Follow-the-Greens: Towards increased Safety and Efficiency by the Use of Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL). Results from a SESAR real time Simulation.

Abstract

Taxiing at any major hub airport constitutes a workload intense navigation and monitoring. Although the pilots are supported by signage on the airport surface and possibly even taxiway centerline lights, this task can be complicated even in good weather conditions. Radio communication technology is near capacity limits in many airports today resulting in waiting times for the flight crew to negotiate the next taxi clearance. Apart from well known safety issues this often leads to delays - for the passengers as well - and ultimately impacts the environment. Solutions are given by the European research program SESAR (Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research) which aims at modernizing and harmonizing the European Aviation network. A new surface traffic management concept dispenses with radio communication and proposes the automated use of AGL with individually switched green taxiway centerline lights indicating the path for the flight crew to be followed. For each aircraft a segment of taxiway centerline lights can be illuminated in front of it. The areas not needed are switched off, minimizing the risk of errors. The new concept is independent from cockpit equipment. The procedure is called “Follow-the-Greens”. The SESAR European Airports Consortium “SEAC” validated the new concept under the leadership of Fraport with its partners DFS, ENAV, Flightdecksystems and ATRiCS under the support of Lufthansa in 2013. A real-time simulation platform for the Frankfurt airport area layout combined two Airbus A320 fixed based simulators with highly integrated controller working positions. The concept’s effect on taxi times and route deviation was examined. The appropriate length of the green line, different ways of (de-)activating the lights and different visualizations of a stop instruction were tested. Results from the successful validation with twenty pilots are reported in this paper indicating a safer, easier, quicker and greener surface traffic management concept for the future.