FO-07 · Air Traffic Control Coordination

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Process Flow Diagram (BPMN)

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L4 Process Steps

Step	Step Name	Role / Swim Lane	System	Input	Output	KPI	Dec?	Exc?
Phase 1 1.1	Obtain ATIS & meteorological briefing	Flight Dispatcher	Honeywell GoDirect Weather	Scheduled departure time, origin/destination airport pair	Current ATIS information code, wx briefing package	Briefing completed ≥45 min before STD; 100% crew acknowledgement rate	N	N
1.2	File IFR flight plan with ANSP	Flight Dispatcher	NAVBLUE Flight Planning	Optimised route, fuel load, aircraft type, SELCAL code	Filed ICAO flight plan (FPL message) accepted by ANSP	Flight plan filed ≥60 min before STD per ICAO Doc 4444; acceptance rate ≥99%	N	N
1.3	Request CTOT/EDCT slot from ATFM system	Flight Dispatcher	FAA Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS)	Filed flight plan, GDP/GS advisory for destination or en-route ARTCC	EDCT (Expect Departure Clearance Time) slot assignment	EDCT compliance rate ≥95%; slot deviation window ±5 min	Y	N
1.4	Negotiate revised slot if CTOT unacceptable	Flight Dispatcher	FAA Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS)	Initial EDCT that conflicts with operational constraints or crew duty limits	Revised EDCT or cancellation/delay decision logged in NAVBLUE	Slot substitution request processed within 10 min of receipt; substitution approval rate ~60% per FAA ATCSCC data	N	Y
Phase 2 2.1	Request IFR departure clearance from ATC	Flight Crew / Dispatcher	Telex / SITA ACARS	Filed route, EDCT window, current ATIS code	ATC clearance (SID, squawk code, initial altitude, departure frequency)	Clearance received ≥15 min before EDCT; clearance readback accuracy 100%	Y	N
2.2	Verify clearance against filed route & amend if needed	Flight Dispatcher	NAVBLUE Flight Planning	Received ATC clearance text, original filed IFR route	Amended flight plan accepted by ATC or confirmation of route match	Route amendment turnaround <5 min; zero departures on unapproved route	N	Y
2.3	Coordinate pushback & engine start with ground ATC	Flight Crew	SITA Airport Management System (AMS)	Approved clearance, gate status from AMS, ramp clearance	Pushback approval, engine start time logged in AMS	Pushback-to-wheels-up compliance with EDCT ±5 min; gate conflict rate <2%	N	N
2.4	Obtain taxi clearance & confirm runway assignment	Flight Crew	Jeppesen FliteDeck	Engine start confirmation, active runways, NOTAMs from FliteDeck	Taxi route confirmed on EFB moving map; runway assignment accepted	Taxi time within airline benchmark (e.g. ≤12 min at focus cities); runway incursion events = 0	N	N
Phase 3 3.1	Monitor ATC sector handoffs & frequency changes	Flight Crew / Dispatcher	Telex / SITA ACARS	Departure from origin TRACON, en-route ARTCC sector list from NAVBLUE	ACARS position reports at waypoints; sector contact log	ACARS position report every 30 min or at each waypoint; missed report alert <2 min	N	N
3.2	Receive & assess TFMS en-route flow advisories	Flight Dispatcher	FAA Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS)	En-route Miles-in-Trail (MIT) restrictions, Airspace Flow Program (AFP) advisories	Compliance assessment; amended release or hold action if needed	AFP compliance rate ≥97%; dispatcher response to advisory <10 min	Y	N
3.3	Coordinate weather deviation or reroute with ATC	Flight Crew / Dispatcher	Honeywell GoDirect Weather	Onboard weather radar data, GoDirect TurbCast/convective sigmets	ATC-approved route deviation or altitude change; updated NAVBLUE flight plan	Deviation request approval by ATC <3 min after pilot request; fuel impact assessed 100% of deviations	Y	Y
Phase 4 4.1	Obtain destination ATIS & update approach briefing	Flight Crew / Dispatcher	Honeywell GoDirect Weather	Current destination ATIS (D-ATIS), TAF, PIREP data from GoDirect	Updated approach briefing; alternate airport confirmed if wx below minima	ATIS update obtained ≥30 min before TOD; alternate fuel carried 100% when wx within 3h of approach minima	N	N
4.2	Sequence into STAR & configure for arrival flow	Flight Crew	Jeppesen FliteDeck	ATC-assigned STAR, speed/altitude restrictions, runway in use	FMS programmed with STAR; compliance with ATC sequence instructions confirmed	STAR compliance rate ≥99%; speed restriction deviation events <0.5% of arrivals	N	N
4.3	Execute holding pattern if ATC flow delay required	Flight Crew / Dispatcher	NAVBLUE Flight Planning	ATC holding instruction, current fuel state vs NAVBLUE holding fuel reserves	Holding entry flown or divert decision made; dispatcher notified of fuel state	Holding fuel contingency ≥30 min per FAR 121.639; divert decision made before minimum divert fuel threshold	Y	Y
4.4	Coordinate gate & stand assignment with airport ops	Flight Dispatcher / Station Ops	SITA Airport Management System (AMS)	ETA update from ACARS, gate availability from AMS, inbound connection data	Confirmed gate assignment published in AMS; ground handling notified	Gate assignment confirmed ≥20 min before ETA; gate conflict rate <1%	N	N
Phase 5 5.1	Close flight plan & confirm arrival report	Flight Dispatcher	NAVBLUE Flight Planning	Block-in time from AMS, ATC arrival message	Flight plan closed in NAVBLUE; OOOI times recorded (Out/Off/On/In)	Flight plan closure within 5 min of block-in; OOOI data accuracy 100%	N	N
5.2	Review ATC communications log for deviations	Flight Dispatcher	Telex / SITA ACARS	ACARS message archive, crew debrief notes	Deviation log entry; flag for ASAP review if applicable	Post-flight review completed within 2 hours of block-in for all flagged flights	Y	N
5.3	File ASAP/MOR report for ATC deviation or incident	Flight Dispatcher / Safety Officer	NAVBLUE Flight Planning	Deviation flag from step 5.2, crew narrative, ATC incident reference number	ASAP report submitted to airline safety program; MOR filed with ANSP if required	ASAP report filed within 24 hours of incident per FAA AC 120-66B; 100% of flagged deviations reported	N	Y

