AIRAC AIP SUPPLEMENT

INDIA
TEL: 91-11-24632950 25/2017
AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICE
Extn: 2219/2233
AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
AFS: VIDDYXAX
RAJIV GANDHI BHAWAN
FAX: 91-11-24615508
SAFDARJUNG AIRPORT
Email: gmais@aai.aero 16 MAR 2017
NEW DELHI – 110003

File No. AAI/ATM/AIS/09-09/2017

Following supplement is issued for information, guidance and necessary action.

sd/-
DR. GURUPRASAD MOHAPATRA
CHAIRMAN
AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
[EFFECTIVE DATE: 27 APR 2017]
CENTRAL AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT
C-ATFM – INDIA
1. Introduction

1.1 Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) is a service established with the objective of
contributing to a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic by ensuring that ATC
capacity is utilised to the maximum extent possible and that the air traffic volume is
compatible with the capacities declared by the appropriate ATS authority.

1.2 ATFM, in effect, balances capacity and demand in air traffic and ensures optimised
flow of air traffic into an airport, this service also helps in reducing fuel burns and
reducing carbon footprint.

1.3 Demand Capacity Balancing (DCB) is achieved by optimally utilizing major resources
viz., Airport, Airspace and aircraft at every Indian airport where there is a capacity
constraint.

2. C-ATFM Implementation in India

2.1 Airports Authority of India (AAI), in accordance with ICAO guidelines, has established
a Central Air Traffic Flow Management (C-ATFM) system in India.

2.2 The C-ATFM network consists of a Central Command Center (CCC) at Delhi
supported by Flow Management Positions (FMPs) at all major Area Control Centres
(ACCs) and ATC Towers across the country.

2.3 C-ATFM system in India will be implemented in a phased manner.

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2.3.1 In phase I, CCC at New Delhi and the six Flow Management Positions (FMPs) at Delhi,
Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, will be operationalised. During
this phase DCB will be done only for these six airports which account for 60 % of Air
Traffic handled at Indian Airports.

2.3.2 Aircraft departing from airports where FMP is not established and operating to any of
these six airports mentioned in para 2.3.1, the associated FMPs will coordinate with
such airports.

2.4 In Phase II, FMPs will be made operational at additional 30 airports.

3. ATFM – CDM (Collaborative Decision Making) Concept

3.1 CDM is a key enabler for C-ATFM. CDM ensures that decisions are taken transparently
in a timely and accurate manner based on the operational inputs/constraints with respect
to airspace, airports, metrological updates, major events impacting airspace/airport
capacity etc., as communicated by the stakeholders.

3.2 The stakeholders participating in the CDM include, airspace users, airport operators,
military, regulator (DGCA), other ANSPs, India Meteorological Department (IMD)
and AAI.

3.3 CDM in India is effected consistent with ICAO, Global Air Traffic Management
Operational Concept (DOC 9854 AN/458), Global Air Navigation Plan (DOC 9750
AN/963) and Manual on Collaborative Air Traffic Flow Management (DOC 9971
AN/485).

3.4 A web portal access www.atfmaai.aero compatible with all the web browsers is
available to the stakeholders to have a common situational awareness of the current
ATFM status in India and for enabling CDM process. (A hyperlink to the ATFM system
is provided on www.aai.aero). Aircraft operators will be able to view their flight details
and their own slots during an ATFM Measure. ATS Units and aerodrome operators will
also be able to view all flights arriving and departing from/to their aerodrome.

4. Applicability of C-ATFM

4.1 The C-ATFM system, when fully implemented provides ATFM services covering all
the four Indian FIRs including the oceanic airspace areas of Bay of Bengal, Indian
Ocean and Arabian Sea, designated to India for the provision of Air Traffic Services.
This is called Indian ATFCM (Air Traffic Flow and Capacity Management) Area.

