Thus, the proposal, developed in coordination with Aerocivil\u2019s Directorate of Telecommunications and Air Navigation Aids, will not require major adaptation works, apart from the upgrading of the electrical system and the radio transmitter centre, as well as the establishment of intermediate waiting points on the airfield to identify the traffic transfer points between the control tower and the AMS. Cameras (CCTV) will be installed at the non-visible points of the commercial aprons (T1, T2 and TC), which are the responsibility of the AMS, an area that has been divided into two sectors: north and south. The service will also be supported by an A-SMGCS (Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System), which automatically alerts and resolves potential aircraft and vehicle conflicts regardless of weather conditions), which is being deployed at El Dorado.<\/p>\n
A new AMS-specific CCTV system will be installed on the apron to ensure the availability of cameras in areas not directly visible from the tower. \/ PHOTO_INECO-AEROCIVIL<\/p><\/div>\n
Project development<\/h4>\n
This project was developed through the structuring and scope established in the terms of reference defined jointly with the GPA and the Directorate of Air Navigation Services of the Colombian Civil Aeronautics.<\/p>\n
Ineco\u2019s multidisciplinary team carried out a field visit and around fifty working groups with the different stakeholders involved throughout the three phases of the project:<\/p>\n
Diagnosis of the current situation<\/h5>\n
The first step was to gather all available information on the airport\u2019s equipment, procedures, infrastructure, operations and human resources, as well as applicable national and international standards and recommendations. The operation of more than 4,000 flights was also sampled for the months of December 2019 to March 2020.<\/p>\n
In addition, a benchmarking study of three international airports with an AMS \u2013Madrid-Barajas, Amsterdam-Schiphol and Frankfurt \u2013 was carried out to assess implementation alternatives and the AMS model best suited to the needs of El Dorado. Among other conclusions drawn from this comparative analysis were the weight of staff training \u2013between three months and one year, depending on the airport\u2013 in service start-up times, the improvement in operational efficiency and costs, and the maintenance of safety levels, since AMS operators receive specific training and provide pilots with exactly the same information and instructions as controllers.<\/p>\n
A snapshot of the information-gathering field visit, which also included the analysis of more than 4,000 flights.<\/p><\/div>\n
AMS proposal<\/h5>\n
Based on the conclusions of the diagnosis and the benchmarking study, up to six different service implementation alternatives were analysed to identify the most suitable for El Dorado. To this end, aspects such as the distribution of functions between the ATS and the AMS, the physical location of the service, the adaptation of the control and navigation systems (ATM, CNS and MET), the provision model (Aeron\u00e1utica Civil will evaluate the implementation model of the project based on the results of these studies), and the definition of the regulations: the establishment of specific conditions in the specifications or changes to the national regulations, the Colombian Aeronautical Regulations (CAR), which are considered the most appropriate.<\/p>\n
The proposed functions to be assumed by the AMS at El Dorado airport, which until now were carried out by the control tower, include:<\/p>\n
\n- Providing apron instructions to aircraft and trailers, such as push-back and taxiing instructions to or from the parking stand assigned by the Operations Coordination Centre (OCC), which will communicate this to both apron management and tower control.<\/li>\n
- Monitor compliance with TOBT (Target Off-Block Time) <\/i>and TSAT (Target Start-Up Approval Time) <\/i>targets. The service will be integrated into the airport\u2019s A-CDM (collaborative decision making) processes.<\/li>\n
- Monitoring tarmac vehicle traffic to avoid aircraft hazards and reporting non-compliance.<\/li>\n
- The implementation of the service will take place during towing to SPOTs, the painted markings on the pavement of taxiways indicating where aircraft can start taxiing, after taxiing back from the parking position, and the setting of the radio frequencies established for the respective operational coordination.<\/li>\n
- Implementing the Low Visibility Procedure (LVP, an action protocol that is activated in the event that visibility is reduced below certain values due to weather conditions).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
To this end, local coordination procedures (letters of agreement) have been developed, in coordination with Aerocivil air traffic control staff, covering those functions where responsibility is divided or coordination of the AMS with the
\nresponsible party for the function, such as tower control or the airport manager, is required.<\/p>\n
In terms of staffing, a team of six supervisors and 18 AMS operators, who will receive specific training, is proposed. For this, the Centre for Aeronautical Studies (CEA) of Aerocivil, which has developed a specific training programme for AMS personnel, has collaborated in this project.<\/p>\n
A security analysis of the procedures and the implementation of the AMS has been carried out, as well as an implementation and operational cost study.<\/p>\n
Implementation plan<\/h5>\n
Lastly, the technical specifications and specifications for a public tender for a turnkey project contract were drawn up, in the event that the Civil Aeronautics Authority should decide to have a third party provide the service: preliminary studies, market analysis, minute of the contract, technical specifications, formats, etc.<\/p>\n
The proposed contract duration is six years (12 months of implementation and five years of service provision), which has been deemed the most appropriate period to balance the interests of Civil Aviation and at the same time make the tender attractive to a sufficient number of candidates.<\/p>\n