A week ago, together with SESAR JU, we kicked off the H2020 project SAFELAND, “SAFE LANDing through enhanced ground support”. Aim of SAFELAND is creating a valuable solution to support flight and landing of aircraft operated by a single pilot, due to partial or total incapacitation of the pilot. During its 30 month duration, the project will investigate the interaction of the air traffic controller with onboard automation and/or a ground based pilot operating through a remote cockpit position to manage the flight.
The research will start by analyzing the actual role ATM could have in managing the transition from a single pilot operated flight to a status with reduced or absent contribution of the onboard pilot to landing. SAFELAND will analyse different possible solutions to the risk of one single pilot experiencing partial or total incapacitation during flight. It will also consider several points of view in its analysis, including safety, human factors, costs, legal and regulatory implications.
In this framework, the partners will work in synergy to deliver the project outcomes.
First, they will design and validate an improved ATM centered concept for safer landing. Then, such concept will be evaluated with different techniques, including a real time simulation integrating a cockpit simulator, a control work position, a ground cockpit simulator and a simulated Airline Operation Control Centre.
The SAFELAND Consortium comprises partners from all over Europe: Deep Blue, EuroUSC Italia, AIRHOLDING, DLR, EASN-TIS, EUROCONTROL, EUI, Luftfartsverket, Swiss International Air Lines.
Stakeholders will also benefit from the feedback provided by an external independent advisory board. The board will include technical, safety, legal, operational, human performance, security, cybersecurity, and economical experts.
We thank all the partners for the fruitful meeting, and we are looking forward to working with them.
- Here a brief overview of the project.