4.2 ATFM measures are not applicable to flights which depart from Indian ATFCM area
for destinations which are outside the Indian ATFCM area and flights that arrive at

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 airports within Indian ATFCM area from airports which are outside Indian ATFCM
area. Further, the list of aircraft exempted from ATFM measures is detailed in para 7
below.

5. C-ATFM Operating Process

5.1 With access to approved flight schedules (FS), repetitive flight plans, flight plans,
NOTAMs and operational flight data from AAI’s ATC automation systems, strategic
and pre-tactical demand predictions are provided by the C-ATFM system to determine
periods of excess demand compared to the declared/practiced airport Capacity.

5.2 CCC will issue ATFM Daily Plan (ADP) (a day before the actual date of operations)
indicating constraints in airspace/airports which may entail application of ATFM
measures.

5.3 When demand exceeds capacity and tactical measures would not be sufficient, ATFM
measures such as Airport Delay Program (ADP) and Airport Stop Program (ASP) i.e.,
primarily delaying the aircraft on ground will be applied and Calculated Take-off Time
(CTOT) will be appropriately issued through CDM process.

5.4 Issue of CTOT

5.4.1 For flights subject to ATFM measures, CCC will send an AFTN message containing
CTOTs, not later than two hours before Estimated off- Block Time (EOBT). This will
be sent to the aerodrome operator, ATC and the aircraft operator via AFTN/SITA
and/or as an e-mail message.

5.4.2 Recipients of the CTOT messages as above are required to comply with the issued
departure slot time. The Aircraft operators shall arrange their flights to take-off within
the slot tolerance window (-5 to +10 minutes of the CTOT). ATC shall ensure that the
departures comply with the CTOT regulations so that excessive holdings and diversions
are avoided.

5.4.3 When Aircraft operators are unable to meet the departure slot window, they will
coordinate with respective ATC unit for a revised CTOT. ATC will facilitate such
requests by coordinating with respective FMPs. FMPs in-turn will coordinate with CCC
and issue revised CTOT.

5.5 Alternative ATFM measures may include re-routing, level capping, minutes-in trail,
miles-in trail, airborne holding and fix balancing (Restricting number of aircraft over a
fix).

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5.6 Once an ATFM Measure is implemented, CCC will provide updated demand
predictions to monitor the air traffic flow. Updated predictions are driven by tactical
flight data updates from the automation systems as well as flight specific updates
provided by aircraft operators.

5.7 Aircraft operators and Airport operators are provided with capabilities to monitor the
updated demand prediction and may request CCC through the respective FMP for
schedule management adjustments (e.g., slot substitutions) to optimize their operations
consistent with the available capacity.

5.8 C-ATFM system will also provide real-time and post operational reports to help AAI
and their stakeholders to evaluate system performance and lessons learnt.

5.9 Full details of the ATFM measures, procedures related to flight planning and C-ATFM
are published in the ATFM User’s Manual section of the C-ATFM Operations
handbook.

6. ATFM Flight Planning requirements

6.1 Flight plans shall be submitted at least 3 hours before the EOBT;

6.2 The window for filing FPL is between 3 Hours and 120 Hours (Five days) before the
EOBT. Earlier filing of FPL will give a realistic demand data to the CCC and hence the
requirement of ATFM measures can be identified early for better planning. Late filing
of a flight plan will lead to inaccuracies in predicting the demand and may lead to a
delay;

6.3 It is also important that the EOBT of a flight may be adhered to as far as possible. All
flights departing, arriving or overflying India subject to a change in an EOBT of more
than 15 minutes shall notify the change to the C-ATFM system through AFTN message.

6.4 The CHG should be communicated using a DLA message or CNL message respectively
or by filing a new flight plan, after sending a CNL message. The new flight plan shall
be transmitted not earlier than 5 minutes after the CNL message.

7. ATFM Exempted flights

7.1 The following flights are exempted from ATFM measures:

a. Flights experiencing an emergency, including aircraft subjected to unlawful

interference;

b. Flights in search and rescue or fire-fighting missions;

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 c. Urgent medical evacuation flights specifically declared by medical authorities
where flight delays would put the life of the patients at risk;

d. VVIP flights;

e. Military aircraft; and

f. Other flights specifically exempted by CCC.

