Published on Thursday 9 March 2017
Airport CDM is about partners working together and making decisions based on more accurate and higher quality information, where every piece of information has the exact same meaning for every partner involved. More efficient use of resources, and improved event punctuality (i.e. weather disruptions) as well as predictability are the target results.
Optimised airport operations
Today, thanks to Collaborative Decision-Making (CDM), Paris-Charles de Gaulle optimises its airport operations. All actors involved (ATC, airport operators, han-dlers, airlines, Météo France) share their information and work together in a more transparent manner :
- Conference calls (twice a day)
- Dedicated website : www.CDMparis.net (24/7) https://www.cdmparis.net/Pages/default.aspx
- Dedicated weather forecasts (24/7)
- Advanced set of tools for Pre-Departure Sequence
- CDM Operations Centre (open on request)
- CDM Performance Review (Monthly)
Significant benefits
Significant benefits in 2013 for airlines and passengers at Paris-CDG.
In poor weather conditions (fog, snow…), the CDM Operations Centre at Paris-CDG airport has performed efficiently by making collegial decisions that have produced the best possible scenarios. During severe snow crisis, Paris-CDG airport remained open when major European airports had to close. New functions have been developed such as de-icing management. Once the disrupted situation ends, return to normal operations is quicker.
A collaborative approach
CDM@CDG, a collaborative approach towards efficient and reliable snow event management.
When significant snow events are expected, safe and efficient Air Traffic Management (ATM) requires the participation of all the major platform actors in a reliable and effective working framework.
Airport CDM is about partners working together and making decisions based on more accurate and higher quality information, where every piece of information has the exact same meaning for every partner involved. More efficient use of resources, and improved event punctuality (i.e. weather disruptions) as well as predictability are the target results.
"It ensures that the right partners get the right information at the right time". Paris CDG CDM manager
D-1 – CDM@CDG conference calls at various management level
Defining a common strategy and an ATM vision when significant winter meteorological events are expected and /or are happening.
If critical weather forecast makes it necessary to consider flight cancelations, collaborative decision making in such case follows a bottom up approach. Indeed, the CDM@CDG actors will relay the request to the DGAC, in charge of the final decision, after going through intensive consultation and assessment of the situation :
- runway availability taking into account the potential number of runways available (one set of runways only, two runways for each set, etc.),
- de-icing possibilities and snow clearing information to help defining the airport capacity and estimate the flight abatement needed for the safest platform operations.
D day - ensuring collaborative real-time disruption management
Activation of the CDM cell
Collaborative decisions are taken to operate the platform the most efficient and safest way by integrating the constraints and real time needs of all actors. These decisions may notably concern the following matters :
- snow clearing priorities,
- high speed turn-offs or taxi routes availabilities,
- arrival/departure priorities, etc.
As a reminder, runway capacities are always decided by DSNA local ops units. The CDM cell may however recommend adjustments that shall be considered by tower and approach managers.
The objective of CDM is to build a community with a common culture. Significant winter weather events such as critical snow episodes are rare. The safest and most efficient operation of a platform must capitalize on a collective experience.
