Set up of Eurocontrol air traffic simulator for ATC simulations

Abstract

In this Project, the set-up of an air traffic control simulator has been carried out. eDEP simulator, provided by Eurocontrol, has been the one used. As a part of the Project, the platform preparation for its execution in a local area network has been done. Also some adaptations needed for a practice environment. It’s intended to use the eDEP platform for the practical part of some of the subjects of the Aeronautical Degree. Using Eclipse development environment, Java code corresponding to eDEP classes have been prepared and compiled. By using Eclipse, also some configuration files needed to execute eDEP on a network had been created and executable files have been generated to launch simulation. Also airspace and traffic files for three different simulations had been prepared. Two of them are air traffic control on the cruise phase and the third one will simulate approach control. One of the simulations for cruise control is using FIR/UIR Barcelona airspace data. For this simulation, the airspace file (containing position of navigation aids, airways and sectorization) and the traffic file that will be used in the practice have been created. Limitations of eDEP as air traffic simulation platform have been evaluated and it has come to the conclusión that could be interesting the development of some additional code to simulate a flight strip system. An additional limitation detected is the non-availability of voice communications between controller positions and pilot positions. For the flight strip system an study of software engineering has been carried out. Regarding the lack of voice communications, an VoIP software running over a LAN has been used. During the Project, an important effort about documentation has been performed. Has been documented from the compilation and execution with Eclipse to the configuration of airspace and traffic files. A basic user manual has been prepared for the controller positions and for the pilot positions.