EEC runs major Gate-to-Gate simulations

Brétigny, France --[ASDWire.com]-- The EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre (EEC) has just completed a six-week real-time simulation as part of the process to validate solutions to the predicted increase of air traffic in Europe in the medium-term.

The Gate-to-Gate project is a pan-European research and development project to study air traffic management solutions to the predicted increase of air traffic in Europe in the medium term. In order to validate the different solutions that have been proposed, several of the key players and partners in European air traffic management carried out 27 fast-time and real-time simulations in different airspaces and in particular phases of flight (pre-departure, departure, en-route, arrival). The EEC then carried out a six-week simulation integrating a representative set of these elements covering all phases of flight.

This simulation has now established an operational and technical baseline to which improvements will progressively be integrated. Furthermore, as Jan van Doorn, the Director of the EEC has pointed out “the Gate-to-Gate project establishes efficient partnership between European ATM key partners thus paving the way for a co-operative European validation strategy and this will be of highest importance, in particular for SESAR.”

The project is carried out by a consortium led by THALES ATM and composed of sixteen European partners including EUROCONTROL, 5 air navigation service providers (AENA, DFS, DSNA, ENAV, LFV), 3 manufacturers (THALES ATM, Indra Sistemas, SELEX), and 7 aircraft and avionics manufacturers (ISDEFE, Airbus SA, BAE Systems Avionics, NLR, THALES Avionics, SITCA, Deep Blue). It is co-funded through the European Commission’s 5th Framework Programme. Consolidated validation results of the Gate to Gate project will be made public this autumn.

Note to Editors
 EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has as its primary objective the development of a seamless, pan-European air traffic management (ATM) system which can fully cope with the growth in air traffic, while maintaining a high level of safety, enhancing cost-efficiency and respecting the environment.

EUROCONTROL has 36 Member States: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

On 8 October 2002, the Member States and the European Community signed a Protocol on the Accession of the European Community to the revised EUROCONTROL Convention. Pending its entry into force after ratification by all Parties, certain provisions of the Protocol are already being provisionally applied.