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Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport

Communications Centers (2018)

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172 pages | 8.5 x 11 | PAPERBACK

ISBN 978-0-309-47007-0 | DOI 10.17226/24980

CONTRIBUTORS

GET THIS BOOK David Kipp and Dominic Nessi; Airport Cooperative Research Program;
Transportation Research Board; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine
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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2018. Guidance for

Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers.
Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24980.

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Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers

APPENDIX B

CONOPS Template

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

FOR

AIRPORT NAME

________________________________________
Airport Director Date:

________________________________________
Project Manager Date:

________________________________________
ACC Manager Date:

132

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers

CONOPS Template   133  

Record of Reviews and Changes

Date Date
Change ID Reviewed Approved Comment Signature

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers

134   Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers

Concept of Operations
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

1. Mission Description

2. ACC Operational Context and Architecture

3. Organizational System Drivers and Constraints

4. Center Functions

5. Operational Scenarios

6. Implementation Concepts and Rationale

7. ACC Operational Architecture

8. Organizational and Business Impact

9. Risks and Technology Readiness Assessment

10. Notes

11. Appendices

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers

CONOPS Template   135  

Executive Summary
The Executive Summary, usually around two pages long, should summarize the purpose of the document,
including any guidance which is meaningful to the preparation and approval process of the CONOPS. The
Executive Summary focuses the stakeholder’s attention on the most important aspects of the CONOPS
document and provides sufficient information for the executive decisionmaker to understand the purpose and
contents of this conceptual document.

1. Mission Description
The Mission Description is an overview of the ACC’s goals and objectives, underlying mission and business
rationale, the current (As Is) Architecture, a list of key stakeholders and expectations, and the current gaps in
capabilities that require resolution. It also looks at the future of the ACC and begins to lay the framework for
potential expansion of the ACC as the mission evolves.

1.1 Mission Statement

A succinct one- to two-paragraph statement which embodies the purpose and function of the ACC. It
will be used continually when adding new functionality to the center.

1.2 ACC Goals and Objectives

Enter Airport Management’s Goals for the ACC. These are broad-ranging statements which describe
the ultimate achievements that management is seeking with the ACC. For each goal, enter the
concrete objective(s) to be attained within the overall goal statement.

1.3 ACC System Architecture

This section describes the current systems operating in the ACC and includes the following:

• The operational environment and its characteristics

• Major system components and the interconnections among these components, operational
nodes, activities performed at each node, and connectivity and information flow between
nodes
• Interfaces to external systems or procedures
• Capabilities or functions of current systems, including activities and relationships among
activities, inputs and outputs, constraints, and mechanisms that perform those activities.
• Charts and accompanying descriptions depicting inputs, outputs, data flow, and manual and
automated processes sufficient to understand the current system or situation from the user’s
point of view
• (Optional) Performance characteristics (e.g., speed, throughput, volume, and frequency of
individual systems )
• (Optional) Quality attributes (e.g., reliability, maintainability, availability, flexibility, portability,
usability, and efficiency )
• (Optional) Provisions for safety, security, privacy, and continuity of operations in emergencies

2. ACC Operational Context and Architecture

The ACC operational context clarifies the boundaries of the center as it is being conceived. This section
describes the placement of the ACC within the airport organizational structure, types of users or personnel
contained within the ACC, training and skill required, responsibilities, activities, and interactions with one
another. This section also includes a Command Relationship Chart detailing the command, control, and
coordination of all organizational components in the ACC.

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Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers

136   Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers

In this section, the following six components should be addressed:

• Current functional components of the ACC

• Current organizations, roles, and responsibilities
• Current policies, including regulations, procedures, and standards of all entities which may govern
activities in the ACC, including the airport, the FAA, and NIMS
• Projected ACC performance drivers
• Existing communication protocols and standards and intended modifications
• Current and projected personnel numbers, skills, and competencies

3. Organizational System Drivers and Constraints

3.1 Outline the Airport Operational Approach

Identify the airport’s approach to operational management, situational awareness, and other functions
being operated from the ACC.

3.2 Legal Requirements Specifically Related to the ACC

List all legal requirements that apply to the ACC.

3.3 Identify External Airport Organizations That Support the ACC and Describe Their Roles
List all entities external to the airport that may have a role in working with the ACC, including IROP and
emergencies

3.4 Identify Any Organizational Constraints that Impact the Entire ACC

4. Center Functions

4.1 Individual Center Functions

This section will include an entry for each of the functions (see Appendix C) contained within the ACC
and the following sections will be repeated for every function:
• Function Title
• Detailed description of the function. This paragraph provides a detailed description of the function
and should include, as applicable:
— A description of the function
— The function’s operational environment and its characteristics
— Operational Scenarios, including the situational awareness template, where applicable.
Include one or more operational scenarios that describe the role of the function and its
interaction within the airport’s internal and external stakeholders. The scenarios should
include events, actions, stimuli, information, interactions, and so forth, as applicable.
• Related CONOPS Functions. List any other function managed in the ACC that has a tangential
relationship to the function.
• Related Airport Functions. List any other function managed elsewhere in the airport that has a
tangential relationship to the function.
• Information Foundation. Include all of the following:
— Inputs to the function from systems, reports, regularly scheduled meetings, including interfaces
to external systems or procedures
— All outputs from the function

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Guidance for Planning, Design, and Operations of Airport Communications Centers

CONOPS Template   137  

— Constraints or obstacles that affect the function - This paragraph describes any operational
policies and constraints that apply to the function
— The primary manager of the function and their reporting structure
— The roles and responsibilities of all airport staff responsible for the proper execution of the
function
— The intended outcome of the function – describe the airport’s intended successful objective in
performing this function, including goal and related objectives
— Performance metrics which measure a successful outcome for the function – list performance
indicators which identify a success level for the function

5. Operational Scenarios

List any major scenarios that affect the ACC in its entirety. For example, list all situations which the
airport considers as a “major event.”

6. Implementation Concepts and Rationale

Describe how the ACC was developed and the rationale used to justify its development.

7. ACC Operational Architecture

Describe the ACC in a graphical representation, depicting all of the information flows, systems, and
inputs and outputs. Include the interface to non-ACC systems where relevant.

8. Organizational and Business Impact

Describe airport management’s view on the effect that it expects the ACC to have on the business of
the airport organization and its stakeholders (e.g., community, airlines, and concessionaires).

9. Risks and Technology Readiness Assessment

Include either the initial risk assessment developed for the ACC or the most current risk assessment.

10. Notes

This section may contain any general information that aids in understanding the CONOPS for the ACC.

11. Appendices

Appendices may be used to provide additional information related to the ACC.

Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.