On June 12, the Traffic Control Planning Division, Civil Aviation Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) explained the test flight of the Multi Regional Trajectory Based Operations (MR TBO), a next-generation air traffic system that spans multiple countries. On the same day, the test aircraft flew to Narita.
MR TBO is a joint initiative by the Civil Aviation Bureau of the United States, Singapore, and Thailand, in addition to Japan, to dynamically adjust transit times and optimize routes while keeping aircraft in flight at a safe distance from each other. The goal is to reduce congestion in the airspace, eliminate overflight queues, reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and improve on-time performance.
To be more specific, airplane routes are usually determined based on advance flight plans, but TBO allows each aircraft to update its latitude, longitude, altitude, and speed to optimal values based on real-time information on weather, airspace congestion, volcanic fumes, and other factors.
This can be easily understood by replacing it with a car navigation system. Current car navigation systems have a mechanism whereby each vehicle connects to the Internet to obtain the latest congestion and regulation information and dynamically suggest efficient routes.
However, it has been difficult for air traffic control agencies, airport companies, and airline companies to cooperate with each other because they all use their own proprietary systems.
In addition, while aircraft require ATC permission for all actions, such as changing course or altitude, TBO will process these actions on data, reducing the pilot’s workload and allowing for immediate route changes, much like a car navigation system. As a result, the system will improve efficiency by increasing ATC throughput and eliminating mid-air waits for landing, which will lead to reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The test aircraft, a Boeing 787-10 “Eco-Demonstrator Explorer,” departed Seattle on June 11 (local time) and arrived at Narita at 10:54 a.m. on June 12 (Japan time). The test flight was followed by flights to Singapore and Thailand. Although this is a test flight, MR TBO hopes to introduce the aircraft to the real world by 2040.
© Source travel watch