EMMA2 Airport Simulations (Milan)

In July 2008 real-time simulations for a safety assessment of the Milan Malpensa tower controller working environment were carried out with the NARSIM-Tower validation platform at NLR Amsterdam as part of the EMMA project.

The objective of the simulations was to obtain results that support a safety assessment of the Italian prototype A-SMGCS components developed within the project timeframe.



The following analysis methods were applied during the experiments:
- Observation and Improved Operational Expert Elicitation
- Insertion of Hazards in the Simulations
- Measurement of Parameters for Risk Uncertainty Reduction

Results of the real-time experiments will become available as part of the EMMA2 Validation Analysis Report at the beginning of 2009.

Skybrary

During this year's ATC Global exhibition Eurocontrol presented a new website called Skybrary. This website is an initiative of Eurocontrol, ICAO and the Flight Safety Foundation. It is supposed to become the most important point of reference when it comes to aviation safety knowledge.



Skybrary is set up as a wiki site allowing registered users to contribute to its contents. Apart from being a library of safety related terms the website currently provides three portals addressing different safety aspects. These portals try to categorise information for different purposes and different audiences. The main portal looks at operational issues and is a good reference for research in the aviation safety field in general. Two other portals focus on enhancing safety (e.g. through safety management and technology) and safety regulation.

While much of the information presented on the Skybrary website might already be available on the net, it is hoped that this effort will help in consolidating the knowledge under a single roof. From the point of view of R&D this is certainly met with approval and in the long run research results, especially in the category of operations and safety enhancing technology and methodologies, should find their way into this base of information.