Metron Harmony

Collaborative and Integrated Air Traffic Flow Management
Harmonizing air traffic operations from gate-to-gate

Metron Harmony is an advanced,  Integrated Air Traffic Flow Management (I -ATFM) solution with capabilities that provide strategic, pre-tactical and tactical efficiency, post operations  metrics and performance analysis  of  air traffic operations   for  Air  Navigation  Service Provider s (ANSP) , aircraft  operator s and airport  authorities.  Metron Harmony   supports current and emerging Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) concept s including European Airport CDM and FAA CDM,   to improve efficiency and predictability. Metron Harmony supports the following operational domains associated with gate-to-gate operations: 

  • Strategic, pre-tactical and tactical traffic flow management   through ATC slot allocations and Calculated Takeoff Times (CTOT);
  • Pre-tactical and tactical departure management for merging into an enroute stream or to a common departure fix;
  • Pre-tactical and tactical aircraft sequencing, scheduling and runway allocations to meet airport arrival operating constraints;
  • Pre-tactical and tactical airport surface management for optimizing operations;
  • Fuel, emissions and noise impact modeling, monitoring and reporting;
  • Operational and post operations metrics and performance analysis

 Harmony

Metron Harmony ’s Integrated ATFM solution provides an integrated view of system-wide operations for gate-to-gate optimization.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF ATFM

Metron Harmony provides ANSPs, aircraft  operators, and airports an I -ATFM system with CDM capabilities for improving efficiency,  reducing delays and enhancing predictability from gate-to-gate, ensuring fair and equitable use of  all resources.  Metron Harmony stakeholder solutions include:

  • Metron Harmony for ANSPs enables ANSPs   to balance airspace and airport demand and capacity.
  • Metron Harmony for Airlines provides aircraft operators with an integrated view of real -time and predictive air traffic conditions and of airport surface operations.
  • Metron Harmony for Airports gives airports complete situational awareness of   surface operations and provides predictive decision support tools.

OPTIMIZE DECISION MAKING FROM GATE-TO-GATE

Metron Aviation’s  vision  for  I -ATFM  is  consistent  with the  ICAO Procedures for  Air  Navigation  Services  – Ai r Traffic Management  – Doc 4444  key terminology and concepts.  Metron Harmony is a system-wide, full spectrum approach to addressing the complex operational issues facing air navigation service provider s and users. The most significant aspect of Metron Harmony is the realization of gate-to-gate I-ATFM, including Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) functionality, through the active engagement of system stakeholders across the aviation community. Specific displays, system interfaces and business rules encourage information sharing between active participants, including ATC facilities, airlines, airport operators, the flying public and other airspace users. Metron Harmony optimizes decision-making by providing the right information to the right people at the right time.

Strtegic

Integrated ATFM supports all phases of operational planning across all domains and enables seamles airspace and globally-harmonized operations from gate-to-gate.

REAL-TIME INFORMATION ACROSS ALL DOMAINS

The power of Metron Harmony comes from merging more than just data but from combining actual real-time information across multiple domains. For example, a traffic flow manager can manage actual surface congestion and predicted departure delays, while determining the best capacity and slot allocations at an airport. Additionally, tactical departure and arrival coordinators can manage pre-tactical slot allocations and prioritize delayed aircraft. This combined information enables advanced decision support without the negative effects of stove-piped systems and information silos. This vision represents a future state for the safe, efficient, predictable and collaborative flow of aircraft from gate-to-gate. Depending on the current state of ATC, ATM and CDM associated with one or more ANSPs, the changes necessary to implement this vision can vary.

THE METRON HARMONY VISION

In addition to the technology impacts, there are cultural and political implications to effective implementation of CDM-based I-ATFM. Metron Harmony supports not only the vision, but also recognizes that transition is necessary from current operations to an I-ATFM system. Transition from and integration with legacy systems can be accommodated by Metron Harmony. Also, identifying the current and future architectures, systems, operational procedures, participants and roles and responsibilities is supported by Metron Aviation and a staff of experienced technologists, operational air traffic management personnel, ANSP service professionals and airline operations personnel. Metron Aviation’s vision extends the common definitions of ATFM which address strategic, pre-tactical and tactical phases of ATM performed by the ANSP authority in collaboration with airlines and airports. The extensions recognize that the fundamental functions associated with I-ATFM apply to all authorities and operational phases.

System-Wide_View

Integrated ATFM provides all users with a system-wide view of operations and encourages information sharing between active participants, including ATC facilities, aircraft operators, airport operators, the flying public and other airspace users.

AREAS of OPERATION

  • Traffic Flow Management – When an imbalance exists between air traffic demand and capacity, users are able to model and implement ATFM initiatives to most effectively   resolve the issue.  Metron Harmony fully supports CDM goals and processes.
  • Departure Flow Management – Metron Harmony increases departure flow efficiency by streamlining the coordination of departures from runways to conges ted air space resources (e.g.,  fixes,  FIR boundaries, destination airports, airways) through automat ion, decision support and communication capabilities  between  the Air Traffic Control Tower s (ATCTs ) , terminal  ANSP elements,  and Area Control Center s (ACCs) .
  • Arrival Flow Management – Metron Harmony provides sequencing and scheduling advisories   for arrival traffic consistent with airport, terminal and en route constraints.  
  • Surface Operations Management – Metron Harmony provides surface operations management that maximizes surface utilization and enhances safety while minimizing delays and fuel burn.
  • Environmental Management – Metron Harmony provides the capability to model, monitor, assess and plan to fully understand the environmental impact of all aircraft in the airport, terminal and en route domains.

areas_operation