ENR 1.9  AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT SERVICE (ATFM)

1.   General

1.1.  Air Traffic Flow Management is based on the ICAO concept for Centralised ATFM Organization (CTMO) and in accordance with the agreement of the Ministers of Transport of ECAC States a Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) has been set up by EUROCONTROL at Haren in Brussels.

This unit is in charge for Europe assuming executive responsibilities of ATFM which consists of strategic, pretactical and tactical flow measures.

1.2.  The overall authority for the provision of ATFM Service in Budapest FIR is delegated to the EUROCONTROL CFMU.
1.2.1  ATFM procedures are applied for IFR /GAT flights.

2.   Responsibilities

2.1   Responsibilities of the CFMU

The CFMU is responsible for:

  • ensuring that traffic flows correspond to the stated capacity of the sectors through which they pass,
  • ensuring that ATFM measures when necessary are applied in equitable manner and in such a way as to reduce as far as possible the penalties to Aircraft Operators (AOs).

In order to do this the CFMU applies procedures which:

  • are agreed internationally,
  • are published in the corresponding CFMU documentation,
  • have, within Budapest FIR, the same status as procedures explicitly published in this AIP.
2.2   Responsibilities of the Air Traffic Services (ATS)
2.2.1  ATS provides a Flow Management Position (FMP) in ACC Budapest to liaise between Air Traffic Control (ATC), local AOs and the CFMU. ATS Reporting Office (ARO) is also responsible for information exchange with the CFMU for those AOs, who can not communicate directly with the CFMU.
2.2.2  It should be noted that an ATFM slot, if applicable, shall be included as part of the ATC clearance.
2.2.3  In Budapest FIR the following procedures shall be applied:
  • at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport the ATC unit (TWR) is responsible for departure slots (CTOT) monitoring;

    Flights which do not adhere to their slots shall be denied start up clearance by the ground contoller. However, ATC shall make all efforts to enable departing flights to comply with the slot and flights shall not be prevented from departing due to small taxiing delays.

  • at all AFIS aerodromes, the relevant ATS unit is responsible for departure slot monitoring;
  • at other aerodromes, pilots themselves concerned shall ensure that their flights adhere to departure slots issued by the CFMU.
2.3   Responsibilities of Aircraft Operators (AOs)

AOs shall inform themselves of and adhere to:

  • general ATFM procedures including flight plan (FPL) filing and message exchange requirements.
  • strategic ATFM measures (e.g. Traffic Orientation Schemes /TOS/),
  • current ATFM measures (e.g.specific measures applicable on the day in question),

Specifically they shall adhere to departure slots issued by the ATFM Service.

2.4   ATFM Documentation

The general ATFM procedures for the ICAO European Region are published in ICAO Doc 7030/4,the Regional Supplementary Procedures, Europe and in ICAO Doc 003, the ATFM Handbook.

Detailed CFMU Procedures can be found in the CFMU Handbook. It is obtainable from the

EUROCONTROL Library

Post:

Rue de la Fusée 96. Bruxelles.

Tel:+32 2 729 3639

Fax:+32 2 729 9109.

3.   Information on Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures

ATFM measures are issued and forwarded by the CFMU via ATFM Notification Messages (ANMs). Information relating to them are notified via ATFM Information Messages (AIMs).

These messages are issued generally late afternoon before the day of operation.

These messages are received at the Aircraft Operators’ offices which have direct contact with the CFMU either via SITA or a CFMU Terminal.

For those AOs who do not contact directly with the CFMU, information on current ATFM measures (ANMs and AIMs) are normally available at the FMP Budapest. These information are also available at the ATS Reporting Office (ARO).

4.   ATFM procedures

4.1.  The CFMU automatically calculates (from flight plan data) the necessary ”slot” for flights operating into areas for which ATFM measures have been established.

This slot is available in the form of Calculated Take-Off Time (CTOT) 2 hours prior to EOBT. The slot is defined by a period of 15 minutes (-5/+10 minutes around CTOT).

