Short-term conflict alert (STCA) is an automated warning system for air traffic controllers (ATCO). It is a ground-based safety net intended to assist the controller in preventing collision between aircraft by generating, in a timely manner, an alert of a potential or actual infringement of separation minima.[1]
ICAO Doc 4444 requires that radar systems should provide for the display of safety-related alerts including the presentation of actual and predicted conflict.[2] It is worth mentioning that ICAO Doc 4444 does neither provide definitions of the term STCA nor conflict alert. Instead the term STCA is ambiguously used in ATC community to identify such alerts as well as for data processing systems providing the alert function.
As an implementation STCA is part of the predictive safety net functions. It uses surveillance information derived from radars, ADS-B or multilateration as well as environmental data and optional flight plan information in order to predict the movement of aircraft. This process is usually working unnoticeably to the air traffic controller unless a (potential) separation infringement is identified. In this case STCA will generate an alarm to inform the air traffic controller about the hazardous situation identifying the conflicting aircraft.[3] Due to the uncertainty of trajectory prediction the look ahead time of STCA system is typically limited to approx. 2 minutes.[4] Extending the look ahead time is not beneficial as more and more nuisance alerts will be generated.
Related systems
In extend to STCA other ground-based safety net functions are typically implemented to support the ATCO. These in include
Area proximity warning (APW), sometimes also called danger area infringement warning (DAIW).
The equivalent system on board an aircraft is TCAS. This system alerts pilots to possible conflicts, and suggests remedial actions, in the form of a climb or descent. Unlike TCAS, STCA does not normally suggest remedial action. If action is required, the controller will normally give a turn command to the aircraft, eliminating the possibility that his command will contradict that given by TCAS.[5]
^EUROCONTROL (19 May 2009) [22 November 2007]. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
^Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services. ICAO. Doc 4444-RAC/501.
^. Airport International. 12 April 2007. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Short Term Conflict Alert (STCA)". Retrieved 22 May 2010 – via SKYbrary.
^EUROCONTROL (November 2007). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
External links
SKYbrary article on STCA
August 24, 2023
short, term, conflict, alert, stca, automated, warning, system, traffic, controllers, atco, ground, based, safety, intended, assist, controller, preventing, collision, between, aircraft, generating, timely, manner, alert, potential, actual, infringement, separ. Short term conflict alert STCA is an automated warning system for air traffic controllers ATCO It is a ground based safety net intended to assist the controller in preventing collision between aircraft by generating in a timely manner an alert of a potential or actual infringement of separation minima 1 Contents 1 Description 2 Related systems 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditICAO Doc 4444 requires that radar systems should provide for the display of safety related alerts including the presentation of actual and predicted conflict 2 It is worth mentioning that ICAO Doc 4444 does neither provide definitions of the term STCA nor conflict alert Instead the term STCA is ambiguously used in ATC community to identify such alerts as well as for data processing systems providing the alert function As an implementation STCA is part of the predictive safety net functions It uses surveillance information derived from radars ADS B or multilateration as well as environmental data and optional flight plan information in order to predict the movement of aircraft This process is usually working unnoticeably to the air traffic controller unless a potential separation infringement is identified In this case STCA will generate an alarm to inform the air traffic controller about the hazardous situation identifying the conflicting aircraft 3 Due to the uncertainty of trajectory prediction the look ahead time of STCA system is typically limited to approx 2 minutes 4 Extending the look ahead time is not beneficial as more and more nuisance alerts will be generated Related systems EditIn extend to STCA other ground based safety net functions are typically implemented to support the ATCO These in include Minimum safe altitude warning MSAW and Area proximity warning APW sometimes also called danger area infringement warning DAIW The equivalent system on board an aircraft is TCAS This system alerts pilots to possible conflicts and suggests remedial actions in the form of a climb or descent Unlike TCAS STCA does not normally suggest remedial action If action is required the controller will normally give a turn command to the aircraft eliminating the possibility that his command will contradict that given by TCAS 5 Other concepts of air safety are making a flight plan and using airways See also EditEurocat Air Traffic Management System References Edit EUROCONTROL 19 May 2009 22 November 2007 Specification for Short Term Conflict Alert PDF Archived from the original PDF on 12 June 2011 Retrieved 22 May 2010 Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services ICAO Doc 4444 RAC 501 Ground Based Safety Nets Airport International 12 April 2007 Archived from the original on 7 July 2011 Retrieved 22 May 2010 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Short Term Conflict Alert STCA Retrieved 22 May 2010 via SKYbrary EUROCONTROL November 2007 ACAS II Bulletin No 10 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 22 November 2009 Retrieved 23 July 2009 External links EditSKYbrary article on STCA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Short term conflict alert amp oldid 994483181, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
