TIMS	Download PDF

Tower Information Management System

Tower Automation

These days the airport capacity comes more and more in the focus of automation. One important service at airports is the air traffic control service provided by the aerodrome control towers. The air traffic controllers at airports experience a high work-load and it is therefore essential to provide them with all information and data at their fingertips. They need a harmonised integrated easy to read presentation to have more time for decision making.

The Avitech Tower Information Management System (TIMS) has been designed to give fully integrated presentation of all environment, airport and support information needed by an air traffic controller and to make the access to this data as easy as possible.

TIMS can be seamlessly integrated into existing aerodrome control towers. It has an open architecture based on the latest software architecture design principles and open object oriented interfaces which are freely customisable. The product is based on experience gathered in building three generations of tower information systems over the last 15 years. TIMS is a tool box where a new airport layout and the customisation can be done in hours.

TIMS Features

TIMS provides the following integrated and harmonised functions for total tower environment and support information as well as data presentation:

• Real-Time Airport Weather and Status Information
• Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
• Weather Messages and Charts (METAR, TAF, etc)
• Supporting Information (Maps, Documents and others)

Real-Time Airport Weather and Status Information TIMS receives and processes data and shows the local airport weather information separately for take-off and landing directions and for all-weather operations. This data are received from AWOS on a 10 seconds cycle. The presentation of data includes:

• Layout of Runway(s)
• Wind Direction and Speed, Surface Head and Cross Wind Data
• Braking Actions
• Runway(s) in Use, Status of Runway(s)
• Approach Category(ies) available
• Location of Transmissometers and Runway Visual Range (RVR)
• Status of Technical Equipment
• QNH, QFE
• ATIS Information Indicator and ICAO Location Indicator of the Airport.

Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)

The TIMS enables controllers to receive data for ATIS distribution and to edit them befor e publication. The data are received in form of the local (aerodrome) Meteorological Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) and Aviation Selected Special Weather Report (SPECI). Additional ATIS data can be collected and the production of A to Z cycled ATIS data sets is possible. The ATIS data sets can be displayed on controller working positions, sent to aircraft cockpits via data link, broadcasted through the aeronautical radio system and switched to telephone.

The ATIS data include: ICAO Location Indicator of the Airport ATIS Information Indicator Sunrise/Sunset VMC/IMC Indicator Date and Time Runway(s ) in Use and Braking Actions Transition Level Wind Direction and Speed Horizontal Visibility and Runway Visual Range(s) Present Weather

Weather Messages and Charts

In addition to the real time data presentation and ATIS automation the reception and processing of OPMET messages received from external networks like AFTN is possible. The messages can be geographically and message type related by grouped according to individual needs of the controller working positions. World Area Forecast System Charts (WAFS) can also be received, stored and displayed as needed. The handling of AFTN messages for reception, storage, pre-processing, display, creation and transmission supplements the functionality. The communication adapter is available for all types of the ICAO Aeronautical Fixed Service (AFTN, CIDIN, AMHS). The OPMET messages and WAFS charts include:

METAR, SIGMET, SPECI, TAF, AIRMET, Upper wind and temperature forecast, Fixed time prognostic charts, SIGWX charts, And others.

Supporting information

The integration of a wide variety of supporting information in different formats is possible to assist the second level work of the controllers. Important parts of this information include: ATS Manuals and AIPs NOTAM, SNOWTAM, ATFM Messages Technical Status and Frequencies Emergency Rules and Plans Maps and Charts Procedures and Aerodrome Charts Airport Information System Data

Human Machine Interface

The HMI for TIMS is provided by a user-friendly purpose built Graphical User Interface (GUI) either running under X11 or HTTP. A supervisor GUI and a scenario generator GUI for a training installation are available as well. All GUI elements, data fields as well as action buttons are freely customisable and can be adopted according the individually needs. The changes can be made at any time by a system administrator. This ensures any customisation over the whole lifecycle of the system when operational or ergonomically changes are necessary.

Systems Integration & Interfaces

The TIMS database and application is built to be integrated into an existing tower, approach control office and area control centre IT infrastructure. A separate server can be foreseen for the database and application if necessary. The interfaces to the existing infrastructure are:

• Message Communication Interface (AFTN, AMHS, CIDIN)
• Communication Adapters for Real-Time Data
• Object-Oriented XML layer for Charts, Books and others
• SNMP Gateway to Interface Management Systems

A Message-Oriented Middleware is used to interface external systems (clients).

Options

A toolbox to design and configure various tower information systems can be provided. For training purposes a classroom installation together with scenario generators for simulation of real time data is available as well. A communication adapter can exchange data between various tower, approach control office and area control centre.

Together with TIMS an Electronic Strip Display System (ESDS) and an Aircraft Situation Awareness Tools (VIEW) can be provided.

System Requirements

The minimum system requirements are:

• General:
  Server: Oracle 9.0.1,
  Client: nothing specific
• Operating System:
  
• Client: Windows NT, 2000, Linux Server: all Oracle 9I supported platforms
• Hardware:
  
• Client: Pentium III, 128 MB RAM, 400 MB disc space
  Server: Pentium III 880 Mhz or RISC 450 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 20GB disc space

Conformance Statement

The TIMS is designed to assist the information and data presentation at aerodrome control towers according to ICAO Annex 11 and 13.

The implementation of the overall architecture requirements of the European Air Traffic Management Program (EATMP) and the operational concepts are supported as well.