The SESAR ATM information reference model within the new ATM system

The European Union aims to reform Air Traffic Management (ATM) in Europe to cope with sustained air traffic growth and to ensure that air traffic operates under the safest, most cost- and flight-efficient and environmentally friendly conditions. Therefore, the Single European Sky (SES) legislative framework, supplemented by its ATM Research (SESAR) program, aims to increase the overall performance of the ATM systems in Europe by developing the new generation pan-European interoperable ATM system [1]. A key enabler in achieving this is the implementation of System Wide Information Management (SWIM) [2]. SWIM consists of standards, infrastructure and governance enabling the management of ATM information and its exchange between qualified parties via interoperable services [3]. Interoperability needs to work at many levels. For example, it is crucial that: computer systems and services can be linked in order to exchange information; both service providers and consumers can understand and interpret the exchanged information in the same manner and; coordinated processes exist to allow different organizations to achieve their goals [4]. Interoperability also needs to be set in the appropriate political context if it is to succeed. This means that cooperating partners must have compatible visions, agreed priorities and focused objectives [4]. This paper, primarily, explores the need for “semantic interoperability” within new European ATM system. It introduces the notions of semantic correspondence, the SESAR ATM Information Reference Model (SESAR AIRM) [5] and the SESAR AIRM compliance framework. In addition, the paper describes an example service which complies semantically with the SESAR AIRM. It then looks at the next steps in the development of the SESAR AIRM and introduces the need to define an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) AIRM as the appropriate political context for achieving semantic interoperability within the global ATM community.