• X, Advanced Methods, G05A.02-02
• X, Collaborative Information Management (CIM), G05M.02-01 • X, Flight Object Exchange Services (FOXS), G05A.02-08 • X, Dynamic Airspace, G05A.04-01
• X, Airspace Resource Management System (ARMS), G05A.02-09
A, Flight Object, G05A.02-03
Program Description
NAS systems currently operate as separate entities servicing different flight domains (Preflight, Airport, Terminal, Enroute, and Oceanic). Similarly, International Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) also operate as separate entities servicing their own airspace. Even though flight data may be found in multiple NAS systems, a unified, complete, accurate, up-to-date, and easily-accessible picture of any and all flights does not exist today. The primary goal of the Flight Object program is to develop an International data standard, “FIXM” (Flight Information Exchange Model) and to support systems implementation of this data standard. This data standard will support the
exchange of flight information between systems across multiple domains (including both NAS and International systems).
The Flight Object will be the standard medium for capturing and sharing the most up-to-date information on any flight, and will serve as the single common reference for all system information about that flight. A Flight Object will be created for each proposed flight, and the Flight Object information will be updated throughout the entire time the flight progresses from gate to gate. The Flight Object will collect, manage and provide flight-specific data, such as aircraft identification, aircraft parameters, current flight plan information, operator preferences, flight capabilities, and security information. The Flight Object is not envisioned to include environment or weather information, since these are system-wide elements that affect multiple flights. The sum of information contained in the Flight Object will be much richer than today’s flight data construct. FIXM is part of a family of information exchange models (including AIXM - Aeronautical Information Exchange Model and WXXM - Weather information Exchange Model) designed to cover the information needs of Air Traffic Management (ATM). FIXM is an International data exchange standard, and it will receive annual incremental updates to add/delete/modify FIXM data elements as necessary.
There are several initiatives to implement FIXM in today’s ATM operations in both domestic and international domains. The FAA will deploy Flight Data Publication Service (FDPS) under the SWIM Segment 1 program (G05C.01-01) which will publish by FY 2015 SWIM-compliant flight data from En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) in the FIXM standard. FDPS is currently planning for deployment using FIXM v1 and will be upgraded to incorporate future FIXM releases. International data exchange will start to be available. Airservices Australia’s Flight Information Broker (FIB) provides a variety of flight information services in the FIXM format, and Australia’s Operational Data Services (ODS), a future flight information management system, is planning to deploy using FIXM.
The Flight Object work program will be composed of two major components: • Development of the FIXM standard, and
• Flight Object Operational Analysis. Development of FIXM Standard:
The FIXM Standard will be updated on an annual basis (FIXM V2.0 was released in 2013). The following artifacts will be created for each version: FIXM data dictionary, data models and XML schema. The updates will be created with collaboration with FAA stakeholders, International partners, industry, ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and IATA (International Air Transport Association).
Flight Object Operational Analysis:
The operational analysis work will assess various ATM capabilities and identify their data requirements that should be considered for inclusion in each release of FIXM. Additionally, operational scenarios will be developed to define operational context in FIXM artifacts, and verify that their contents accurately address the operational needs.
Alignment of Program to FAA Strategic Priority and Performance Metric
• FAA Strategic Priority 2 – Deliver Benefits through Technology and Infrastructure.
• FAA Performance Metric 2 – Maintain an average daily capacity for Core airports of 58,166, or higher, arrivals and departures.
Relationship to Performance Metric
Use of FIXM will provide a unified, complete, accurate, up-to-date, and easily-accessible picture of any and all flights. This use of standardized flight data will increase data quality and availability between stakeholders, enabling operational benefits such as increased coordination, common situational awareness, and collaborative decision-making across all phases of flight, thereby improving planning, decision making, and NAS capacity.
Program Plans FY 2015 – Performance Output Goals
Development of FIXM Standard: • Develop final FIXM v4.0 artifacts. • Develop draft FIXM v5.0 artifacts. Flight Object Operational Analysis:
• Identify capabilities which should be supported by FIXM v5.0.
• Develop operational scenarios to define the operational context for FIXM v4.0. • Verify that FIXM v4.0 artifact accurately reflects the operational needs.
Program Plans FY 2016 – Performance Output Goals
Development of FIXM Standard: • Develop final FIXM v5.0 artifacts. • Develop draft FIXM v6.0 artifacts. Flight Object Operational Analysis:
• Identify capabilities which should be supported by FIXM v6.0.
• Develop operational scenarios to define the operational context for FIXM v5.0. • Verify that FIXM v5.0 artifact accurately reflects the operational needs.
