Conflict Resolution Advisory Service in autonomous aircraft operations

Recent advances in air traffic Communication Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) have encouraged investigations into the concept following which Air Traffic Control functions can be delegated to the flight deck, allowing more freedom of movement to airspace users. In late 1995, an initiative, known under the project name FREER, for Free-Route Experimental Encounter Resolution, was introduced at EUROCONTROL to investigate the feasibility of this concept. In this paper, we present the initial results obtained from the Autonomous Aircraft Operations study (FREER-I) that targets full delegation of ATC to aircraft operating in low-density airspace. Specific issues of Autonomous Aircraft Operations (AAO) supporting free-route, free flight and user-preferred routing are discussed. A description of the current prototype illustrating the Airborne Interactive Conflict Resolution Advisory service is included