Automation Support in Low Visibility Conditions: Virtual Stop Bars in the Cockpit

The Virtual Block Control (VBC) concept makes use of Virtual Stop Bar (VSB) positions on both controller and flight crew displays with the aim to reduce the size of control blocks used under low visibility conditions and, at the same time, ensure sufficient spacing between taxiing aircraft. In recent years, VBC was investigated within the European SESAR Programme (2008-2016) as an operational concept for improving weather resilience at airports. It has evolved in the SESAR timeframe towards the Dynamic VBC (D-VBC) concept allowing for smoother traffic flows. The validation activities that were carried out on the NARSIM-Tower simulation platform at the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) in Amsterdam predominantly focused on ground control aspects of the concept.