Mach Number Technique
Needs to be configurable per FIR

7. Considerations – Adaptation data
Content of Field 15 (Route) required by neighbouring ATS Units
full flight planned route; or
route information to commence at the waypoint preceding the coordination point
Should be configurable per FIR

8. Limitations
A benefit of AIDC is it’s automation. However, this can also be a disadvantage!
Controller is “out of the loop”
What information was coordinated?
Unintentional changes to profile (e.g. level) after coordination has occurred
Automatic updates to profile (e.g. estimates) without controller awareness (e.g. ADS-C estimate updates)

9. Limitations Processing AIDC messaging for short term FIR transits
Problems occur when ATSU2 attempts to send AIDC messages to ATSU1 for the entry to ATSU1’s FIR at DONLD, while aircraft is still under the control of ATSU 1
ATSU 2
ATSU 1
MINNY
DONLD

10. Limitations Duplicate & unknown waypoints, duplicate ATS routes
Cause problems for flight data processing systems
All waypoints and routes within the area of responsibility should be known and unambiguous
Truncation
A means to truncate (delete) unknown route information and allow downstream units to still accurately process AIDC messaging
Must be completed correctly
Don’t just delete unknown/duplicate waypoints or routes!

11. More information Adam Watkin Air Traffic Controller Brisbane Centre