IFAV3
The IFAV3 (Increased Flexibility of ATCO Validations - V3) project aims to make the deployment of air traffic controllers more flexible through new authorisation concepts, adapted procedures and specific controller assistance systems.
Project description
Up to now, air traffic controllers have only been allowed to work independently in those airspaces or sectors where they have completed full on-the-job training (OJT) and passed the final examination (authorisation acquisition). In addition, there are requirements for obtaining authorisation, for example in the form of minimum working hours in this sector, which must be completed within a certain period of time. This limits the number of sectors in which air traffic controllers can be deployed. In order to be able to reliably serve all sectors, a high level of personnel and training costs must be accepted.
The IFAV3 project was launched on 1 July 2023 and is researching new approaches to training, authorisation acquisition and competence retention in order to expand the operational capability of air traffic controllers in the various sectors while maintaining a high level of safety. The consortium comprises a large number of European air navigation service providers as well as industrial partners and research institutions. The overall management is the responsibility of the Institute of Flight Guidance.
Objectives
IFAV3, as a continuation of the predecessor projects PJ.33 FALCO and PJ.10-73 IFAV, aims to investigate measures and strategies to reduce the effort required for training and competence maintenance in upper airspace. Technical or procedural measures, such as pilot assistance systems specially designed for this purpose, or the cross-sectoral partial standardisation of work processes are the subject of this project. In addition, there are new concepts for on-the-job training and licensing, such as competence-based work authorisations.
The associated reduction in the effort required to acquire and maintain authorisations will enable air traffic controllers to hold and maintain significantly more sector authorisations at the same time without having to compromise on safety and service quality. This significantly increases the size of the airspace in which an air traffic controller can be deployed.
In addition, part of the project will focus on applying the findings from the previous projects to a very similar use case, the Remote Tower Center.
Key data
Project | IFAV3 (Increased Flexibility of ATCO Validations – V3) |
Participants | DLR (Coordinator) NLR ENAIRE DEEP BLUE ENAV INDRA LFV UPM LIU NATS |
Duration | 2023 – 2026 |
Funding | SESAR 3 JU / Horizon Europe programme |
IFAV3 is a project that has received funding from the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 101114683 under European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.
SESAR 3 JU / EU