The DYNCAT project paved the way for more environmentally friendly and more predictable flight profiles in the TMA. The project’s access to all relevant data sources (on-board operational data, ATC instructions, noise measurement data, surrounding traffic and weather information) allowed to evaluate individual approach operations in their full context, exemplarily for the Airbus A320 at Zurich airport. Based on this critical analysis of the state of the art, highlighting the mismatch of aircraft and air traffic control procedures, improvements to on-board and ground operations were proposed. An operational concept was developed to support pilots and controllers through extended information exchange, thus increasing predictability of the lateral and vertical flight profiles for both sides. A central component is a novel airborne energy management assistance system including a configuration management functionality, comprising DYNCAT’s SESAR Solution and implemented through an extension of the Flight Management System (FMS) capabilities.
Piloted simulator trials on a fixed-base test bench were performed to evaluate the Solution’s effects not only on fuel burn and noise exposure levels but also on pilots’ workload and situational awareness. The present partial and initial implementation of the function for the Airbus A320 family shows significant ecological and economical potential while increasing predictability and supporting safety of the approaches. The technical evaluation is complemented by an extensive set of recommendations and an outlined roadmap for the implementation of DYNCAT in an operational environment.
The findings of the critical analysis, the developed concept and the positive evaluation of the new functionality have been extensively communicated to experts and the general public alike. Besides the project’s website www.dyncat.eu that provides all public deliverables, particpants' websites and social media channels promote the project to all interested parties. Six SESAR e-News articles and articles in corporate magazines addressed the ATM and pilot community. The project approach and results were disseminated at conferences such as SESAR Digital Academy, German Aerospace Congress (DLRK), International Conference on Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS), Towards Sustainable Aviation Summit (TSAS) and SESAR Innovation Days (SID) and in several journal papers. Three stakeholder workshops have taken place supporting concept development and system design, a final dissemination workshop for the expert public and press, and many targeted activities to potential customers, working groups, standardisation bodies and regulators.
Networking with other projects is an ongoing activity; the exchange between DYNCAT and PJ.01 will be further intensified in a successor industrial research activity to accelerate the cooperation and ensure continuation of the DYNCAT approach in SESAR 3. The findings from DYNCAT are also fed into the SESAR JU very large-scale demonstration, ALBATROSS, which is showcasing available solutions to make flying more energy efficient.
