Air Traffic Management (ATM) Performance Assessment - Paper Example

After an intensive period of several months, I have finally finished writing my dissertation and there are many people who helped me in concluding this dissertation. This has been an intense period of learning for me personally and educationally (especially in the aviation field). Writing this dissertation has had a profound effect on me. I would personally like to thank several people who, were it not for them, it would not have been possible to complete this dissertation.

First and foremost, I would want to sincerely thank all my professor(s), their contribution highly contributed to the success of this work and helped in enhancing the quality of the dissertation. I would first like to thank my colleagues for their wonderful collaboration. My sincere appreciation to all my lecturers, supervisors and tutors who have guided and supported me throughput this post graduate program.

Additionally, I would like to specially thank Dr. . for your guidance and advice throughout the process of writing this dissertation. It was an honour working under your tutelage and I benefited greatly from your guidance and cooperation. You provided me with all the tools that I required to successfully finish this dissertation and ensure that I was on the right path all along. It would have been impossible to complete this dissertation were it not for your persistent help and guidance.

Last but not least, I would like to appreciate my friends, colleagues, and family who were on my side, gave me all the support I needed and accepted nothing less than the best. You are always there for me, continually and convincingly conveying a spirit of support and adventure with regards to my research and quest for knowledge. Im truly humbled by your wise counsel and sympathetic ear.

Thank you very much everyone.

IntroductionAir traffic management (ATM) performance assessment is a vital tool used in improving air transport service delivery. This research paper will analyse performance and the metrics used in the assessment thereof, across the two largest ATM regions in the world, Europe and USA. The market structure and flow management practices of each region will be analysed. Metric definitions, data availabilities, and high-level performance data are also presented. Aviation and air transport are essential elements in today's society, fostering the rapprochement of people and cultures, as well as favouring economic growth. The air traffic system ensures the correct organization and traffic safety in our airspace (Performance Review Commission and FAA-ATO, 2013). In addition to basic services, the air traffic control system encompasses a whole range of additional services such as meteorological, communications, surveillance or aeronautical information services.

The current European system manages about 28,000 commercial flights daily, with peaks of up to 33,000 flights, in addition to many other types of traffic. The forecast of its traffic growth until 2020 suggests that it could triple that which represents a complex challenge in terms of its management and the necessary infrastructure (Cost, EURO CONTROL, 2013). This implies that technological developments must be undertaken in various fields in such a way that airspace use is optimized, operating expenses are reduced, safety levels are improved and the environmental impact is minimized (International Civil Aviation Organization, 2016). At present, there is a model in Europe of the fragmented sky that, according to Euro control, causes costs that are between 880 and 1,400 million Euros per year, which are transferred to the prices of tickets (International Civil Aviation Organization, 2016). These costs represent between 30% and 60% higher than those of the United States and Australia.

In this context, the European Union promotes the "Single European Sky" initiative, which consists of the development and implementation of a common air transport policy. The purpose of this common policy is to achieve an efficient air transport system that allows the safe and regular operation of air transport services and thus facilitates the free movement of goods, people and services (Cost, EURO CONTROL, 2013). The implementation of this initiative at European level will involve a profound reorganization of the structure of the European airspace, without national borders and with more flexible use that will contribute to an improvement of its performance, capacity and cost reduction (International Civil Aviation Organization, 2016). The technological implementation of the "Single Sky" is planned to be carried out through the SESAR project and will be the only way to carry out R & D in AT...