Surface Manager SMAN

The ATRiCS Surface Manager is the world's most advanced and operationally proven A-SMGCS software system. It provides coherent automation of routing, guidance and control services in one single application and is  fully compliant with all ICAO implementation levels I-V.

Configured for basic implementation levels I and II, SMAN provides all safety-related functions recommended by ICAO for single runway airports with less than 15 movements per hour. In configuration for the highest implementation levels III, IV and V, SMAN provides the most advanced automation functions urgently needed by the world's largest and busiest hub airports.

Inside SMAN

 

Similar to the autopilot in the cockpit of an aircraft, SMAN supports the controller by automatically executing traffic advisories and clearances. With SMAN's unique intention-based control philosophy, controllers simply enter their commands such as taxi clearances or give-way-to advisories. SMAN then processes sensor inputs from the surveillance system and automatically controls the visual aids of the airfield ground lighting system (AGL) accordingly. There is no more need to directly interact with stop bars and taxiway centerline lights.

 

SMAN continuously monitors the pilot's conformance to the controller input and also checks for inconsistencies such as deadlocks or conflicting clearances.

Operational Services

Routing

For each mobile located in the movement area, SMAN proposes an individual taxi route to the controller. To save controllers from the tedious work of manually modifying unsuitable route proposals, SMAN computes any route from scratch, taking into account the current traffic situation, preferences and constraints. At any time, the controller can change the mobile's destination or route.

Guidance

During landing roll, SMAN uses the assigned stand to clearly indicate to pilots at which side to turn-off from the runway. Only admissible exit taxiways, not closed or currently blocked by other traffic, are illuminated. During taxi, SMAN automatically switches the taxiway centerline lights to unambiguously indicate the assigned taxi route to the pilots. At any time, the controller can manually control stop bars and illuminate taxi route sections to statically indicate admissible taxiways to pilots and drivers.

SMAN can also send the individual taxi routes and clearance limits as well as any dynamic update to a data link ground station. After upload to the cockpit, this information can be displayed on the airport moving map.

Conflict Management

Whenever traffic is detected on a runway ahead of an arriving or departing aircraft at a distance below an acceptable minimum, SMAN automatically generates a runway alert. SMAN also provides an alert if a mobile crosses a lit stop bar and activates installed reaction lights. A warning will equally be provided if an aircraft lines up or is about to land on an unintended runway.

On taxiways, SMAN detects any loss of longitudinal separation as well as mobiles which are getting in their ways at intersections. An alert is also triggered in case of a taxi route deviation or excessive velocity on a taxiway. To avoid unintended traffic situations, SMAN furthermore provides a warning when a possible deadlock is detected or when an assigned route leads across a restricted area or does not comply with wing span restrictions.

Automatic Stop Bar Control

SMAN controls the runway stop bars automatically to protect arrival or departure traffic and to prevent mobiles from entering the runways without explicit clearance. On the taxiways, SMAN controls the stop bars to provide longitudinal spacing between any two mobiles, but also to indicate individually assigned clearance limits. When two mobiles with crossing routes approach an intersection, SMAN controls the stop bars to protect the assigned routes. SMAN can control the stop bars to automatically establish the controller's intended crossing sequence.

 

Benefits

Safety

By automatic control of visual aids, SMAN clearly and unambiguously indicates pilots their assigned route and clearance limits. Pilots will no longer inadvertently deviate from their route or overrun a holding position. SMAN thus helps to reduce the number of runway incursions by about 70% by eliminating contributing factors such as phraseology, layout and language proficiency.

Efficiency & Environment

SMAN reduces taxi times by supporting controllers in more efficient traffic planning and eliminating interruptions of the traffic flow caused by disoriented pilots or blocked radio frequencies. At an airport with 300,000 movements per year, these savings easily sum up to more than 3.75 million € for direct airline costs. For the environment, SMAN saves more than 7,500 tons of CO₂ per year.

Capacity

In low visibility conditions, SMAN allows to maintain throughput on the taxiways at a very high level. With current technologies and procedures, at some airports capacity breaks down from 65 to 35 movements per hour on 5 days per year. If SMAN allows to safely continue operation with 45 movements, 400 cancellations are avoided per year, which corresponds to 6.0 million € savings in cancellation costs.

Cost-Effectiveness & Energy

SMAN increases air traffic controller productivity by introducing advanced automation functions that ease the work of the controller. Increasing traffic volumes caused by rising demand or infrastructural expansion can be accommodated without additional human resources. Saving 10 hours on duty of an air traffic controller per day results in annual savings of about 350,000 €.

By illuminating only those taxiway centerline lights required for individual guidance, SMAN reduces the lamp burning time up to 90%, resulting in considerable savings in energy costs and maintenance costs for the airfield ground lighting system. At airports with a complex layout, the commercial value of these savings exceeds more than 250,000 €.