Current Trends in Civil Aviation

1. Regulatory Framework of SES, European ATM Master Plan, and EASA Airspace Organization
- SES Initiative, relevant EU legislation, tasks, and objectives
- SESAR Research Platform and SESAR Joint Undertaking – role, achievements, and further development
- Roles of ICAO, ECAC, EASA, and Eurocontrol
- ATM Master Plan: content, structure, and current status

2. SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research)
- Objectives and architecture of the SESAR program
- Key projects: i4D trajectory, SWIM, PJ.38, digital towers
- Implementation of SESAR Solutions in real-world operations

3. Fundamentals of Modern Airline Flight Planning, Flight Planning Systems (FMS, Lido, Jeppesen, Sabre Flight Plan Manager)
- Strategic, tactical-operational, and real-time flight planning
- Integration of crew, fleet, and slot planning
- Structure and algorithms of flight planning systems
- Optimization of routes, fuel, costs, and environmental parameters
- Automation and integration with airline operations systems

4. Infrastructure and Services
- Cooperative Surveillance: ADS-B / WAM
- LPV approaches using SBAS as an alternative to ILS CAT I
- GBAS CAT II/III approaches
- Vision for GNSS utilization in future civil aviation

5. IFPS and Network Manager (NM) Operations
- Role of the Eurocontrol NM in flight plan coordination
- FPL validation, re-routing, and Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM)
- NM tools: B2B web services, NOP (Network Operations Portal)

6. Trajectory Based Operations (TBO) and the 4D Trajectory Concept
- Transition from flight plan to trajectory management
- Role of i4D and interoperable FMS
- Predictive management and synchronization with ATC

7. ATFM and Capacity Management (Air Traffic Flow and Capacity Management)
- ATFM/ATFCM concept and its application in the European region, role of NMOC
- Phases of planning and flow management
- Calculated Take-Off Time (CTOT) allocation and tactical ATFM
- ACC/FIR level regulations and Short-Term ATFCM Measures (STAM)
- NOP (Network Operations Portal), use of predictive models and data for capacity planning and management

8. SWIM – System Wide Information Management
- SWIM concept, architecture, and services
- Data exchange standards (AIXM, FIXM, WXXM)
- Interoperability between ANSPs, operators, and airports

9. Airport Planning and Operations Management
- Strategic and tactical slot planning
- Runway capacity management, stand allocation, and surface movement planning
- A-CDM (Airport Collaborative Decision Making) principles and AOP (Airport Operations Plan)
- Coordination between airport operators, airlines, ANSPs, and ground handling service providers
- KPIs and benefits of A-CDM for capacity and operational predictability

10. Systems for Performance Enhancement at Airports and Terminal Maneuvering Areas (TMA)
- Enhanced controller situational awareness on the movement area under all meteorological conditions using airborne and ground ADS-B
- Automated controller support for airport surface movement planning and guidance
- Arrival Management (AMAN) and sequence organization using time intervals
- Wake turbulence separation based on aircraft characteristics and time intervals
- Continuous Climb and Descent Operations (CCO/CDO)
- Utilization of Precision Area Navigation (P-RNAV) in TMAs
- Advanced procedures for automatic transition from en-route RNP navigation to ILS/GLS or LPV approaches
- GLS CAT II and III approaches using GBAS GAST-C and GAST-D and their operational capabilities
- Virtualization of ATS provision – Remote TWR, Remote/Virtual APP, Virtual ACC

11. Environmental Aspects of Flight Planning
- CORSIA, ETS, and green trajectories
- Optimization of flight levels, speed, and trajectory for emission reduction
- Role of SESAR and EASA in achieving sustainable aviation

12. Digital Transformation of ATM and AI in Flight Planning
- Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and predictive models
- Optimization of capacity, delays, and environmental targets
- Integration of Big Data, ADS-B, SWIM data, and meteorological models

13. Future Challenges and Research Directions in Flight Planning
- U-space Services – efficient and safe airspace access for high-volume drone operations
- U-space, integration of drones and eVTOL into the ATM system
- Digital Twin of the aviation network
- Cybersecurity and data integrity in planning and operations