Air Traffic Situational Awareness - ATSAW: Flight Operations Support & Services

Flight Operations Support & Services
Air Traffic Situational Awareness - ATSAW

Additional Material – In Trail Procedure
ATSAW ITP
Introduction ITP Criteria
ITP Terminology CPDLC Messages for ITP
ITP Geometries Examples
ITP Procedure ITP Operational

Recommendations
© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2011 All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.
Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 2

ITP Standardization
• DO-312 / ED-159: Safety, Performance and Interoperability

RTCA Requirements Document for ITP.
EUROCAE • Published in May 2008.
• ICAO PANS/ATM Amendment for ITP (not yet published).

• Draft initiated at ICAO Separation and Airspace Safety
ICAO Panel (SASP) meeting (October 2008).
• Some evolutions with regard to ED-159 required by ICAO
experts.
• AIRBUS ATSAW specification freeze: SEP 2008.

AIRBUS • AIRBUS ITP baseline is EUROCAE ED-159. The ITP
Baseline description in the following slides is compliant with the
version of this document published in May 2008.

ED-159 vs. ICAO Circular
Application of ITP criteria
+ 4 000 ft max
Desired FL
CRZ FL
= Other Aircraft = ITP Aircraft = Reference Aircraft
Limited to +/- 4 000 ft

FL Unlimited
to contain the longitudinal
separation reduction Change
Considered between current

Considered between current Blocking FL and +/- 2 000 ft
FL and +/- 4 000 ft Aircraft to contain the application of
temporarily reduced separation

Impacts and Way forward
• During ED-159 standardization exercise, FL changes

Unlimited FL beyond 4 000 ft are considered extremely rare.
Change • No operational impact with AIRBUS design.
• In some cases, ITP will be possible as per ED-159

Blocking whereas it is not as per ICAO Circular.

Aircraft within • ATC remains responsible for aircraft separations.
2 000 ft • Limited operational impact with AIRBUS design: ITP FL
change limited to +/- 3 000 ft.

ATSAW ITP

Recommendations

ITP Terminology
ITP Aircraft An aircraft that is:

Fully approved in terms of equipment, operator, and
flight crew qualification to conduct an ITP
Considering a flight level change.
Blocking Aircraft An aircraft that:

Is between the initial and desired flight levels
Blocks a standard procedural level change.
Reference Aircraft One or two blocking aircraft with valid ADS-B data that:
Meet the ITP criteria
Are identified to ATC by the ITP Aircraft as part of the
ITP clearance request.
Other Aircraft Aircraft that are not either the ITP Aircraft or the Reference
Aircraft.
ITP Criteria Criteria to be met before performing an ITP maneuver.

ITP Terminology – Climb Example
Procedural separation Procedural separation
ITP criteria ITP criteria
Desired FL
CRZ FL
In this example, with procedural longitudinal separation standards, the ITP Aircraft is not able
to climb because of Reference Aircraft as per ICAO PANS-ATM, Doc 4444.

Using ITP, the ITP Aircraft is able to climb provided that Reference Aircraft meet ITP criteria.
At the desired FL, the ITP Aircraft and Other Aircraft must be separated by procedural
longitudinal separation standards.

ITP Terminology
Ground Speed Difference of ground speed between the ITP aircraft and a
Differential Reference Aircraft. The ground speed differential is
positive when aircraft are getting closer.
ITP Distance Difference of distance to a common point along tracks of
ITP and Reference Aircraft. Refer to ICAO PANS-ATM,
Doc 4444, Chapter 5.

ITP Terminology
ITP Volume AIRBUS filtering volume for ITP function. Aircraft in the ITP
volume are Reference Aircraft.
Length: 2x 80 NM Width: 2x 20 NM
Height: Desired altitude change (4 000 ft max)
ITP Volume for an ITP

climb of 4 000 ft.

ITP Terminology
Same Direction Aircraft are on a same direction when the difference of

track angle is between – 45° and + 45°.

