The aim of the 3FMS project was to develop an implementation of Free-Flight functions and procedures within a modern Flight Management System and to evaluate the acceptability of such a system. The project was able to define the free-flight functions that could be implemented within the next generation of Flight Management Systems (FMS).
The following main results were achieved in the course of the project:
- Proposal for a Free Flight Operational Concept (with pilot contribution) from gate to gate, including the transition from Managed Airspace to and back from Free Flight Airspace;
- Crew Display and Management of external threats including cockpit functions for Weather / Terrain / Restricted Airspace / Traffic conflict detection and resolution;
- 3FMS Technology Demonstrator. The demonstrator allowed dynamical activation of the obstacles along the ownership route and interactive simulation of crew interactions;
- Airborne Modular and Flexible Functional Architecture validated with a real FMS product;
- Traffic and Air Traffic Controller (ATC) simulator;
- Specific Taxi awareness function which supports chart display, taxiing path display, runway crossing prevention and offer traffic display;
- Evaluation Results of ASAS algorithms and of Man Machine Interface with pilots approval;
- Recommendation for ADS-B (Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast) definition for Free Flight operations.
- Thales Avionics, S.A;
- Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG;
- Stichting Nationaal Lucht - En Ruimtevaart Laboratorium;
- Smiths Aerospace Ltd.;
- Skysoft Portugal S.A;
- Airbus France SAS;
- Qinetiq Limited.
The project gave significant inputs for future implementation of Free Flight operation in dense airspace. The time frame for a complete implementation of Free Flight (from a technological but also normative viewpoint) is still far ahead and probably beyond year 2020.