Initial 4-D Flight Pushes Europe’s ATM Closer to Sesar Efficiency Goals
Sesar partners have proven the concept of 4-D flights to ensure that aircraft pass specified waypoints on time
An Airbus A320 recently completed Europe’s first initial 4-D flight as part of Sesar ATM trials. (Photo: Airbus)
An Airbus A320 recently completed Europe’s first initial 4-D flight as part of Sesar ATM trials. (Photo: Airbus)

Europe’s Sesar program has validated the air traffic management efficiencies to be gained from knowing that aircraft will pass specified waypoints on time in the world’s first initial four-dimensional (I-4D) flight by an Airbus A320 test aircraft, flying from Toulouse to Copenhagen and Stockholm. According to Dr. Sander Roosendaal, Honeywell’s air traffic management program manager for Europe, the February 10 flight test showed that flight trajectories can be optimized when the aircraft is guaranteed to reach a flight-plan waypoint within 10 seconds of a specified time.