Airport CDM stands for Airport Collaborative Decision Making.
Airport CDM is a concept for improving operational efficiency at airports. Its objective is a comprehensive exchange of information between all parties involved and thus an efficient coordination of all processes in connection with aircraft turnround. Airport CDM is designed to help optimally use available capacities and operational resources, cut costs, increase punctuality, and reduce fuel consumption and emissions on the runway by minimising waiting times. Automatic communication with the NMOC leads to optimum CTOT allocation.
The process is obligatory for all flights operated in accordance with instrument flight rules (IFR). All ground handling partners are involved.
If the turnround process is not in accordance with the Airport CDM process, this can have an adverse effect on the individual flight concerned. As a result, start-up clearance will not be given and delays may occur. Alerts will be transmitted notifying users and ground handling service providers of any disruptions or irregularities.
The European launch of Airport CDM is a Eurocontrol initiative.
Changes to the ground handling process which may affect the ground handling time must be reported in the TOBT. The TSAT can be used to optimise resource planning (e.g. tow tractor disposal).
Someone responsible for TOBT and a recipient for the Airport CDM alerts must be designated. The start-up request must be in line with the TSAT. Automatic communication with the NMOC leads to optimum CTOT (Calculated Take-Off Time) allocation.
Start-up clearance is given by air traffic control in line with the TSAT.
TOBT stands for Target Off-Block Time. This time indicates when the aircraft is expected to be ready and refers to the time the ground handling process (excl. pushback and de-icing) will be completed and the aircraft would like to leave its parking position. The TOBT is managed by those responsible for TOBT and, if necessary, amended in the event of changes to the ground handling process. Based on the TOBT, a pre-departure sequence is generated which determines and communicates the TSAT for each flight.
The TOBT (Target Off-Block Time) can be entered and managed via the Airport Operational Extranet (AOE). The system is made available free of charge to those responsible for TOBT within the scope of the Airport CDM process.
We recommend that the TOBT be entered by the relevant ground handling service provider, who has direct access to the airport’s central database (Airport Operational Database – AODB).
In order to access the AOE (Airport Operational Extranet), please complete and return the User Agreement.
TSAT stands for Target Start-Up Approval Time. This indicates the time the pilot can expect to receive start-up clearance from air traffic control in line with the generated sequence. When calculating the TSAT, both the local capacity (runway) and the available network capacity (sector – CTOT) are taken into account.
The TSAT (Target Start-Up Approval Time) is communicated via defined channels. As a rule, the relevant ramp agent informs the flight crew of the current TSAT. DCL (Datalink Departure Clearance) can also be used.
Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions or suggestions.
More information on Airport CDM can be found here:
Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
Control centre for planning and controlling all aircraft operations and passenger handling processes at the airport
Concept created by Eurocontrol to improve collaboration between all aircraft ground handling partners
The actual time that an aircraft arrives at its parking position and switches off the engines; usually when ground handling begins
The actual time that an aircraft leaves its parking position; usually when ground handling ends
Operational database including all master data; subsystem of FARMS
Operational extranet with several subportals and the possibility to enter defined data into FARMS. Used within the scope of the Airport CDM process for TOBT entry by TOBT personnel.
When the aircraft is ready to be moved
Time that an aircraft receives start-up approval from air traffic control
System for tracking processes and clearing IATA messages (LDM, MVT, PTM, PAL, CAL)
Time the pilot requests start-up clearance from air traffic control
see ALDT
see ATOT
see AIBT
see AOBT
see A-CDM
Issued by the NMOC
Information on status updates regarding aircraft departure
The estimated time that an aircraft will arrive at its parking position and switch off the engines; usually when ground handling begins
The estimated time that an aircraft will start moving by air traffic control according to the ATC flight schedule
entspricht ELDT
see LOBT/TOBT
The estimated taxi time from the runway to the parking position
The estimated taxi time from the parking position to the runway
Airport management system for storing master data, managing flight schedule operations, managing resources and providing the basis for exchanging data with external systems
System for displaying data on different screens
Information on the status update of an aircraft
Estimated time of departure by the ACC (Airport Control Centre)
The minimum turn-round time (between on- and off-block) agreed with the ground handler or aircraft operator
see AOBT
see AIBT
System operated by Airport Coordination Germany (FHKD) to allocate slots to coordinated German commercial airports
The time coordinated by Airport Coordination Germany at which an aircraft arrives at its parking position and switches off the engines; usually when ground handling begins
The off-block time coordinated by Airport Coordination Germany
System used by air traffic control for processing flight data electronically
Target ready time; basis for the Airport CDM process and calculating the TSAT
This indicates the time the pilot can expect to receive start-up clearance from air traffic control in line with the generated sequence
Target time of departure, basis for exchanging data with the NMOC