¶ ACDM
CDM is a EuroScope plugin designed to replicate ACDM (Airport Collaborative Decision Making). ACDM aims at improving the efficiency of an airport and improve the predictability of traffic. This is achieved through time milestones such as TOBT, TSAT, TTOT and CTOT, which create a well-defined sequence of startups and takeoffs, taking into account the EOBT filed in the flightplan, traffic load of the airport, capacity of the runways, taxi-times and much more.
To check which italian airports support the use of ACDM on VATSIM you can use this map.
Pilots may report their TOBT and see the relevant milestones on this website: https://vats.im/vdgs
¶ Terminology
EOBT Estimated off-block time: The estimated time that an aircraft will start movement (time filed in flight plan)
TOBT Target off-block time: A more accurate and updated time than EOBT, usually set by the pilot but can be set by the controller as well
TSAT Target startup approval time: The time provided by ATC taking into account TOBT, CTOT and/or the traffic situation that an aircraft can expect start up/push back approval. Has a tolerance of +/- 5 minutes
ASRT Actual startup request time: Time where the outbound is fully ready and requested startup
EXOT Estimated taxi-out time: Taxitime from the position to the assigned runway, including pushback
TTOT Target take-off time: The target take off time taking into account the TOBT/TSAT plus the EXOT
CTOT Calculated take-off time: The time calculated and issued by the appropriate Central Management unit, as a result of tactical slot allocation, at which a flight is expected to become airborne. Has a tolerance of -5/+10 minutes after which a delay of up to 3 hours can be expected
¶ Setup
To start using ACDM you first need to log on and set the correct runway in use and enable the “startup list”.
It is recommended to also click on “TSAT” to have the list ordered by TSAT.
Below is a list of the commands of the startup list:
ACDM commands
EOBT
TOBT
ASRT
CTOT
To activate ACDM type .cdm master {airport} in the ES chat (e.g. .cdm master LIMC)
This command is generally used by the controller managing ACDM (usually the Delivery controller or designated positions like LIMC_O_DEL). All other users should type .cdm slave {airport}
Only one controller can be the master at the same time
¶ Controller change
- The old controller changes to slave with the .cdm slave {airport} command
- Once there are no master controllers, the new controlles gets the master “role” with the command .cdm master {airport}.
¶ Colors
The times displayed in the Startup list use different color codes to indicate the status of the milestone.
¶ TOBT
- LIGHT GREEN = Before EOBT -5
- DARK GREEN = After EOBT -5
- YELLOW = Last minute of EOBT (with ASRT not set)
- RED = The flightplan is suspended due to expired TOBT, TSAT or other cases from the server side
¶ TSAT
- LIGHT GREEN = TSAT not yet within the start up window (+5 / -5)
- DARK GREEN = TSAT within start up window (+5 / -5)
- YELLOW = From TSAT+5 to TSAT+6
- RED = The flightplan is suspended due to expired TOBT, TSAT or other cases from the server side
¶ CTOT
- DARK GREEN = CDM server CTOT
- ORANGE = MANUAL/EVENT CTOT
- RED = Flow/CAD CTOT
¶ Examples
-
ITY97 TSAT is expired
- A new TSAT will be calculated after setting a new TOBT, manually by ATC or via the website by the pilot
-
ITY9926 has filed his EOBT as 1520
- He his within +5 / -5 of his TSAT, his startup can be approved
-
WMT601 has been approved for pushback and startup
- He has requested startup at 1519 (ASRT) and it has been approved, TOBT, TSAT and ASRT are now grey
-
KLM1608 has a valid TSAT at 1537
- The time is after EOBT -5
- He his within +5 / -5 of his TSAT, his startup can be approved
-
ETH37G is past EOBT -5 and is not yet within the startup window
- The pilot is ready for startup
- ATC has placed the ASRT marker
- He must wait for his TSAT to be within the startup window
-
RYR70HC has filed his EOBT as 1530
- He has a CTOT at 1606 probably due to airspace capacity
If you choose to edit the TOBT (also by setting it to “now”) the TSAT may change and be delayed
¶ Usage
As the controller managing ACDM you may be presented with the following situations when pilots request startup / pushback:
Dark green TSAT
TSAT is within startup window (+5 / -5), left click on ASRT, set his STS to READY and send him to the ground controller for pushback.Light green TSAT
The pilot has called ready before his TSAT window, set the TOBT to "now" by either right clicking the TOBT or left clicking and selecting "TOBT now".This will result in two possibile scenarios:
- TOBT and TSAT become dark green, traffic can be handed over to ground for startup
- TSAT remains light green, delay can be expected, communicate the TSAT to the pilot
Red EOBT/TOBT
The pilot has called but his EOBT/TOBT is invalid, ask the pilot for a new TOBT and input it in the list¶ Phraseology
Aircraft calls for startup and his TSAT is dark green:
Malpensa Operations, EJU49T ready for startup
EJU49T, Malpensa Operations, for startup contact ground on 121.900
Aircraft calls for startup and his TSAT is light green:
Malpensa Operations, SSR56MB ready for start
SSR56MB, Malpensa Operations, TSAT 1540
or
SSR56MB, Malpensa Operations, expect startup at 1540
In case the TSAT is green but delay is needed (due to departures not flowing as expected)
Venezia Delivery, EWG6PM request push and start
EWG6PM, Venezia Delivery, expect startup at TSAT + 5
¶ Chat commands
.cdm master {airport} Become the master of the selected airport
.cdm slave {airport} Turn back to slave of the selected airport
.cdm recover {airport} In case of CTD, attempt to recover the latest time status backed up in the server.
.cdm startupdelay {airport}/{runway} {time_start} Moves all TSATs for selected airport and runway to the time set at the time_start (time_start can be a 4 digits time (2114 - 21:14 time) or 1/2 digits minutes (5 - 5min or 10 - 10 min) - WAIT SOME SECONDS TO UPDATE AFTER APPLIED. After applying, all previous insterted delays for the same runway are removed. (E.g. 1: .cdm customdelay LIRF/25 1100 -> All TSATs from LIRF RWY 25 will start at 1100 - E.g. 2: .cdm customdelay LIRF/25 10 -> All TSATs will start at now+10 min). To remove the “restriction” use -> .cdm customdelay LIRF/25 9999 (using 9999 as time).
.cdm departuredelay {airport}/{runway} {time_start} Moves all TTOTs for selected airport and runway to the time set at the time_start (time_start can be a 4 digits time (2114 - 21:14 time) or 1/2 digits minutes (5 - 5min or 10 - 10 min) - WAIT SOME SECONDS TO UPDATE AFTER APPLIED. After applying, all previous insterted delays for the same runway are removed. (E.g. 1: .cdm customdelay LIMC/35R 1100 -> All TTOTs from LIMC RWY 35R will start at 1100 - E.g. 2: .cdm customdelay LIMC/35R 10 -> All TTOTs will start at now+10 min). To remove the “restriction” use -> .cdm customdelay LIMC/35R 9999 (using 9999 as time)