Contract-based air transportation system to fulfill the arriving-on-time objective

The Contract-based Air Transportation System (CATS) Project proposes an innovative air traffic management (ATM) solution able to face the challenge of traffic growth (for 2012+), and improves the efficiency of the European air transportation system. The CATS project will assess a new ATM paradigm based on an innovative operational concept: the contract of objectives (CoO). This concept introduces a new way of managing ATM using mutually agreed objectives, leading to a market-driven air transportation system (ATS). It addresses the air transport supply chain by reconciling operational links between air and ground services. This enhanced link between ground and air is expected to improve efficiency by increasing system predictability (allowing actors to organise themselves to be more cost efficient) and punctuality (arriving on time at the destination). Objectives are negotiated and assigned through collaborative decision-making processes. CATS proposes, through applying the CoO, one of the possible implementations of the SESAR business trajectory. The CATS Consortium, consisting of some main stakeholders in the air transportation system, submitted a proposal to the European Commission, through a call in the Sixth Framework Programme. The aim of the CATS project is to develop and assess the concepts of the contract of objectives and target windows from various perspectives. The validation will be accomplished through three human-in-the-loop (HIL) experiments, focusing on the evaluation of this CoO concept between ATCOs, between ATCOs and aircrew, and lastly between all the actors (airports, airlines, ANSPs., etc.) involved in the renegotiation process, if the CoO cannot be met. The assessment will focus on system performances, while evaluating the impact of this CoO in terms of human performances (to see if the contribution of the human to overall system performances is within expected capabilities) and safety. Particular attention will be paid to the cost-benefit analysis and the legal implications. The validation will ensure that the resulting concept provides some substantial benefits and is “fit for purpose”.