ATSAW ITP

Recommendations

ITP Geometries
Non exhaustive list. Refer to PANS ATM with ITP amendment.
1 – ITP Climb BEHIND 2 – ITP Climb AHEAD OF 3 – ITP Climb BEHIND/AHEAD OF

4 – ITP Descent BEHIND 5 – ITP Descent AHEAD OF 6 – ITP Descent BEHIND/AHEAD OF
= ITP Aircraft = Reference Aircraft

ATSAW ITP

Recommendations

ITP Procedure – Step by Step
Flight Crew Air Traffic Controller

1. Check that ITP criteria are met.
2. If ITP is possible, request ATC
clearance via CPDLC using ITP 3. Check that there are no
phraseology. blocking aircraft other than
Notes Reference Aircraft in the ITP
Step 9: If ITP criteria are not met any request.
longer, refuse ITP clearance. The ITP
procedure ends. 4. Check that ITP request is
Step 10: If aircraft is not able to applicable (i.e. standard
continue the ITP maneuver, apply request not sufficient) and
regional contingency procedures.
compliant with ITP
8. When ITP clearance is received, phraseology.
check that ITP criteria are still met. 5. Check that ITP criteria are met.
9. If ITP criteria are met, accept ITP 6. If all checks are positive, issue
clearance via CPDLC. ITP clearance via CPDLC.
10. Execute ITP clearance without delay.
11. Report established at the cleared FL.

ITP Procedure – Responsibilities
Flight Crew Air Traffic Controller

Compliance of aircraft and ATSAW Separation between ITP aircraft and
system performances with ITP all aircraft
criteria
Consistency of the Reference
Strict adherence to the ITP aircraft identification quoted in the
Procedure request with information available in
the ground system (i.e. the correct
• Normal compliance with TCAS
Aircraft IDs are used).
orders.
Ensuring that all blocking aircraft are
identified in the request
Consistency of the information

transmitted in the request with ITP
criteria (i.e the ITP distance must be
15 NM or more).

ATSAW ITP

Recommendations

ITP Criteria
Checked by
1. A maximum of two Reference Aircraft are identified before requesting ITP. ATSAW & ATC
2. Reference Aircraft must send qualified ADS-B data. ATSAW
3. The requested flight level must be within 4 000 ft from the initial flight level. ATSAW & ATC
The ITP distance and the positive ground speed differential must meet the
4.
criterion 4.a or 4.b below:
4.a ITP distance 15 NM at least and positive GS differential 20 kt at most.
ATSAW
4.b ITP distance 20 NM at least and positive GS differential 30 kt at most.
5. The ITP Aircraft must be able to climb/descent at 300 ft/min minimum. Flight Crew
The ITP Aircraft must be capable of maintaining its cleared Mach number
6.
during the ITP maneuver.
Flight Crew
7. The ITP and Reference Aircraft must be on the same direction. ATSAW & ATC
Procedural separations are met with Other Aircraft at all flight levels
8.
between the initial FL and the desired FL (inclusive).
ATC
9. The positive Mach differential is less than 0.04. ATC
10. The ITP Aircraft must not be a Reference Aircraft in another ITP clearance. ATC
11. No speed, altitude or route change clearance shall be issued to the ATC
Reference Aircraft until the ITP maneuver is completed.
ATC: Air Traffic Controller or Ground system

Additional notes about ITP criteria
ITP criteria described here are as per ED-159.
1. The ITP procedure considers two Reference Aircraft only.
2. ADS-B data must exceed accuracy and integrity minima. It is implicitly required that the position of
the ITP aircraft is accurate.
3. As per ED-159, the requested flight level must be within 4 000 ft.
4. Conformance to criterion 4.a or 4.b ensures that the aircraft separation during the ITP maneuver will
not go below 10 NM.
5. A vertical speed of 300 ft/min minimum ensures that the aircraft separation during the ITP maneuver
will not go below 10 NM.
6. The maintenance of the current speed ensures that the aircraft separation during the ITP maneuver
will not go below 10 NM.
7. The ITP procedure does not apply to convergent trajectories (i.e. difference of track angles greater
than 45° or lower than 315°).
8. The ITP procedure enables a temporary reduction of longitudinal separation during the ITP
maneuver. When the aircraft reaches the requested flight level, procedural separations with Other
Aircraft must be met.

