1. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM

2. Digital AIM - Business Logic
Business need
The right digital information at the right time
Business
Based on Business Logic
Process
Based on Collaborating Services
Concept of Operations
Service
Exposes Data Collections
Digital NOTAM
Digital NOTAM is a piece of the Digital AIM puzzle. There is a business need for what we call “digital NOTAM”. Today, text messages called “NOtice To AirMen” are being send over the global teletype AFTN network, announcing sudden changes in facilities or conditions that may affect the safety or efficiency of the air navigation or air traffic services. This is increasingly incompatible with a system that depends on automated systems and requires correct and complete digital information. The “digital NOTAM” concept consists in replacing the free text NOTAM with structured information, accessible for automated processing.
To support this business need, we have to work essential at two levels of this diagram: we need a data model that defines the features required for digital NOTAM. This is in the IT layer of the diagram. We also need to define a concept of operations, applicable world-wide, that will ensure the origination, distribution and accessibility of the digital NOTAMs. The concept of operations include elements from all layers, but mostly from the process and service layers.
In this presentation, you will see that the effort has concentrated until now at the bottom layer of this diagram: I believe that a good model (complete, well documented, validated against the real-world data is key) is maybe the most important enabler of the new digital AIM world.
Interface
Exposes Data
Data
Defined by Data Model
AIXM 5

3. Content Current NOTAM The problem The solution Expected benefits
Implementation plans
EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial 2008

4. What is NOTAM (W4164/07 NOTAMN
Q) LIMM/QXXCS/IV/NBO/W /000/010/4547N01201E010
A) LIMM B) C) EST
E) AVIANO CTR.
REF AIP SUPPLEMENT S12/07 ADD A NEW ULTRA LIGHT MACHINES AREA WI
MILANO FIR (CTR AVIANO) AS FLW: LATERAL LIMITS: N E
455132N E N E N E N E
(SAN MARCO VOLO AREA).
VERTICAL LIMITS: GND-500FT AGL
PERIODS OF ACTIVITY: SAT AND HOL SR-SS
ACTIVITY SUBJECT TO: COORDINATION WITH AVIANO APP
AUTHORIZATION LIMIT: (AS SAN MARCO VOLO)
F) GND G) 500FT AGL)
A NOTAM is a message of change for airman, partially structured, mostly free text that announces the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.
We have an example here:
As you see, you need a bit of training to read them. Sometimes it’s really a riddle (enigma)…

5. NOTAM distribution
AFTN
NOTAM
PIB

6. The problem PIB Tendency in the NOTAM World ICAO region 2006 2000
Change in numbers
Change in %
Europe (L+E+B)
200,384
117,560
82,824
70%
Pacific (A+N+Y)
27,642
16,919
10,723
63%
Asia (R+V+W+Z)
47,624
30,452
17,172
56%
Russia + Central Asia (U)
3,817
10,220
6,403
168%
Africa (D+F+G+H)
17,981
12,242
5,739
47%
Mid Asia (O)
12,998
5,571
7,427
133%
North America (C+K+P)
120,441
78,897
41,544
53%
South + Central America (M+S+T)
41,518
25,614
15,904
62%
Total
478,808
291,073
187,735
65%
PIB
Tendency in the NOTAM World
Source: European AIS Database (EAD)

7. The problem
NOTAM increasingly inadequate for a system reliant on computers at every level!

8. The problem
(W4164/07 NOTAMN
Q) LIMM/QXXCS/IV/NBO/W /000/010/4547N01201E010
A) LIMM B) C) EST
E) AVIANO CTR.
REF AIP SUPPLEMENT S12/07 ADD A NEW ULTRA LIGHT MACHINES AREA WI
MILANO FIR (CTR AVIANO) AS FLW: LATERAL LIMITS: N E
455132N E N E N E N E
(SAN MARCO VOLO AREA).
VERTICAL LIMITS: GND-500FT AGL
PERIODS OF ACTIVITY: SAT AND HOL SR-SS
ACTIVITY SUBJECT TO: COORDINATION WITH AVIANO APP
AUTHORIZATION LIMIT: (AS SAN MARCO VOLO)
F) GND G) 500FT AGL)

