ICC announce Paperless Environment functionality in ATRAK® ATC Solutions at Czech FIR
30 September 2005
Ifield Computer Consultancy Limited (ICC) have announced that from the 6th September 2005 a major new function of paperless environment, as part of their ATRAK® suite of ATC applications, has been operationally implemented within the Area Control Centre (ACC) of the Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic (ANS CR).
Electronic Flight Data Management (EFDM™) is a functional block that encapsulates several extended functions within the ATRAK-PC® ATC planning control system. The 2 main elements of the EFDM™ environment, electronic labels and tabular flight display, are designed to shorten or eliminate processes, not related to decision making – by removing the manual manipulation associated with paper strips, and giving the Executive and Planning controller a more organized view of the data they work with.
EFDM™ has become a crucial additional function for ANS CR as a significant increase in Prague FIR traffic has radically increased the operational workload of air traffic controllers, especially at peak times.
The extended label functionality of EFDM™ shows selected items from the flight plan, selective display of entry and exit flight levels and a horizontal and vertical separation tool for any selected flights. A number of data functions can be invoked from the label such as modification of time and height profile of the flight.
The tabular flight display consists of 3 tables, one for each basic flight state (Expected, Controlled, and Finished/Handed Over), one flight per table row and a selectable range of items to display for each flight. Other flight items are invoked from within the table, and flight data can be modified.
The ATRAK® system has been successfully operational in Area Control Centre (ACC) and Approach (APP) for ANS CR for a number of years, thereby ensuring that these mission-critical functions of Czech airspace (FIR) management operate at peak performance.
The ATRAK® system delivers important tools, both for Executive and Planning controllers, used for the safe and effective management of traffic flow in the Czech Republic airspace (FIR Prague).
“The introduction of the EFDM™ functionality within ATRAK® is a major enhancement, both for ICC and for the way in which ANS CR are able to operate safely and efficiently in the rapidly developing and increasing Czech airspace.” said George Parobek, Managing Director at ICC. “The introduction of this electronic environment at ANS CR is further evidence of ICC’s commitment in working with their clients, in partnership, to deliver the most safe, reliable and innovative ATC solutions.
Ing. Petr Materna, Director General of ANS CR stated, “This co-operation between Air Navigation Service Providers and their technology partners represents a proven method in how to achieve innovation in ATM solutions in a timely and cost effective manner”.