9. The ATC controller checks the Mach differential to take into account wind gradients.
10.A Reference Aircraft must not maneuver. Consequently, the ITP aircraft must not be the Reference
Aircraft in another ITP clearance.
11.Maneuver means change of speed, flight level or direction during the ITP maneuver. A change of
heading to remain on the same route as the ITP Aircraft is not considered as a maneuver. A change
of Reference Aircraft speed that does not increase the positive Mach differential is not considered as
a maneuver.

ATSAW ITP

Recommendations

CPDLC messages for ITP – Climb
#2 #1
1 – ITP Climb BEHIND 2 – ITP Climb AHEAD 3 – ITP Climb BEHIND/AHEAD OF
Flight Crew Request

REQUEST CLIMB TO [altitude] REQUEST CLIMB TO [altitude] REQUEST CLIMB TO [altitude]
ITP [ITP distanceNM/BEHIND/aircraft ITP [ITP distanceNM/AHEAD OF/aircraft ITP [ITP distanceNM/BEHIND/aircraft ID1]
ID] ID] AND [ITP distanceNM/AHEAD OF/aircraft
ID2]
ATC Clearance
ITP BEHIND [aircraft ID] ITP AHEAD OF [aircraft ID] ITP BEHIND [aircraft ID1] AND
AHEAD OF [aircraft ID2]
CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN [altitude] CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN [altitude] CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN [altitude]
REPORT LEVEL [altitude] REPORT LEVEL [altitude] REPORT LEVEL [altitude]
Use of free text

Additional notes about CPDLC messages for ITP
• CPDLC is seen as the optimal media to transmit ITP phraseology for the following
reasons:
CPDLC is a direct link between flight crews and ATC controllers. HF voice in oceanic
airspaces includes a radio operator who relays transmissions between aircraft and
ATC controllers. Therefore, the use of conventional HF voice is not recommended
for ITP. In addition, the callsign of the Reference Aircraft is inserted in the ITP
clearance. Therefore, there may be a confusion if HF voice is used by the flight crew
of the ITP Aircraft. The flight crew of the Reference Aircraft may misinterpret the ITP
clearance when over hearing its callsign. For instance, ITP clearance is “ITP AHEAD
OF AIB1234, CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN FL380, REPORT LEVEL FL380”. The
confusion would be the AIB1234 flight crew that hears and understands “…
AIB1234, CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN FL380, REPORT LEVEL FL380”.
Consequently, CPDLC is preferable to HF voice.
CPDLC transmission is quicker than HF voice transmission: approximately one
minute for CPDLC compared to several minutes for HF voice.

CPDLC eliminates transmission errors compared to HF voice, regarding
transmission quality and language barrier.
CPDLC significantly alleviates communication workload for both flight crews and
ATC controllers.

Additional notes about CPDLC messages for ITP (continued)
• At present, the standard CPDLC message set does not include message elements
specific to ITP. Consequently, flight crews and ATC controllers have to use free texts for
ITP message elements. One of the flight trial phase objectives is to validate the
message elements. Any feedback from the trials will be taken into account to
improve and standardize this.
• The ITP request includes:
The standard vertical request
The free text with ITP information: “ITP” followed by ITP distance/relative position/flight
identification of the Reference Aircraft.
• The relative position refers to the Reference Aircraft. For instance, if the ITP aircraft is
behind the Reference Aircraft, the relative position is BEHIND.
• When there are two Reference Aircraft, the free text complies with the in-trail sequence:
the foremost aircraft first, then the rearmost aircraft.
• The ATSAW system provides flight identifications of Reference Aircraft. The flight crew
has to use flight identifications as provided by the ATSAW system in the ITP request
(e.g. AIB1234, not AIRBUS 1234).
• The ITP clearance includes:
The free text with ITP information. The ITP clearance repeats the flight identifications only.
The standard vertical clearance
The instruction to report when the aircraft reaches the cleared flight level.

