Controller Support for Time-Based Surface Management

This paper reports first results from a workshop to assess the feasibility of a new method of tool-supported timebased surface management. Using high-fidelity human-in-theloop simulations, ground controllers had to manage traffic in adherence to time-based surface trajectories while being supported by a surface management system prototype and a departure management system prototype. Controller feedback was gathered and compared to a baseline with standard operational procedures and without any decision support system. It was found that a considerable amount of comments were favorable to the presented concept of time-based surface management and the surface management system ́s prototype human-machine-interface. Especially the presentation of planned routes was appreciated. However, a higher stability and reliability of optimized surface management plans, higher safety margins and less replanning at short notice were requested. Furthermore, possibilities to set additional remarks at the aircraft ́s label and a more intuitive display of advisories were desired. Keywords-surface management, time-based, controller, prototype, feasibility, workshop, HITL, TRACC, CADEO, SMAN, DMAN, ATS360