GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The SESAR 3 JU has identified the following innovative research elements that could be used to meet the challenge described above and achieve the expected outcomes.

• Moving from magnetic to geographical bearings. This research element aims at moving from magnetic to geographical bearings. The objective is to investigate the operational aspects and potential impact on different actors e.g., airspace users, pilots, ATCOs, procedure design, aerodrome operator, etc.
• Autonomous runway inspections and surveys. Research aims at addressing technical and operational aspects related to autonomous runway inspections and surveys (e.g., laser scans, cameras, drones, etc.) for assessing runway conditions under the EU Global Reporting Format. The scope covers foreign object or debris (FOD) detection, inspection of runway (RWY) aids, etc. Research shall address the impact on the aerodrome operations e.g., performance aspects (R&I need: runway use optimisation through integrated use of arrival and departure TBS tools).
• Review separation principles at and around airports (risks analysis vs. separation standards). Research aims at reviewing the principles of minimal runway separation for both independent and dependent operations and developing potential solutions to minimise separation through automation. The research element aims at building a minimum acceptable safety model based on the probability of collision and taking account of geometry, relative speed, ground and airborne systems capabilities, adherence to a planned trajectory, etc. The objective is to increase capacity by safely placing aircraft closer together and to make a better use of available infrastructure.
• Automated ATC in airports operations. Research aims at developing and validating operational concepts for higher levels of automation in airport operations (levels 4 and 5 as per the ATM Master Plan).
• Safety, ethical and liability challenges of increased automation. Research aims at investigating the safety, ethical and liability challenges associated with increased autonomy and automation level in air traffic management (ATM).
• Models and theories of behaviour change. Research is needed to understand and manage the impact of system changes on human performance and workload in the long term.
• ATCOs up-skilling, reskilling and de-skilling in the face of new technologies. Research aims at analysing the potential of these new technologies to disrupt established patterns in coordinated activity between ATCOs’ and between ATCOs’ and flight crews.
• Innovative ways to present traffic to ATCOs. Research aims at exploring innovative ways to present the traffic to the ATCOs, so that the flight representation on the screen does not necessarily imply their visualisation on the zenital view of a sector.