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Process Attributes

Identification

Process IDFO-07

L1 DomainFlight Operations

L2 ProcessFlight Dispatch & Control

L3 NameAir Traffic Control Coordination

L4 Steps18 across 5 phases

Decision Gates6 (all with iteration loops)

Exceptions5 documented

Swim Lanes (Roles)

Flight Dispatcher

Flight Crew / Dispatcher

Flight Crew

Flight Dispatcher / Station Ops

Flight Dispatcher / Safety Officer

Systems & Tools

Honeywell GoDirect WeatherNAVBLUE Flight PlanningFAA Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS)Telex / SITA ACARSSITA Airport Management System (AMS)Jeppesen FliteDeck

Key Performance Indicators

Obtain ATIS & meteorological briefingBriefing completed ≥45 min before STD; 100% crew acknowledgement rate

File IFR flight plan with ANSPFlight plan filed ≥60 min before STD per ICAO Doc 4444; acceptance rate ≥99%

Request CTOT/EDCT slot from ATFM systemEDCT compliance rate ≥95%; slot deviation window ±5 min

Negotiate revised slot if CTOT unacceptableSlot substitution request processed within 10 min of receipt; substitution approval rate ~60% per FAA ATCSCC data

Request IFR departure clearance from ATCClearance received ≥15 min before EDCT; clearance readback accuracy 100%

Verify clearance against filed route & amend if neededRoute amendment turnaround <5 min; zero departures on unapproved route

Coordinate pushback & engine start with ground ATCPushback-to-wheels-up compliance with EDCT ±5 min; gate conflict rate <2%

Obtain taxi clearance & confirm runway assignmentTaxi time within airline benchmark (e.g. ≤12 min at focus cities); runway incursion events = 0

Airline-Specific Risks & Pain Points

GoDirect ATIS latency can lag live tower broadcasts by 3–5 min during high-volume periods, risking crew departure on stale altimeter settings

NAVBLUE route optimisation does not automatically incorporate FAA Coded Departure Routes (CDRs) during Ground Delay Programs, requiring manual dispatcher override

TFMS EDCT updates can arrive with <15 min notice, making ground crew coordination nearly impossible during high-frequency departure banks at focus cities

FAA does not guarantee slot substitution approval; carriers without dedicated ATC coordination desk (like low-cost carriers) suffer higher rejection rates

Voice clearance delivery congestion at Class B airports (ORD, ATL, LAX) causes average 8–12 min clearance delays during push banks; PDC via ACARS not universally available

ATC short-notice route amendments (e.g. miles-in-trail restrictions) require rapid NAVBLUE recalculation that may invalidate pre-filed fuel load, triggering re-release

Inputs / Outputs

Primary InputScheduled departure time, origin/destination airport pair

Primary OutputASAP report submitted to airline safety program; MOR filed with ANSP if required

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