9. The problem - impact on safety
ATIS
TWR
PIB
!?!
The Excel Airways incident at Manchester, UK, in 2006 is one such example, where digital NOTAM could enable safety improvements. Extracted from the incident investigation report (AAIB Report No: 3/2006. Report on the serious incident to Boeing N, G-XLAG, at Manchester Airport on 16 July,
“Runway 06L was in use but the flight crew were not aware that this runway was being operated at reduced length. This was due to work-in-progress to remove rubber deposits at the far end of the runway, which was out of sight from the 06L threshold end as the runway is built over a slight rise in the ground. Due to a difference in interpretation of information passed between Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the flight crew, the aircraft entered the runway from holding point AG, rather than the expected holding point A, and the takeoff was conducted using a reduced thrust setting calculated for the assumed normal runway length. As the aircraft passed the crest of the
runway, the flight crew became aware of vehicles at its far end but, as they were now close to their rotation speed, they continued and carried out a normal takeoff.”
“The crew of G-XLAG did not realise that Runway 06L was operating at reduced length due to work-in-progress at its far end, until their aircraft had accelerated to a speed approaching the rotate speed (VR), despite:
Being in possession of a NOTAM concerning the work-in-progress
The ATIS broadcast relating to the work-in-progress
ATC passing information on the takeoff distance available
At this point, the aircraft was approaching seven vehicles on the runway and was at a position which precluded an abort within the useable runway length remaining.”
Runway Profile

10. The problem - impact on safety
56 feet
The aircraft passed within 56 ft of a 14 ft high vehicle.
A similar incident took place recently in Nee Zeeland.

11. The problem - poor efficiency?
… I assume "before" the threshold rather than "beyond“ ?!…
… a crane 520 m in front of THR 24 …
Poor structured text information and English translation difficulties can also trigger misunderstandings, as shown by a discussion on AIS Agora ( the interactive Web forum for AIS professionals. (“Crane at Rotterdam”), where a native English speaker was asking for clarification with regard to the exact meaning of the words "520m in front of THR 24...".
AIP
NOTAM
AIP
NOTAM

12. The problem - lost capacity
“Hello Agorians!
Can one explain, how the ARC part of this restricted area should be built […]”
“Draw a circle with 75Km radius, on appropriate transparent paper and same scale as chart used.
Fit the circle on the chart in such a way as both points B and C (previously plotted on the chart) become part of the circle.
The geodesic (WGS84) distance between B and C is 94497,25m, this geodesic being a chord of the circle.”
(A0350/07 NOTAMN Q)VECF/QRDCA/IV/NBO/W /000/220/ A) VECF B) C) D) BTN DLY E) ARMY AIR DEFENCE COLLEGE WILL
CARRYOUT SEAWARD FRNG WI AREA BOUNDED BY COORDS:
A:191436N E B: N E
C: N E D: AN ARC OF 75KM RADIUS JOINING POINT B AND C
DURING THE PERIOD OF EXER ATS ROUTES A465 AND W90 ARE REALIGNED AS FLWS.
1. ATS ROUTE A465 NOT AVBL BTN KAKID AND VVZ VOR ALTN ROUTE KAKID- TRACK 251/071NM-BBS VOR-TRACK 242/062 DEG 072NM -MEPOL-TRACK 215/035 DEG 145NM-VVZ VOR (BIDIRECTIONAL)
2. ATS ROUTE W90 NOT AVBL BTN BBS VOR-VVZ VOR.
ALTN ROUTE BBS VOR-TRACK 242/062 DEG 072NM-MEPOL-TRACK 215/035 DEG 145NM-VVZ VOR (BIDIRECTIONAL) F) SFC G) F220)
“In such cases I would draw a huge circle around all points. If nobody can say for sure how this area is built, why should the guys firing the rockets be able to tell”…
“... there's an ambiguity: must I draw it convex (I think so!) or concave?”
“I think the times are over where we have to construct restricted areas geometrically on transparent paper, but being able to put it into some piece of software. So I think it is absolutely not practical to define an area like that […] you can interpret this in two different ways. This definition definitely misses the centre of the arc.”
This is another example of an ambiguous NOTAM that triggered some discussions on AIS Agora (
Quoting Mr. Felix HACKL (FLUGWERKZEUGE AVIATION SOFTWARE, Austria) on AIS Agora: “[…] I think the times are over where we have to construct restricted areas geometrically on transparent paper, but being able to put it into some piece of software. So I think it is absolutely not practical to define an area like that. Furthermore, as Melani already wrote, you can interpret this in two different ways. This definition definitely misses the centre of the arc. In such cases I would draw a huge circle around all points. If nobody can say for sure how this area is built, why should the guys firing the rockets be able to tell. ;-)”

13. Digital Aeronautical Information
The solution
Digital Aeronautical Information
Digital NOTAM (xNOTAM)

14. The solution Event Current NOTAM
“A notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.”
Digital NOTAM
aeronautical information update
Event
“A data set made available through digital services containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to systems and automated equipment used by personnel concerned with flight operations.”