CPDLC messages for ITP – Descent The same! Use DESCENT
instead of CLIMB.
Flight Crew Request

REQUEST DESCENT TO [altitude] REQUEST DESCENT TO [altitude] REQUEST DESCENT TO [altitude]
ITP [ITP distanceNM/BEHIND/aircraft ITP [ITP distanceNM/AHEAD OF/aircraft ITP [ITP distanceNM/BEHIND/aircraft ID1]
ID] ID] AND [ITP distanceNM/AHEAD OF/aircraft
ID2]
ATC Clearance
ITP BEHIND [aircraft ID] ITP AHEAD OF [aircraft ID] ITP BEHIND [aircraft ID1] AND AHEAD
OF [aircraft ID2]
DESCEND TO AND MAINTAIN [altitude] DESCEND TO AND MAINTAIN [altitude] DESCEND TO AND MAINTAIN [altitude]
REPORT LEVEL [altitude] REPORT LEVEL [altitude] REPORT LEVEL [altitude]
#2 #1
4 – ITP Descent BEHIND 5 – ITP Descent AHEAD 6 – ITP Descent BEHIND/AHEAD OF
Use of free text

CPDLC messages for ITP – Examples Use Aircraft IDs as
shown on ND
= ITP Aircraft = Reference Aircraft ITP distance in NM
#2 #1
1 – ITP Climb BEHIND 2 – ITP Descent AHEAD OF 3 – ITP Climb BEHIND/AHEAD OF
Flight Crew Request

REQUEST CLIMB TO FL380 REQUEST DESCENT TO FL350 REQUEST CLIMB TO FL380
ITP 21NM/BEHIND/AIB1234 ITP 33NM/AHEAD OF/AIB1234 ITP 27NM/BEHIND/AIB1234
AND 34NM/AHEAD OF/AIB5678 AND 53NM/AHEAD OF/AIB5678
ATC Clearance
ITP BEHIND AIB1234 ITP AHEAD OF AIB1234 AND AHEAD ITP BEHIND AIB1234 AND AHEAD OF
OF AIB5678 AIB5678
CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN FL380 DESCEND TO AND MAINTAIN FL350 CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN FL380
REPORT LEVEL FL380 REPORT LEVEL FL350 REPORT LEVEL FL380
Use of free text

ATSAW ITP

Recommendations

Examples – ITP Possible
FL380
Standard Procedural Separation Standard Procedural Separation
FL370
ITP Criteria
FL360
Standard Procedural Separation
• Climb from FL360 to FL380 is 1. Flight crew checks that ITP criteria
desired. are met and requests ITP clearance.
• Standard climb is not possible as 2. ATC issues ITP climb clearance.

standard procedural separation does 3. Flight crew checks that ITP criteria
not exist at FL370. are still met and executes ITP
clearance without delay.
¾ Consider ITP climb.

Examples – ITP Not Possible
FL380
Standard Procedural Separation Standard Procedural Separation
FL370
ITP Criteria
FL360
Standard Procedural Separation
• Climb from FL360 to FL380 is 1. Flight crew checks that ITP criteria
desired. are met and request ITP clearance.
• Standard climb is not possible as 2. ATC rejects ITP climb due to a non
standard procedural separation does ADS-B blocking aircraft at FL370.
not exist at FL370. The flight crew does not see this
blocking aircraft on ND, as it does
¾ Consider ITP climb. not transmit ADS-B data.
= Non ADS-B Aircraft
ITP Procedure – Step by Step illustrated
Check that ITP criteria are met:

300 ft/min minimum
Capable to maintain cleared
Mach number during the ITP
maneuver
Check OPT FL below RECMAX FL
in FMS CRZ PROG page.
Deviation: ITP FL change up to

+/- 3 000 ft.

If ITP is possible, request ATC clearance
via CPDLC using ITP phraseology.
ITP Traffic List is consistent with ITP
phraseology.

