Friday, 12 October 2012

What is Slot Allocation?


Slot Allocation is the scheduled  time of arrival and departure available for allocation  by, or as by allocated a coordinator for an aircraft movement on a specific date at a coordinated airport.


Why Slot Allocation comes into existence?
  • Lack of Airport Capacity
  • Traffic Congestion
  • To enhance Operational Model

Capacity of a system is a variable measure of throughput or system capability related to the level of service being provided. It is broadly classified  into  three –
  • Landside Capacity- consists of parking area for vehicles etc
  • Terminal Capacity- Terminal building
  • Airside Capacity- consists of parking bays, RAMP area, Taxiway, Runway etc

 With the increase of air traffic, there is a continuously growing demand for capacity at congested airports. Slots, that is to say the permission to land and take-off at a specific date and time at congested airports, are essential for airlines' operations. Slots will be distributed in an equitable, non-discriminatory and transparent way by an independent coordinator. The aim of the EU framework is to ensure the fullest and most efficient use of existing capacity at congested EU airports while maximizing consumers' benefits and promoting the competition.
ACT

Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 of 18 January 1993 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports.



SUMMARY

The aim of this regulation is to ensure that where airport capacity is scarce, the available landing and take-off slots * are used efficiently and distributed in an equitable, non-discriminatory and transparent way.

The regulation lays down the objective criteria on the basis of which an airport can be designated "coordinated" or "schedules facilitated" on the grounds that its capacity is insufficient.

European Union (EU) countries can designate any airport a "coordinated airport" * provided that a capacity analysis is carried out and there is a serious shortfall of capacity which cannot be resolved in the short term.

Coordinator / Schedules facilitator

The EU country responsible for a coordinated or schedules facilitated airport * ensures the appointment as airport coordinator or schedules facilitator of a qualified natural or legal person with extensive experience of the coordination involved in planning the movements of air carrier aircraft. The coordinator / schedules facilitator acts in a neutral, non-discriminatory and transparent manner and should be functionally separated from any single interested party. Moreover, the system of financing the coordinator’s activities will be such as to guarantee the coordinator’s independent status. The same coordinator may be appointed for more than one airport.

Airport capacity
Airport slot capacity available for allocation is determined twice yearly by the competent authorities, according to the two programming 'seasons' (winter and summer) in place in international aviation. Calculation of an airport’s capacity is based on an objective analysis of the possibilities of accommodating the air traffic.

Air carriers must provide the coordinator with any relevant information requested by him.

Coordination committee


The EU country responsible shall ensure that a coordination committee is set up at a coordinated airport. The coordination committee makes proposals and advises the coordinator on all questions relating to the capacity of the airport, and in particular opportunities to increase capacity, coordination parameters, methods of monitoring, and local guidelines. Membership of this committee is open to:

    air carriers using the airport;
    the managing body of the airport;
    air traffic control authorities;
    general aviation representatives.

Procedure for allocation of time slots

The general principle regarding slot allocation is that an air carrier having operated its particular slots for at least 80 % during the summer/winter scheduling period is entitled to the same slots in the equivalent scheduling period of the following year (so called grandfather rights). Consequently, slots which are not sufficiently used by air carriers are reallocated (the so called "use it or lose it" rule).

The Regulation provides for the setting up of "pools" containing newly-created time slots, unused slots and slots which have been given up by a carrier or have otherwise become available.

The coordinator also takes into account additional rules and guidelines established by the air transport industry and local guidelines proposed by the coordination committee and approved by the EU country or any other competent body responsible for the airport.

If a requested slot cannot be accommodated, the coordinator informs the requesting air carrier of the reasons therefore and indicates the nearest alternative slot.

Slots may be exchanged or transferred between airlines in certain specified circumstances (for instance, partial or total takeover, or transfer to a different route or traffic mode). In such cases, explicit confirmation from the coordinator is always required.

An EU country may reserve certain slots for regional services.

Enforcement

An air carrier's flight plan may be rejected by the competent Air Traffic Management authorities if the air carrier intends to land or take off at a coordinated airport without having a slot allocated by the coordinator. If an air carrier repeatedly and intentionally operates air services at a significantly different time from the allocated slots or in a significantly different way, the coordinator may decide to withdraw from that air carrier the series of slots in question. Consequently, that air carrier may lose its grandfather rights. EU countries shall ensure that effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions are available to deal with this type of situations.



time slot allocation algorithm

iata slot allocation guideline

slot allocation regulations

airport slot allocation regulations 2006

slot allocation and airport congestion

time slot allocation

slot allocation strategies
















Maani Sharma [ MBA Aviation ]
Manager Aviation NEWS Project

www.All-Aviation-NEWS.in

www.AeroSoftCorp.com

www.AeroSoft.in

www.AeroSoft.co.in

www.AeroSoftseo.com

On-Line Assistance:

Gtok:                       maani.aerosoft@gmail.com

Y!Messenger:          maani.aerosoft@yahoo.com

Rediff:                     maani.aerosoft@rediffmail.com

MSN:                     maani.aerosoft@hotmail.com





No comments:

Post a Comment