15. The solution AIXM 5 – joint development effort EUROCONTROL - FAA
The implementation of the digital NOTAM concept is likely to start by The final proposed AIXM version 5 has been released on 10th of March 2008.

16. The solution AIXM 5 Components XSD UML www.aixm.aero
Temporality Concept

17. Expected benefits Gap Analysis ED-99A – AIXM
Validation of AIXM temporal model (xNOTAM)
Validation of results in real scenario in flight simulator
Use AIXM 5 message to announce temporary change
Visualise change information on cockpit display
“static” database
One such trials took place in 2006, in order to demonstrate the possibility of using digital NOTAM in AIXM format in order to update a moving map displayed in a cockpit simulator. The trial was run for EUROCONTROL by the Darmstadt University of Technology.
Such applications (EFB in general) raise the question how much information still needs to be communicated to the pilot in the pre-flight briefing phase and how much will be presented when necessary, by the systems on board. For example, closed taxiway or grass cutting at the destination airport, probably does not need to be notified in advance if the onboard system is able to display the information for awareness, during landing and taxiing. This might require some fundamental research, involving human factor experts.
xNOTAM
xNOTAM Decoder

18. Expected benefits Current text PIB
Mention the foundation that exists: integrated briefing; narrow route PIB displayed graphically from EAD;
Even more: a new “Digital Briefing” concept

19. Implementation plans Information Management Network
SESAR: The ATM Deployment Sequence
Information Management
[IS-0204] xNOTAM
Network
Trajectory management and automation
gradual implementation
part of SESAR
initial operating capability by for some data where there is an immediate operational need
who will provide the data:
Those who provide the NOTAM today;
foresee delegation for data origination as close as possible to the real source: airport manager, procedure designer, ATC, Airspace Management Cell, etc.
Airport

20. Implementation Plans
Technical and operational validation (2008 – 2009)
EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial
FAA Digital NOTAM Submission Project
etc.
AIXM 5.1
Incorporate all corrections/enhancements identified during validation phase
To be published by mid 2009
To be used for operational implementations

21. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial
To demonstrate the maturity of the “digital NOTAM” concept
based on AIXM version 5
Objectives:
Validate AIXM 5
encoding the information contained in NOTAM messages
temporality concept
Provide a proof of concept for a “digital NOTAM encoding application”
demonstrate to NOTAM operators
not intended for operational use or for production
test bed for human-machine interface ideas
Provide a significant amount of test xNOTAM data
to system developers

22. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

23. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial
Participants
Test Data Providers
NOTAM Offices from
Test Data Users
(starting 10 March)
Belgium
Czech Republic
Egypt
France
Iceland
Netherlands Military
Poland
Romania
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Switzerland
United States Air Force (USAF)
AENA
Comsoft
Frequentis
GWDI
Jeppesen
Luciad
SkyJob EFB
TheNetFirm
EAG
NLR

24. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial
The next few slides contain screenshots from the Trial Application. The slides are just for backup, we will try a live demo …

25. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

26. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

27. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

28. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

29. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

30. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

31. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

32. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial

33. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial
Finally, this is the most important slide because it shows the XML structured information from the NOTAM.

34. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial
Interested to become test user? See

35. EUROCONTROL xNOTAM Trial
xNOTAM Trial - Wiki

36. Conclusion Business Based on Business Logic Process
Business need
The right digital information at the right time
Business
Based on Business Logic
Process
Based on Collaborating Services
Concept of Operations
Service
Exposes Data Collections
Digital NOTAM
safety increase
efficiency increase
capacity gain (enabler)
In summary, Digital NOTAM can provide
Increased safety - enable temporary and last minute information to be rapidly accessible and usable by the computers, therefore increasing the safety of the ATM system
Increased efficiency – eliminate human interpretation and translation
Increased capacity (enabler) – poor information quality (in its broadest sense) often results in the extension of protection volumes and surfaces, with the consequent loss of capacity
Operational implementation is expected to start in Europe and United States by 2011, with the rest of the world following at different speeds. Certainly, the implementation of digital NOTAM requires a global approach and we are working in this direction.
If you have a brilliant idea of how this structured information could be used for your products or services, please do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible. We would be welcome to have you joining the Trial as test users.
Interface
Exposes Data
Implementation:
Data
Defined by Data Model
AIXM 5