AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT

Quite separate from Air Traffic Control, where safe air navigation and traffic separation services are the primary objectives, the objectives of a Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS) is to provide services that are focused on cooperative planning and delay minimisation. The operational benefits of a Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS) are to provide airspace users and Air Traffic Controllers with enhanced services for:

• The centralised management and allocation of available capacity.
• Forward notice of abnormal capacity situations (e.g. extreme weather conditions).
• Tools to implement delay programs that limit cost implications to airspace users due to abnormal capacity situations.
• Relieve Air Traffic Controllers from a significant part of the work load and subsequently reduce stress levels during control operations.
• Provide to Airline Operators timely and accurate information on any event affecting the flow of air traffic and capacity of the airspace, and to propose effective solutions to minimise delays or to re-route traffic.
• Improve capacity, sector productivity and support costs.
• Improve information distribution and co-ordination with the ATC system and other users, improving "system wide" decision making.
• Expedite airport arrival, departure, taxiway and aircraft turnaround processes.
• Integrate all airspace users in ATM processes.
• Optimise flight profiles and routes during adverse weather conditions affecting airspace operations.