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Assuring the Quality of Aeronautical Data, - why it is needed and the benefit it brings

Colin Hord

Policy Lead MET and AIM

20/5/18

Use of digital data through System Wide Information Management

Making data available in standardised formats allowing greater use

Trajectory Based Operations

Supporting Trajectory based operations when data is provided through out an aircrafts route.

Digital Data

Key Dependencies on AIM

RNAV&

PRNAV

A-SMGCS

EAD

SWIMSESSESAR

DMEAN

GNSSApproaches

AIM

SYSTEM WIDE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

•AIM•MET

•AERODROME OPS•AIR TRAFFIC FLOW CONTROL

•SURVEILANCE

SES ATM RESEARCH PROGRAMMETo deliver new technologies for improving the EU ATM system

DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT OF EURO AIRSPACE NETWORK

Doing things in a more dynamic ‘joined-up’ manner

•Flight Planning•Air Traffic Flow

•Airport Collaborative Decision Making

(ACDM improving acft turn-arounds, pre-departure sequence, all reliant on accurate timely info).

GLOBAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMInstrument flight procedures based on

global positioning systems

AREA (PRECISION) AREA NAVIGATIONArea Navigation system which is less dependent on navigation between

ground based beacons

EUROPEAN AERONAUTICAL DATA BASE

Centralised reference data-base of EU Member States

aeronautical info.

SURFACE MOVEMENT GUIDANCE & CONTROL

SYSTEMA system providing

routing, guidance and surveillance for control of

aircraft and vehicles.

The Data Chain

Surveyors

Instrument Flight

Procedure Designers

Terminal Airspace

Designers

Air Traffic ManagementNational Agencies

providing terrain data

En-Route Airspace

Designers

Airports with published

IFR/SVFR procedures

National Agencies

providing obstacle data

From point of

origination

To point of

publication

a) Data Origination;b) Data Production;c) Data Storage;d) Data Handling;e) Data Processing; andf) Data Transfer

Quality data at origination can reduce checking and verification through the chain

ADQ IR 73/2010

• Reasons

– Support future applications

– Improve accuracy and integrity requirements

– Move away from paper based and manual activities

– Move to electronic forms of data exchange

– Standardise data sets

– Ensure effective management and control of AIM activities

Data Quality Processes

Quality Control

Quality Assurance

Verification

Validation

Accuracy

Resolution

Integrity

Traceability

Confidence

Aeronautical Data Quality

• How is “quality” defined ? ICAO defines this as

– Accuracy -the degree of conformance between the estimated or measured value and the true value.

– Resolution - the number of units or digits to which a measured or calculated value is expressed and used.

– Integrity – the degree of assurance that an aeronautical data and its value has not been lost or altered since the data origination or authorized amendment. cf send three and fourpence….

Integrity…

• This is the key attribute that is required to be assured.• Need to ensure procedures are in place to prevent the

value of the Aeronautical Data being lost or altered. • These should detail the

– Exchange methods, – Validation that is carried out , – How the data is kept secure ,– Data storage arrangements

• Error correction and notification processes in place• Making use of metadata

– data about data – when, who, how etc

QMS / SMS

Plan, Do, Check, Act continuous improvement

process

QMS BENEFITS to AIM – FLIGHT SAFETY

•User needs & satisfaction

•Mutual understanding

• Improved confidence

User Engagement

• Increased responsibility & accountability

• Continual improvements

Service Quality

•Streamlined processes

•Clearly defined & measurable objectives

Efficiency

A properly organized quality system enables providers to deliver a continued high quality of data and products

•Prompt follow-up & feedback

•Frequent checks & audits

• Investigation drives improvements

IssueResolution

•Performance regularly measured

•Management reportingKPIs

Key QMS Benefits

Consistency

Usability

Assurance

So, what is different ?

So, what is different ?

So, what is different ?

Increased requirement for assurance

• As data is more widely used in a range of applications the required level of assurance on the quality increases.

• Less human interaction each time the data is used or processed.

• Data Quality will in the future also include – Traceability

– Format

– Timeliness

– Completeness

Electronic Terrain and Obstacle Data

• Aerodrome Data is required to be published in AIP in a simple, textual form, classified in one of three ways:– Impacting on en route phase

– Aerodrome; impacting on circling areas

– Aerodrome; impacting on approach and take-off phases of flights

• In Annex 15 since July 2004 !

• Bring about a change in culture and philosophy for Aeronautical Information

Electronic Terrain and Obstacle Data

• Move to digital data enables:

– Enhanced Terrain Warning Systems

– Removal of confusion caused by different co-ordinate systems, measurement units and language translation

– Drift down procedures can be more easily developed

– Efficient AIP chart production

– Use of on board databases

– Flight simulators

NATS Aurora System

• Fully compliant ADQ AIS System

• 15/06/2018: Commencement of Parallel Operations AIRAC {10/2018};

• 05/10/18: Commencement of Single System Operations, in which Aurora is the primary {AIRAC 01/2019};

• 26/10/2018: Opening the Data Originator Portal, {AIRAC 02/2019}.

This will allow UK to make a distinction between the current way of providing

aeronautical data and one which is quality assured i.e. fit for the future.

Increased automation

• Aeronautical data is increasingly used in many more applications.

• Increasing range of data in Flight Management Systems (FMS)

• UAVs – geo fencing

• Remote Tower applications (display data on screens to aid controllers)

• Phone and iPad Apps

Benefits of Data Quality to AIS

• Quality assured to high standard at origination, yields efficiencies downstream

• Consistency – Information is presented in the same way throughout its publication.

• Timeliness – provided and updated in accordance with the AIRAC cycle.

• Tools and Software – ensure these are fit for purpose and regularly checked.

• Competency - ensure that staff are competent to carry out the tasks.

Benefits

• Improves safety – While AI in the UK may be considered of good

quality there is still a need to have assurance that the information meets the regulations.

• Reduces costs – In some cases there will be some initial increases

in costs to ensure data is provided in accordance with the requirements. However in the long run these will reduce e.g. the need to provide surveys on a risk based approach.

• Interoperability – Enable aeronautical data to be accessed in a

digital form, thereby able to be used by a wide variety of systems and other users.

Summary

• Assured quality of aeronautical data and related information will enable new and innovative uses of this data.

• Enable data to be used in a range of systems which will allow increase in aircraft movements.

• Implementing a QMS is at the heart of the requirement.

• Reaping the benefits of a new AIS system that will ensure all aeronautical data is processed in accordance with the ICAO and EU regulations.

Any Questions ?