4.2.  In order to avoid delays, AOs are requested to adhere strictly to flight plan filing procedures and submit FPL at least 3 hours prior to EOBT if operating into areas for which ATFM measures have been established. Any delay in the filing of flight plans might have serious consequences.

Note: Wrongful use of abbreviations for special handling requirement in the flight plan, which result in most cases an exemption from flow regulation is regarded as a serious breach of procedures and will be dealt accordingly.

4.3.  Dialogue between the CFMU and the users (AOs, ATS and AROs) can be effected by using special messages of ADEXP (ATS Data Exchange Presentation) format, listed below.

From the CFMU:

SAMSlot Allocation Message
SRMSlot Revision Message
SLCSlot Requirement Cancellation Message
SIPSlot Improvement Proposal
FLSFlight Suspension Message
ERRError Message
RRPRerouteing Proposal Message

From the users:

SRRSlot Revision Request
SMMSlot Missed Message
SPASlot Proposal Acceptance Message
SRJSlot Proposal Rejection
FCMFlight Confirmation Message
REAReady Message
RFIReady for (direct) Improvement Message
RJTRerouteing Rejection Message
SWMSIP Wanted Message

Details concerning use and format of the above messages are published in the CFMU Handbook.

4.4   Direct ATFM message dialogue with the CFMU

Aircraft Operators, who want to establish a direct dialogue with the CFMU must fix an AFTN and/or SITA address with the CFMU or may require the installation of a CFMU terminal. In this way, all ATFM messages will be sent to the respective AO, who is then responsible for the whole message dialogue with the CFMU in the context of ATFM.

4.5   ATFM Message dialogue via the ARO

Those AOs, who cannot communicate directly with the CFMU, can file and receive all ATFM messages with the help of the ARO staff or the FMP located in ACC Budapest.

The following procedures shall be observed:

  • If requested, ARO will inform AOs whether the planned flight is subject to ATFM measures.
  • 2 hours prior to the EOBT indicated in the flight plan, the CFMU will transmit the CTOT (by means of a SAM message) for the relevant flight. Aircraft operators are required to inquire if SAM has been received.
  • A telephone number should be left at the ARO where the AO can be reached until shortly before take-off and can be informed immediately in case of any change in the slot. All messages received from the CFMU and addressed to the AO will be forwarded.
  • The ARO will forward the requested messages to the CFMU at the AO’s initiation.
  • If a CTOT has been allocated by the CFMU, AOs are required not to apply for a better slot. If a better slot is available, the AO will be automatically notified (by means of a SIP message).
  • If it becomes apparent that an allocated slot cannot be adhered to, a new slot must be requested from the CFMU via the ARO.
  • The ARO shall be notified if a delay from the planned EOBT exceeds:
    1. 30 minutes, and
    2. 15 minutes, if the flight is subject to ATFM measures and no CTOT has been assigned yet.

If the delay is caused by ATFM measures, this must be pointed out to the ARO so that the delay message (DLA) can be transmitted correctly.

4.6   ATFM Message dialogue via the TWR

After having received a SAM, whenever an aircraft indicates that its flight is in a ready situation, may ask the TWR to send a Ready Message (RDY) to the CFMU. Any potential improvement which could be given to this flight will be made by the CFMU through the transmission of a Slot Revision Message (SRM). The TWR will pass the SRM to the pilot as soon as it has been received from the CFMU. The CFMU will stop the process if the indicated MINLINEUP time is not long enough for the flight to be amended.

Note: This revision will not be given a higher priority than for another flight normally eligible for an improvement through the normal procedure SIP.

5.   Operational data

5.1.  Flow Management Position (FMP) Budapest

Hours of Operation: H24

Tel:361) 296-9183

Fax:(361) 296-9152

5.2.  ATS Reporting Office (ARO)

Hours of Operation: H24

Tel:(361) 291-1085

Fax:(361) 296-6925