Trials of the new airport collaborative decision-making (A-CDM) procedures started on Monday at Canada’s Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport and are scheduled to continue until next spring. The program was originally set to start in February, although at that time, a revised takeoff and landing reservation system for business and general aviation operations did go into effect.
“The objective of the program is to optimize aircraft turnaround procedures by ensuring the best possible coordination of resources and increasing common situational awareness for all operational departments and airport partners,” according to airport authorities.
Airport-based operators can book slots up to 30 days in advance. However, transient operators will be allowed to request slots only within 72 hours of their flight. FBOs Skycharter and Signature Aviation can arrange slots on behalf of operators and because they are “home-based” the companies can request reservations up to 30 days in advance.
Operators themselves must arrange slots by completing an online application form emailed to the airport reservation office. The airport will email confirmation of acceptance. However, according to international flight information provider OpsGroup, “Toronto is a busy airport, and this [72-hour] restriction may mean that you won’t be able to get the arrival/departure times that you want.”
Also, OpsGroup warns that if operators believe that their departure target off block time (TOBT) will exceed five minutes or more, they can only update the TOBT two times with ATC. If a third TOBT update is necessary, operators will have to call the airport flow manager for instructions at (416) 776-2236.
Trials of the new airport collaborative decision-making (A-CDM) procedures started on September 16 at Canada’s Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport and are scheduled to continue until next spring. The program was originally set to start in February, although at that time, a revised takeoff and landing reservation system for business and general aviation operations did go into effect.
“The objective of the program is to optimize aircraft turnaround procedures by ensuring the best possible coordination of resources and increasing common situational awareness for all operational departments and airport partners,” according to airport authorities.
Airport-based operators can book slots up to 30 days in advance. However, transient operators will be allowed to request slots only within 72 hours of their flight. FBOs Skycharter and Signature Aviation can arrange slots on behalf of operators and because they are “home-based” the companies can request reservations up to 30 days in advance.
Operators themselves must arrange slots by completing an online application form emailed to the airport reservation office. The airport will email confirmation of acceptance. However, according to international flight information provider OpsGroup, “Toronto is a busy airport, and this [72-hour] restriction may mean that you won’t be able to get the arrival/departure times that you want.”
Also, OpsGroup warns that if operators believe that their departure target off block time (TOBT) will exceed five minutes or more, they can only update the TOBT two times with ATC. If a third TOBT update is necessary, operators will have to call the airport flow manager for instructions at (416) 776-2236.