What is CDM & ATFCM
CDM & ATFCM is a modern tool helping us to manage traffic flow, both in and out of Copenhagen but also to ensure capacity is not breached other places. Likewise it is used by other airports to modulate traffic flow to help our sectors
CDM/ATFCM is MANDATORY for ALL online controllers to different extents!
Abbreviations and Explanations
CDM: Collaborative Decision Making: The tool to modulate departures out of an airport by use of TSATs
ATFCM: Air Traffic Flow Control Management: Tool to modulate flights through sectors by use of CTOTs
EOBT : Estimated off block time: Time filed by the flightplan as planned start up time
TOBT: Target off block time: Time filed by the pilot after entering airplane as proposed start up time
TSAT: Target Start Up Approval Time: System created time for start up approval to comply with CDM/ATFCM
ASRT: Requested Start Up Time: Time pilot has requested start up, to search for earlier TSAts
CTOT: Calculated Takeoff Time: Time the pilot should take of at +10/-5 min, to comply with ATFCM.
What does it all mean?
Quick Breakdown for the basic rules
EOBT is always filed as part of the flight plan
TOBT is filed and changed during the boarding as predicted ready time may be changed back and forth. Pilot can freely choose this time. It is essentially a "Fine Tuning" of EOBT. A controller may also set this time.
TSAT is the time the CDM has targeted the pilot to start up on. This is based on
- 40 slots pr. hour meaning a takeoff time every 90 seconds
- Taxi time to the runway
- Making extra separation between two identical SIDs
- Finding a slot - taxi time which is as close as possible to the pilot filed TOBT.
ASRT is purely a marker you use to remind yourself pilot has requested start-up
ASAT is the time he has been given startup which is also in a way a marker.
Pilots KNOW their TOBT (it is filed by them)
Pilots DO NOT know their TSAT (It is constantly changing and is calculated by the system)
What to expect from Pilots
- Pilot have a off block time or EOBT. This is filed with the flightplan
- TOBT is automatically calculated and will initially be identical to the EOBT
- Pilots will access "cdm.vatsim-scandinavia.org" to "Confirm" their off block time. This should be done by pilots who want to avoid extensive delay, but is not mandatory
Pilots shall call within +/- 5 minutes of their TOBT (the one they know)
Start-up shall only be granted within +/- 5 minutes of the TSAT (the calculated one)