A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/663490
anything, ever! For any questions or problems with registration, please contact Grace Colby, NATCA Executive Administrative Assistant: (202) 220 - 9829, gcolby@natcadc.org . SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT COLLABORATIVE DECISION MAKING (CDM): Ron Foley (ZOB) is the Arti cle 48 Representative for CDM. Below is a report from Tony Smith (DCC) who is the NATCA Representative to the Flow Evaluation Team (FET). • CDM/FET meeting at NASA Ames 3/24 - 25/16 o The CDM/FET subgroup met in Mountain View, California at NASA Ames Facility to perform HITL testing on the usage of CTOP, RTA (Required Time of Arrival), and TBFM interaction. The gro up met in various co mbinations throughout the week. These extensive HITL's utilized a team of about two dozen to perform the functions of the Command Center, three ARTCCs, Airline AOCs/dispatchers and pilots. The purpose of these HITLs was to introduce com plicating factors into the previous "clean" runs. With these scenarios we had variable compliance on release times, routing changes, AAR changes, and winds aloft. We did not get to add weather reroutes into the mix this time , but it will be in future HITL s . o A few of the challenges Mr. Smith sees after witnessing the HITL tests is the introduction of uncertainty into the operation w here it does not exist today. The use of an RTA to be backed up with the f iled ETA to get a "soft" EDCT. A flight taking off lat e trying to make up time to hit the RTA could encounter a similar flight that took off on the early side and is flying slow to meet their RTA. Mr. Smith stressed the need for the controller to know at all times what the flights are doing so we don't set ourselves up for failure and unnecessary deals. Controller workload is another concern. The need to pay additional attention to the flights participating in the RTA's I see as potentially problematic. Certainly introducing a new tool or procedure that incr eases our workload is not going to be embraced by the contr ollers. • It was enlightening to see the level of detail and preparation NAS A/Ames dedicated to this HITL. The concept of integrating a CTOP (or GDP/AFP) with a RTA to the TBFM freeze horizons has gr eat potential for greater efficiencies and should contin ue to be worked and pursued. We need to be firm in our protection of ou r workforce in these concepts. o Mr. Smith told the group multiple times that having a "mystery speed" is not acceptable to the con trollers. He believes there are ways this can work with established (or new) procedures, but with their focus right now on just proving the concept, we need to make sure our concerns are recorded and get addressed. • The Spring CDM meeting will be April 18 - 2 0, 2016 at American Airlines. The FET subgroup will fly in on Monday 4/18 and meet for a half day. We will have a full