IDS and TTCAA partner to improve traffic flow and coordination in the Caribbean

IDS Ingegneria Dei Sistemi S.p.A., through its subsidiary IDS North America Ltd., has been awarded a contract by the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) to implement its latest Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) solution for the Piarco Flight Information Region (FIR).

The TT-ATFM project builds upon a foundation that was established through the implementation of two key projects that contribute to both the Strategic and Pre-Tactical Phases of flight.  First the IDS AIXM 5.1 Aeronautical Database (AeroDB) provided a central storage repository of up-to-date static aeronautical data combined with the SPATIA Dynamic System which is used to manage dynamic aeronautical data such as NOTAM, Flight Plan, and Meteorological data.  Secondly, the TTCAA PBN plan has allowed the state to strategically re-design its airspace and instrument flight procedures to improve traffic flows, reduce track miles, and generally create more efficiency within the FIR. 

TT-ATFM will now be implemented in a two stage process that builds upon the TTCAA AIM and PBN projects.  The first stage is focused on providing ATFM consultation services including: capacity definitions, establishment of traffic management initiatives, ATC training, and coordination between stakeholders and states.  The second stage involves the implementation of the IDS ATFM software suite through a web-based interface that includes the:

• Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) Shared Board allowing all stakeholders to have either read only or read-write privileges with the system

• Demand Capacity Balancer (DCB) for users to be able to view and balance demand and capacity at airports, sectors, and airspaces; and

• Aircraft Situation Display (ASD) providing a live view of all flights available to the ATFM suite through a variety of feeds including (ASTERIX, ASDI, OAG, AMHS/AFTN, AIM, etc.)

A Flow Management Unit (FMU) will be established in the Piarco ACC with Flow Management Positions (FMP) in Piarco tower and Tobago airports.  External stakeholders will be provided access to each of the software tools through web interfaces.  The web-based design of the IDS ATFM Suite allows additional stakeholders and partners to be included in the future without expensive hardware and software support requirements at each location.

Ramesh Lutchmedial, Director General of the TTCAA is pleased to have IDS-NA supply an ATFM solution for the Piarco FIR and partner in the development of Aviation within the Caribbean region. Mr. Lutchmedial recognizes Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) as an integral part of the Airspace Organization and Management (AOM) process that works hand in hand with the Performance Based Navigation (PBN) concept.

Dario Rossilli, Chief Executive Officer of IDS North America Ltd. stated that “This is the right moment for ATFM to be implemented in the Caribbean region and we are excited to be the ATFM supplier to the TTCAA.  With steady annual growth combined with the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this system will ensure efficient and timely traffic flow through the Piarco FIR.”

One of the Air Navigation Services (ANS) targets of the Port of Spain Declaration is the implementation of ATFM measures by all of the Air Traffic Control Centers (ACCs) within the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NAMCAR) Region by 2018; and the Director General is committed to meeting this.

Trinidad and Tobago recognizes that the implementation of ATFM and PBN relies heavily on the Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) process and looks at IDS-NA as a supporting industry supplier.

The Piarco FIR is surrounded by nine (9) Flight Information Regions (FIRs) and contains six (6) Terminal Areas (TMAs) belonging to different States/Territories.

This project is expected to be completed and in full operations in the summer of 2016 prior to the commencement of the 2016 Olympic Games.