First Experience with New Col-CC Console Setup

Paper number

IAC-13,B3,4-B6.5,3,x18164

Author

Dr. Dieter Sabath, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Gerd Söllner, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Dirk Schulze-Varnholt, Airbus DS GmbH, Germany

Year

2013

Abstract

On 7 February 2013 the Columbus Flight Control Team achieved five years of continuous Columbus operations. This centenary is on the one side a good opportunity to look back on five successful years but on the other side also a starting point for changes in the way operations is done in future.

Last year the Columbus Flight Control Team started with the definition and implementation of the merger between two important console positions – DMS and Systems – to a new position called STRATOS. Meanwhile the training of the first flight controller is nearly finished and it is foreseen to start with on console work in the second quarter of 2013. In parallel all three control rooms are adapted to the new setup and will be available for STRATOS operations as planned.

The first simulations have shown that the new chosen setup is feasible but some fine-tuning is necessary to optimise the work on console. This will be done before the first STRATOS shift will be performed on console. Despite these optimization of the on-console tasks the reduction of the 24/7 on-console team from 4 to 3 persons will lead to some impacts in the work of the FCT. The transition phase from DMS and Systems to STRATOS will last until 2nd half of 2014 when all DMS and Systems flight controllers are cross-certified and ready for on-console work.

Besides this big preparation work to be done in 2013 also the normal operations work has been performed with rack tilting, exchange of hardware, ground software upgrades and hardware changes, support of the ESA crew member on board ISS and the support of payload operations in Columbus.

The paper will give an overview of the achievements and highlights of the last year and concentrate on the first experiences with the new setup of the Columbus FCT in real ops.

Abstract document

IAC-13,B3,4-B6.5,3,x18164.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-13,B3,4-B6.5,3,x18164.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.