7.2 Flights exempted from ATFM measures shall indicate the exemption in their flight plan
(Field 18 – STS/HEAD, STS/MEDEVAC etc.).

8. Responsibilities of Aircraft Operators

Aircraft operators shall

8.1 Provide RPL data to ATS units and subsequent changes if any in RPL, as per laid down
procedures. In addition, RPL data should also be provided to CCC immediately after
approval of schedule by DGCA.

8.2 Ensure that the details given in the FPL are consistent with that of the RPL/ Flight
Schedules.

8.3 Shall monitor ATFM Daily Plan (ADP);

8.4 Shall comply with a CTOT by suitably amending EOBT.

9. Responsibilities of FMP

Each FMP shall:

9.1 Disseminate ADP and CTOTs to the concerned ATC centres in a timely manner.

9.2 Coordinate with CCC for revision/cancellation of CTOTs or for any contingency events
affecting capacity.

9.3 Participate in national CDM.

10. Responsibilities of Air Traffic Services

Concerned ATC centre shall:

10.1 Facilitate/monitor CTOT compliance by aircraft

10.2 Coordinate with the respective FMPs for extensions/revisions to CTOT when flights
are unable to adhere to their slot.

10.3 Keep FMP informed about any changes or occurrences that can affect the capacity of
the aerodrome.

10.4 Accord priority for push-back /start/departure to aircraft subject to CTOT

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11. Responsibilities of Airport Operator

Airport operator shall:

11.1 Provide, at the earliest opportunity, but at least 14 days in advance, details of any event
that may lead to an hourly increase in demand, e.g. sports event, trade fair,
Government/Public meeting, air show etc.

11.2 Send such Event-related information to:

Email: ccc_catfm@aai.aero

Fax: + 91-11-25652131

11.3 Coordinate with local ATC and FMP for allocation/revision of airport slots;

11.4 Notify concerned FMP of events/maintenance works etc., that may impact airport
capacity; and

12. Role of Military as a CDM Participant

12.1 C-ATFM operating concept envisages active civil-military coordination & cooperation
on sharing of data and other resources, thus enabling an optimal use of national airspace
system. Further it may be noted that, in case of exigencies, the Defence liaison at CCC
will be the focal point of contact for all required coordination between C-ATFM and
Defence.

12.2 Military ATC unit shall liaise with the respective airports/ concerned Defence
authorities for information on Special User Airspace.

13. ATFM Operational Letters of Agreement

13.1 The roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders for the collaborative decision making
of ATFM will be jointly developed and agreed upon. The applicable common rules will
be published in a document called “Common Business Rules” (CBR).

14. ATFM Documentation

14.1 Specific C-ATFM procedures and information will be available in the C-ATFM
Operations Handbook published by the ATFM Directorate of AAI and can be
downloaded from: http://www.atfmaai.aero

14.2 The C-ATFM Operations Handbook containing comprehensive information and

procedures on ATFM includes:

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14.2.1 General and C-ATFM Systems: this section contains details of the C-ATFM and CCC
organization, area of responsibility of various stakeholders and a description of C-
ATFM systems.

14.2.2 The ATFM User’s Manual: this is a self-contained user’s manual for aircraft operators
and ATC units describing C-ATFM operating procedures in the context of the
SKYFLOW system.

14.2.3 Flight Planning User’s Manual: this is a self-contained user’s manual describing
operating procedures for flight plan filing in the context of ATFM.

15. General ATFM Enquiries

15.1 General ATFM enquiries should be addressed to:

Executive Director (Air Traffic Flow Management)

Airports Authority of India,

Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Safdarjung Airport,

New Delhi -110003

Phone: +91-11-24610776

Fax: +91-11-24657898

Email: edatfm@aai.aero

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