Tower

ESSA User Handbook

Configuration

• The Tower system can be configured to model different configurations of controller and pilot positions.

• Controller positions allow the user to issue clearances and orders.

• Pilot positions allow the user to accept, delay, reject or deviate from the controller clearance/order.

• Also available are:– Hybrid controller positions. Clearances and orders issued

from a hybrid position are automatically accepted and actioned.

– Unmanned (automatic) controller positions. Unmanned positions reduce the need of human intervention.

Arlanda Airport (ESSA)

• The following example, based at Arlanda (ESSA) airport, details just one configuration that might be modelled.

• ESSA has three pairs of runways 26-08, 19R-01L and 19L-01R.

• The example will demonstrate one departure leave by runway 19R and one arrival arrive on runway 26.

• Pilots will follow Controller clearances and orders.• Vehicles will impede both departures and arrivals,

triggering alerts.

User Views

• The ESSA example consists of:– Apron controller.– Runway controller.– Apron pilot.– Runway pilot.– Approach controller.

• Each view is summarised on the following pages.

Airport Controller Views

• Apron Controller APR– Toolbar– Alert Window– Arrival List– Departure List

• Runway Controller RWY– Toolbar– Alert Window– Arrival List– Departure List– Approach inset view

Airport Pilot Views

• APR and RWY Pilots– Toolbar– Alert Window– Message In Window

• Message in window contains prompts derived from ground controller clearance requests.

• The prompts are derived from the partnering controller e.g. APR pilot receives prompts for the APR controller clearances/orders.

• Pilots can either acknowledge or reject the prompt.

Approach View

• Approach controller TMA.

• TMA feeds arriving flights into airport.

• TMA accepts departing flights from airport

Departure Pushback

• After starting the scenario the departure DEP1 will appear on the airport views and in the departure list.

• DEP1 will be coloured to indicate that APR controller can assume jurisdiction control.

• The DEP1 label will indicate that DEP1 is ready for its pushback clearance.

• By clicking on the (track or list) callsign and issuing the pushback clearance, APR assumes control and prompts the pilot to pushback.

Departure Pilot Pushback

• After the pushback clearance is issued the APR pilot receives the pushback prompt in the Message in window.

• On accepting the pushback clearance DEP1 starts its push back.

• The prompt is removed from the Message in window

Departure Taxi

• After reversing from the stand and completing the pushback manoeuvre the DEP1 label indicates that DEP1 is ready for its taxi clearance to the runway.

• From the APR view and clicking on the (track or list) callsign the APR controller can issue the taxi clearance.

• Issuing the taxi clearance prompts the pilot to taxi.

Departure Pilot Taxi

• After the taxi clearance is issued the APR pilot receives the taxi prompt in the Message in window.

• On accepting the taxi clearance DEP1 starts its taxi to its departure runway.

• The prompt is removed from the Message in window

Departure Transfer To RWY

• When the APR controller judges it is time to transfer jurisdiction of DEP1 (usually when the aircraft has left the apron area) he can click on the callsign and select transfer.

• In this example the transfer will be to the RWY controller.

• Note there is no prompt to the pilot.

Departure Transferred

• After the transfer:– DEP1 is coloured on the

APR view to indicate the transfer.

– DEP1 is coloured on the RWY view to indicate jurisdiction of DEP1 is ready to be assumed by the RWY controller.

Departure Assumed By RWY

• When the RWY controller is ready to assume jurisdiction of DEP1 he can click on the callsign and select assume.

Departure Assumed

• After the assume:– DEP1 is coloured on the

APR view to indicate the completion of the transfer-assume.

– DEP1 is coloured on the RWY view to indicate that the RWY controller now has jurisdiction.

Departure Lineup

• Just prior to entering the runway area, DEP1 reaches a lineup point.

• To continue from the lineup point onto the runway DEP1 requires lineup clearance.

• From the RWY view and clicking on the (track or list) callsign the RWY controller can issue the lineup clearance.

• Issuing the taxi clearance prompts the pilot to lineup.

Departure Pilot Lineup

• After the lineup clearance is issued the RWY pilot receives the lineup prompt in the Message in window.

• On accepting the lineup clearance DEP1 continues into the runway area.

• The prompt is removed from the Message in window

Departure Alert

• As DEP1 enters the protected area around the departure runway an alert is raised as a vehicle VAN2 is blocking the runway.

• The alert is detailed in the Alert window indicating the area and offending vehicle and departure.

• Note the callsigns of the departure and vehicle are highlighted in yellow.

Departure Takeoff

• As DEP1 completes its lining-up in the direction of the runway, DEP1 requests takeoff clearance.

• From the RWY view and clicking on the (track or list) callsign the RWY controller can issue the takeoff clearance.

• Issuing the takeoff clearance prompts the pilot to takeoff.

• Issuing the takeoff clearance raises the alert to an alarm!

Departure Alarm

• Even though DEP1 is stationary just issuing the takeoff clearance is enough to raise the alert to an alarm.

• The offending callsigns are now highlighted red.

Departure Pilot Takeoff

• After the takeoff clearance is issued the RWY pilot receives the takeoff prompt in the Message in window.

• On accepting the takeoff clearance DEP1 accelerates down the runway.

• The prompt is removed from the Message in window

Departure Alarm Cleared

• Later as DEP1 passes VAN2 on the runway the alarm and alert indicators are cleared.

• DEP1 continues to accelerate to its takeoff speed.

Departure Takeoff

• After takeoff DEP1 will be shown on the RWY Controller’s approach inset view.

• As the RWY Controller has not transferred control of DEP1 to the neighbouring sector (i.e. TMA) it is automatically transferred.

