eCWP

eCWP - enhanced Controller Working Position

In order to create a new scenario for the future system of air traffic management, ENAV developed new opportunities to contribute to the evolution of the European air transport system to face the increasing demand, while maintaining safety levels and ensuring environmental protection.

The main objective of the eCWP - enhanced Controller Working Position – project managed by ENAV CNS/ATM Experimental Centre and completed at the end of 2007 was to collect the operational requirements of a Human Machine Interface (HMI) enabling Italian Air Traffic Control centres to conduct the number of operations needed with the expected growth of traffic demand. The new HMI will be working in an operational context using both existing ATC system and new technologies (and/or advanced tools), already partly developed and operationally consolidated or fully operational in the next few years.

In particular, the functional scenario which will use the new HMI includes new systems such as FDP (Flight Data Processing) and SDP (Surveillance Data Processing), Sequencing & Metering tools, Medium Term Conflict Detection, Flight Plan Monitoring and Safety Nets.

In addition, the new interface will support the data link communications air ground and allow for better integration, harmonisation and data presentation to enhance Air Traffic Controllers working position.

At the heart of the Project, the indispensable involvement of the operational staff has guaranteed the appropriate collection and further validation of identified requirements.

In fact, in the coming years the new HMI, in Italy's air traffic control operational centres (Area Control Centres / Approach Control Centres / Tower Control Centres) will be the result of operational requirements expressed and validated under this project.

These requirements will be supplied to industry to implement by the year 2012 the new Controller Working Position. All requirements expressed by air traffic controllers directly involved in the Project will be fully reflected in the new version as a result of the direct experience of its end-user, the Air Traffic Controller.