Program Plans FY 2017 – Performance Output Goals
Development of FIXM Standard: • Develop final FIXM v6.0 artifacts. • Develop draft FIXM v7.0 artifacts. Flight Object Operational Analysis:
• Identify capabilities which should be supported by FIXM v7.0.
• Develop operational scenarios to define the operational context for FIXM v6.0. • Verify that FIXM v6.0 artifact accurately reflects the operational needs.
Program Plans FY 2018 – Performance Output Goals
Development of FIXM Standard: • Develop final FIXM v7.0 artifacts. • Develop draft FIXM v8.0 artifacts. Flight Object Operational Analysis:
• Identify capabilities which should be supported by FIXM v8.0.
• Develop operational scenarios to define the operational context for FIXM v7.0. • Verify that FIXM v7.0 artifact accurately reflects the operational needs.
Program Plans FY 2019 – Performance Output Goals
Development of FIXM Standard: • Develop final FIXM v8.0 artifacts. • Develop draft FIXM v9.0 artifacts. Flight Object Operational Analysis:
• Identify capabilities which should be supported by FIXM v9.0.
• Develop operational scenarios to define the operational context for FIXM v8.0. • Verify that FIXM v8.0 artifact accurately reflects the operational needs.
B, International Harmonization Demonstration, G08M.01-01
Program Description
The Mini-Global demonstration will support the goals of International Air Traffic Interoperability (IATI) through validation of the Flight Object concept and the use of the Flight Information Exchange Model (FIXM) standard. The FIXM is a data interchange format for sharing information about flights throughout their lifecycle. FIXM is part of a family of technology independent, harmonized and interoperable information exchange models designed to
cover the information needs of Air Traffic Management. The demonstration will show how ANSPs and flight operators, in both the Pacific and Atlantic regions, can leverage the FIXM standard as a means for sharing common flight information elements.
Mini Global demonstration activities will foster a future implementation of a seamless, global Air Traffic Management (ATM) system that will enable flight operators to meet their planned times of departure and arrival and adhere to their preferred flight profiles with minimum constraints and without compromising agreed levels of safety. Fundamental to this is a global seamless operations and integration of systems. An integrated global ATM system will improve the handling and transfer of operational aeronautical information and enable aircraft operators to conduct flights in accordance with preferred trajectories, dynamically adjusted, in the most optimum and cost- efficient manner.
Activities include the establishment and demonstration of the Mini Global “Cloud” infrastructure - Enterprise Messaging Services (EMS), using SWIM/Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) technologies. The demonstration project will identify global policies, protocols, security, and business sensitivity requirements, mediate between diverse EMSs, and provide an infrastructure for future applications/services to benefit Global ATM.
Alignment of Program to FAA Strategic Priority and Performance Metric
• FAA Strategic Priority 2 – Deliver Benefits through Technology and Infrastructure.
• FAA Performance Metric 2 – Maintain an average daily capacity for Core airports of 58,166, or higher, arrivals and departures.
Relationship to Performance Metric
Sharing common information elements (Flight Object and FIXM) will improve the accuracy and availability of flight information updates, the consistency of flight planning in different ATM systems and ANSP domains, and the transition of flights between these domains, and phases of flight (e.g. departure, en-route, arrival.). This improvement will address the FAA Performance Metric 2 – Maintain an average daily capacity for Core airports of 58,166, or higher, arrivals and departures.
Program Plans FY 2015 – Performance Output Goals
• Conduct demonstration to focus on the Mini Global “Cloud” infrastructure, the connectivity and data sharing between multiple Enterprise Messaging Services (EMS), initial applications for ATM enhancements, and assess global ATM interoperability/harmonization options for future adoption.
• Complete a post-demonstration analysis.
• Provide standards and governance recommendations to the Flight Object Working Group on Flight Information Exchange Model (FIXM) 3.0.
• Provide recommendation to System Wide Information Management (SWIM) Program Office to include efficiency, scalability, governance, performance and Enterprise Messaging Service (EMS) connectivity.
Program Plans FY 2016-2019 – Performance Output Goals
• None.
X, Common Status & Structure Data, G05A.02-01
Program Description
The Common Status and Structure program will establish the requirements and information flows for the collection, management, and maintenance of aeronautical information in a digital format for machine to machine exchange. The common data and information services and integration activities enable improved flight planning and pilot briefing services, increased on-demand NAS operational performance information and better airspace management using timely schedule information and a common awareness of Special Activity Airspace (SAA) status across the NAS. This program enables the FAA to improve situational awareness through improved access to aeronautical information and a common language so that external users (DoD, Airline Operations Centers, Flight Operation