Departure TMA Assume

• After takeoff DEP1 will be shown on any enroute or approach views.

• In our example this is the TMA controller.

• As DEP1 was transferred it will be coloured on the TMA view to indicate that it is ready to be assumed.

• By clicking on the next sector button the TMA controller can assume jurisdiction.

Departure TMA Controlled

• The completion of the transfer-assume will be indicated on the RWY view.

• The Departure List entry for DEP1 will be in the CTR section of the list and coloured to indicate that the transfer has been assumed.

• Using the RWY approach inset view the RWY controller will still be able to track concerned flights.

Departure Deviation(Optional)

• To demonstrate that pilots can deviate from the planned controller clearances and orders, re-run the scenario to the point where DEP1 requests takeoff clearance.

• From the RWY Pilot view and clicking on the track callsign the RWY Pilot can initiate the takeoff manoeuvre without the clearance.

• As DEP1 starts to accelerate down the runway note that “Takeoff clearance due” is still shown in the label.

• Note an alarm is not raised immediately but only when DEP1 accelerates to a speed higher than a normal taxi speed.

Arrival

• This example has been configured such that:– The TMA sector and airport

sector share the same boundaries but with the TMA sector sitting immediately above the airport sector with jurisdiction changing at 9000ft.

– Advance boundary information is transmitted 6 minutes prior to entry to the airport sector.

– Inbound information is transmitted 5 minutes prior to entry to the airport sector.

Arrival ABI

• As ARR1 approaches the airport sector Advance Boundary Information is received (ABI message) and an entry appears in the Final section of the RWY Controller’s Arrival list.

• The entry will show an estimate landing time.

Arrival Inbound

• On receipt of the ABI message the arrival list entry is coloured as not concerned.

• As ARR1 nears the airport sector Inbound information is received (ACT message) and the arrival list entry will be updated with a new estimate landing time.

• The entry will now be coloured as inbound.

Arrival TMA Transfer

• As ARR1 begins its final appraoch to the airport the TMA transfers control to the airport.

• By clicking on the next sector the TMA controller can initiate the transfer.

Arrival RWY Assume

• After the TMA controller initiates the transfer of ARR1 the RWY controller’s arrival list entry will be coloured to indicated he can assume jurisdiction.

• By clicking on the Arrival list LDT field for ARR1 the RWY controller assumes jurisdiction and gives clearance to land.

• The arrival list entry is then coloured to indicate RWY has assumed control.

• Note there is no pilot prompt.

Arrival Alert

• As ARR1 approaches (long final time) runway 26 an alert is raised as VAN1 is blocking the runway.

• Callsigns are highlighted yellow.

• As ARR1 approaches even nearer (short final time) the alert is raised to an alarm.

• Callsigns are highlighted red.

Arrival Alarm Cleared

• After ARR1 touches down the alarm remains.

• Later as ARR1 passes VAN1 on the runway the alarm and alert indicators are cleared.

• ARR1 continues to decelerate to its taxi speed.

• ARR1 then leaves the runway at the first opportunity.

Arrival Taxi

• After leaving the runway ARR1 reaches a taxi clearance point. ARR1 track label indicates taxi clearance due.

• From the RWY controller view and clicking on the (track or list) callsign the RWY controller can issue the taxi clearance.

• Issuing the taxi clearance prompts the pilot to taxi.

Arrival Pilot Taxi

• After the taxi clearance is issued the RWY pilot receives the taxi prompt in the Message in window.

• On accepting the taxi clearance ARR1 starts its taxi to its stand.

• The prompt is removed from the Message in window

Arrival Transfer To APR

• When the RWY controller judges it is time to transfer jurisdiction of ARR1 (usually when the aircraft has left the runway area) RWY can click on the callsign and select transfer.

• In this example the transfer will be to the APR controller.

• Note there is no prompt to the pilot.

Arrival Transferred

• After the transfer:– ARR1 is coloured on the

RWY view to indicate the transfer.

– ARR1 is coloured on the APR view to indicate jurisdiction of ARR1 is ready to be assumed by the APR controller.

Arrival Assumed By APR

• When the APR controller is ready to assume jurisdiction of ARR1, APR can click on the callsign and select assume.

Arrival Assumed

• After the assume:– ARR1 is coloured on the

RWY view to indicate the completion of the transfer-assume.

– ARR1 is coloured on the APR view to indicate that the APR controller now has jurisdiction.

Arrival Parks

• If ARR1 continues on its current taxi route it will park near the centre of the airport at stand B12.

• Optionally the controller may decide to change the stand.

Arrival Change Stand(Optional)

• Positioning the mouse over an aircraft symbol and clicking on the RIGHT button displays the planned taxi route (white solid line) and the travelled taxi route (red dashed line).

• By clicking the RIGHT button again while still on the aircraft symbol removes the planned route.

Modifying Taxi Route

• Positioning the mouse over an aircraft symbol and clicking on the LEFT button not only displays the planned taxi route but allows the taxi route destination to be changed (and optionally inserts an intermediate taxi route point “go VIA”).

• Clicking the RIGHT button cancels the action

• To change the destination of the taxi route for ARR1 position the “kink” over an appropriate stand.

• The yellow circle will then move to the selected stand.

• By LEFT clicking submits the new taxi route and prompts the pilot to change taxi route.

• After the taxi route is changed the RWY pilot receives the change stand prompt in the Message in window.

• On accepting the clearance ARR1 will take a new taxi route to the new stand.

• The prompt is removed from the Message in window

Arrival Parks At New Stand

• ARR1 reaches its new stand.