Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority

BULATSA implements a new air traffic complexity management system. The SESAR deployment modernization project 2015_217_AF4 aims at deploying the Traffic Complexity Assessment Tool (tCAT) in Sofia Area Control Centre (ACC). When the air traffic increases again, this tool will help to manage complex air traffic situations in Bulgaria and bring substantial performance benefits to the European aviation. The tool uses Enhanced Tactical Flow Management System (ETFMS) flight data information, combined with other prediction data in order to evaluate the complexity of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) operation. It supports the planning of the Air Navigation Service Provider's resources to manage the air traffic in a more efficient and cost-effective manner while optimizing capacity. The SESAR project covers in full the existing regulatory gap in SESAR Deployment Programme (SDP) Family 4.4.2 "Traffic Complexity Tools" in Bulgaria. The Traffic Complexity Tools is the only one SDP Family within the Pilot Common Project (PCP) Sub-AF 4.2, related to "Automated Support for Traffic Complexity Assessment", which remains in CP1 regulation under a different numbering "Sub-AF 4.3", but with the same technical background. In the framework of the CEF-funded projects coordinated by SESAR Deployment Manager, BULATSA is involved in 2 SESAR deployment projects as a Project Leader and in another 5 as a Project Contributor. Those, 7 in total, ATM modernization projects are in the areas of Network Collaborative Management, the initial System Wide Information Management (SWIM) and initial Trajectory Information Sharing. The completion of the project was planned for 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed by a few months and the project is expected to be completed in September 2021. It will support the planning of the Air Navigation Service Provider's resources to manage the air traffic in an efficient and cost-effective manner. It is expected that the project will bring the largest performance benefits in terms of capacity increase and reduction of delays in the en-route airspace. A Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) was conducted by SESAR Deployment Manager, supported by the expertise of Network Manager (Eurocontrol), as part of a larger effort to assess the implementation of the requirements of regulation (EC) 716/2014 (The PCP Regulation). The analysis is based on the standard Eurocontrol methodologies for delay analysis in EATMN and assessment of benefits and costs of ATM investments. The results of the CBA, after having factored in the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, indicate a forecast cumulative Net Present Value of about 22 million euros by 2030.