Vulnerability in context of ATM

Abstract

In socio-economic, ecological or abstract contexts of system theory VULNERABILITY is often used as description of the sensitivity to certain hazards. The potential risk to these hazards is driven by the magnitude of vulnerability, which is formed by the system’s characteristics and represents the weak points. Some authors provide methods of comparing different locations according to their vulnerability. The assessement consists of matrices creating vulnerability indices and maps illustrating the local values. Equations with system specific parameters can build up vulnerability indices, too. A couple of descriptive examples are presented in the following chapter. Bad weather and other natural hazards endanger ideal flight operation. Every part of the air traffic system - airports in particular - responses differently to those impacts. This paper lists some important factors influencing this response. Examples of past years explain the influence of significant events with differing effects for the air traffic. For future improvement a distinction between internal and external or influenceable and not influenceable factors respectively is necessary. Similar to other research issues vulnerability of air traffic participants shall be assessed analytically. Therefore, a first approach to vulnerability indices is done in chapter 4 after the description of natural hazards in the air traffic system. Finally, a sample calculation points out the problems occuring due to simplifications done in the first approach. Pursueing work can focus on consistence within the units and indices.