When ITP clearance is received,
check that ITP criteria are still met.
Check that ITP is still POSSIBLE
in ITP TRAFFIC LIST.
If ITP criteria are met, accept ITP
via CPDLC.
Report established at
the cleared FL.
Execute ITP
clearance without
delay.
ATSAW ITP

Recommendations

ITP Operational Recommendations
• The Aircraft ID entered into the avionics must be identical to the one filled in Item 7 of the ICAO flight
plan.
• The flight must be approved to conduct ITP (operator approval, flight crew qualification, aircraft
equipment).
• Separation responsibilities do not change:
Initial ATSAW system is not designed for self-separation.
Some aircraft are not ADS-B OUT capable and are invisible to ATSAW system.
The flight crew is not required to monitor separations during the ITP maneuver.
• The flight crew remains responsible for the See-and-Avoid procedure.
• Strictly adhere to ITP procedure and phraseology.
When using free text, flight crew must pay attention to the correctness of ITP distances, relative
positions, and flight identifications.
When using free text, ATC controller must pay attention to the correctness of relative positions
and flight identifications.
• The flight crew must refer to TCAS for collision avoidance:
ATSAW system is not designed for collision avoidance.
• The flight crew must re-check ITP criteria before answering the ITP clearance:
WILCO if ITP criteria are still met
UNABLE if ITP criteria are not met any longer.
• After re-check of ITP criteria and acceptance of ITP clearance, the flight crew should execute ITP
clearance without delay.
• The flight crew must follow regional contingency procedures if the aircraft is unable to continue the
ITP maneuver.

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2011 All rights reserved. Confidential and
proprietary document.
This document and all information contained herein is the sole
property of AIRBUS S.A.S.. No intellectual property rights are
granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of
its content. This document shall not be reproduced or
disclosed to a third party without the express written consent
of AIRBUS S.A.S. This document and its content shall not be
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The statements made herein do not constitute an offer. They
are based on the mentioned assumptions and are expressed
in good faith. Where the supporting grounds for these
statements are not shown, AIRBUS S.A.S. will be pleased to
explain the basis thereof.
AIRBUS, its logo, A300, A310, A318, A319, A320, A321,
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Flight Operations Support & Services

Air Traffic Situational Awareness - ATSAW

Introduction ITP Criteria

ITP Terminology CPDLC Messages for ITP

ITP Geometries Examples

ITP Procedure ITP Operational

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 2

• DO-312 / ED-159: Safety, Performance and Interoperability

• ICAO PANS/ATM Amendment for ITP (not yet published).

• AIRBUS ATSAW specification freeze: SEP 2008.

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 3

= Other Aircraft = ITP Aircraft = Reference Aircraft

Limited to +/- 4 000 ft

separation reduction Change

Considered between current

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 4

• During ED-159 standardization exercise, FL changes

• In some cases, ITP will be possible as per ED-159

Blocking whereas it is not as per ICAO Circular.

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 5

Introduction ITP Criteria

ITP Terminology CPDLC Messages for ITP

ITP Geometries Examples

ITP Procedure ITP Operational

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 6

ITP Aircraft An aircraft that is:

Blocking Aircraft An aircraft that:

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 7

to climb because of Reference Aircraft as per ICAO PANS-ATM, Doc 4444.

= Other Aircraft = ITP Aircraft = Reference Aircraft

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 8

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 9

ITP Volume for an ITP

= Other Aircraft = ITP Aircraft = Reference Aircraft

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 10

Same Direction Aircraft are on a same direction when the difference of

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 11

Introduction ITP Criteria

ITP Terminology CPDLC Messages for ITP

ITP Geometries Examples

ITP Procedure ITP Operational

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 12

1 – ITP Climb BEHIND 2 – ITP Climb AHEAD OF 3 – ITP Climb BEHIND/AHEAD OF

4 – ITP Descent BEHIND 5 – ITP Descent AHEAD OF 6 – ITP Descent BEHIND/AHEAD OF

= ITP Aircraft = Reference Aircraft

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 13

Introduction ITP Criteria

ITP Terminology CPDLC Messages for ITP

ITP Geometries Examples

ITP Procedure ITP Operational

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 14

Flight Crew Air Traffic Controller

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 15

Flight Crew Air Traffic Controller

Consistency of the information

Additional Material - ATSAW ITP March 2011 Page 16

Introduction ITP Criteria

ITP Terminology CPDLC Messages for ITP

ITP Geometries Examples