The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of the current and future air traffic management (ATM) and air traffic control (ATC) systems, their functional architectures, main algorithms and applications.

Both the regulatory and technical context will be explained, with an emphasis towards ATM digitalisation and increased automation. The course also aims to discuss current ATM standards and technology applied in the systems and to review the future concepts as described by SESAR/NextGen. Finally, an overview of the appropriate tools to develop and assess ATM components will be presented, enabling students to critically evaluate the performance of an ATM function.

At a glance

  • Dates
    • Please enquire for course dates
  • DurationFive days
  • LocationCranfield campus
  • Cost£1,850. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Accommodation is not included and must be booked separately. 

Course structure

This five day course is presented through a mixture of lectures, tutorials and discussion of case studies. Active participation from the delegates is strongly encouraged particularly during the whole course in order to consolidate learning. All delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance upon completion of this course.

What you will learn

On completion of the course, you will be able to:

  • Examine the current and future ATM ecosystem and its Institutional, Operational and Technical enablers as proposed in SESAR/NextGen programmes.
  • Appraise the airspace organisation and classification and separation standards.
  • Critically evaluate the current ATM components (Airspace Separation Management (ASM), Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) and Air Traffic Control).
  • Formulate systems engineering approaches to the development of ATM components to meet future air traffic demands.
  • Analyse the performance of ATM systems, in a simulation environment using corresponding performance metrics.

Core content

Overview of current ATC systems

  • ASM airspace structures, airspace segregation, conditional routes, cross border management, civil-military coordination, and route network management.
  • ATFM, traffic flow network management, Demand/Capacity Balancing procedures, Flow control at pre-tactical and tactical levels
  • ATC architecture, Decision support tools (DSTs), Controller working position (CWPs) characteristics
  • CNS: ATM requirements in Communication, Navigation and Surveillance systems
  • ATC Operational procedures at the different environments (airports, terminal and en route airspace)
  • ATM as a sociotechnical system
  • Safety, ethical and regulatory considerations

Future Air Navigation System

  • FANS Communication - required communication performance (RCP), AMSS, VDL, SSR Mode S
  • FANS Surveillance - required surveillance performance (RSP), ADS/ADS-B, SSR Mode S
  • FANS Navigation - required Navigation Performance (RNP), Area Navigation (RNAV), GNSS and its augmentations, RNP/RNAV

Air Traffic Management Key Performance Indicators

  • Capacity and delay models of airport and air routes
  • ATM cost model
  • ATM efficiency model

Who should attend

The course is of benefit to project engineers, software engineers and designers in ATM industries. It is appropriate for both regulatory authorities and air traffic controllers. The course will also be useful to advanced air mobility and uncrewed aircraft traffic management stakeholders who seek safe and seamless integration with existing airspace.

Speakers

The course is presented through lectures and tutorials conducted by members of Cranfield University’s staff and relevant external industrial contributors (NATS) all of whom have considerable academic and industrial experience.

Location address

Cranfield University
College Road
Cranfield
Bedford 
MK43 0AL

Accommodation options and prices

This course is non-residential. If you would like to book accommodation on campus, please contact Mitchell Hall or Cranfield Management Development Centre directly. Further information about our on campus accommodation can be found here. Alternatively you may wish to make your own arrangements at a nearby hotel. Location and travel

Location and travel

Cranfield University is situated in Bedfordshire close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The University is located almost midway between the towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes and is conveniently situated between junctions 13 and 14 of the M1.

London Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are 30, 90 and 90 minutes respectively by car, offering superb connections to and from just about anywhere in the world. . 

For further location and travel details

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.