DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung - Air Traffic Management Consultancy and Systems

The German air navigation service provider DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung manages one of the busiest and most complex airspaces and provides consultancy services and training worldwide. It sells its in-house-developed air traffic control (ATC) and air traffic management (ATM) systems to the aviation community including airports, airlines, air navigation service organisations and civil aviation authorities.

DFS services include:

• Organisational concepts
• System design and implementation
• Operational concepts and airspace design
• Simulations and training Safety management systems (SMS)
• Airport collaborative decision-making (A-CDM), in cooperation with Munich Airport ATM systems and software

Air traffic control consultancy

For more than 17 years, DFS has been providing consultancy services to other organisations. DFS has extensive knowledge in corporatisation and privatisation matters as well as in cooperation or integration of civil and military ATC.

DFS’ ATC operational concepts consultancy spans planning of ATS routes and design of airspace structures, civil-military concepts, capacity analyses and simulations, delay monitoring and delay analyses, operational transition planning and familiarisation training.

DFS provides fast-time and real-time ATC simulations and offers simulator systems. It is also a leader in SMS, due to the development of its own comprehensive system, which is based on an assessment of all components of the complex air transport system.

A-CDM consultancy

With the aim of creating greater efficiency and easing congestion, Munich Airport and DFS provide their expertise in A-CDM to other interested parties. The approach to collaborative decision making (CDM) is based on the European Airport CDM of the Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol). It was put into operation at Munich Airport in 2007, making it the first A-CDM of its kind implemented in Europe and brought about a 10% reduction in taxi times and lower emissions.

It is a coherent process, spanning from flight planning to landing and the subsequent turnaround process on the ground before the next take-off. Available capacities and operational resources can be fully used, costs reduced, emissions lowered, punctuality improved and stronger partnerships forged.

A four-phase model provides the necessary steps for implementing an A-CDM starting with an introductory workshop and finishing with a detailed action plan and final implementation.

Advanced arrival management system

The advanced arrival management system (A-AMAN) by DFS can easily be integrated into existing environments due to its generic and modular structure. Customer-specific needs can be taken into account, ensuring the delivery of an efficient and cost-effective solution.

A-AMAN means more movements can be processed at one time, which reduces costs and the impact on the environment. Early results in Germany have shown a reduction in the average arrival time of approximately 60 seconds. Controllers can also optimally manage arrivals and departures by using the arrival manager together with departure managers, for example with the system from delair air traffic systems.

Phoenix tower automation suite

The Phoenix tower automation suite (TAS) features a set of integrated ATC automation systems which can be combined and tailored to any specific air traffic control environment in large and small towers anywhere in the world. The TAS consists of the multi-sensor data fusion system Phoenix which displays the ground and air situation so that aerodrome controllers can easily zoom in from the air to the ground. It is in use at several towers throughout Germany and worldwide. Other integral parts of the TAS are the safety net functions, the DFS flight data processing system as well as the position logging system (PoLo) for electronically recording working times and responsibilities of air traffic controllers.

Distant aerodrome control service

The Distant Aerodrome Control Service allows aerodrome control both from distant locations as well as under poor visibility. Controllers can switch between the display of visual information and sensor data. High-resolution pictures from video cameras installed at the aerodrome deliver an artificial real-time view. The controller can track aircraft on the apron and runway as well as zoom in as necessary. In the case of poor visibility or darkness, it is possible to switch from visual data transmission to the air and ground situation display provided by the Phoenix multi-sensor data fusion system. Information ranging from approaching aircraft to the runway situation can be supplied at the same time. After successful trials, Munich Airport plans to implement the distant aerodrome control service in its existing tower environment instead of building a new tower for its third runway.

Operational incident analyser and meteorological data display

DFS also offers other systems such as the operational incident analyser (InA) to visualise and analyse occurrences in airspace, and the meteorological data display system (METFROG) to assist controllers in assessing weather conditions more accurately.