EUROCONTROL ATM Simulation

July 1996 to Nov 2007 EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre (EEC), Paris, France

EEC budget: €64M Staff: 250

EUROCONTROL is the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. The current membership of EUROCONTROL numbers 38 states. The EEC carries out Research and Development in order to improve Air Traffic Management in Europe. The EEC is one of seven EUROCONTROL sites in Europe.

Jan 1999 to Nov 2007

Subcontracted by ISA Software Ltd, Paris, France

Project Real-time Simulation Tools (Air Traffic Control)

Project Budget €20M/year Staff: 50

The real-time simulation tools are part of the EEC’s research infrastructure. As such, they are continuously developed, maintained and operated in support of the validation activities within the Agency work programme.

The users of the simulation tools are up to 40 Air Traffic Controllers and 50 pilots simulating traffic over a specified airspace. They play scenarios for up to three hours to validate Air Traffic Management concepts. The architecture is component based, similar to Service Oriented Architecture.

Project Manager.

Project: Integration and validation of the EUROCONTROL real-time simulation tools.

Responsibilities: 2 Team Leaders and 8 Test Analysts.

Formal testing processes were introduced into the development life-cycle, thus improving reliability, and ensuring delivery of quality systems on schedule. Awarded contract to provide outsourced testing services to EUROCONTROL, including the recruitment of test analysts. All system releases were successfully used by clients without any major blocking issues.

        • Test management for three versions of the Air Traffic Control Simulation Facility (RTS, EAT and ACE). This included the integration of an air subsystem to simulate air traffic in multiple airspaces, a cockpit simulator, controller interfaces and off-line analysis tools.

  • Sourced a team of experts to provide integration and testing services. Led multinational testing teams.

  • Defined and developed the test strategy, test methodologies, test environment, test plan, test schedule, test procedures and test architecture. Managed of all stages of the test lifecycle. Introduced of use of HP Quality Center (formerly Test Director) into the test process.

  • Reviewed of User Requirements defined in UML to ensure testability. Coordinated with all development teams to plan subsystem releases. Directed high level management and design meetings. Contributed to Change Control Boards (CCB).

  • Managed test campaigns including the preparation of test data and hand-on testing.

  • Monitored progress and produced test reports. Defined KPI metrics for programme management.

  • Managed the analysis of defects, and prioritised resolutions.

  • Continuous improvement to test plans based on “lessons learned”. Liaised with development teams to advise on test practices, and provide support in provision of unit test platforms

  • Delivered fully tested system to clients according to acceptance criteria.

  • Supported client activities, including the creation and provision of training courses to international users.

  • Mentoring role for test analysts

Concurrent Projects

Project: Automated Test Tool (AMTL)

Budget: €200K Timeline: 2003-2005

Responsibilities: 1 Software Engineer

The reliability of system releases was improved through repeatable, programmable and reusable tests. Testing costs were decreased and the quality of the product improved. The regression test cycle execution time was reduced by 80%.

  • Tool to provide automated regression and performance tests in a distributed architecture.

  • Managed the project from Project Initiation to Final Acceptance. Definition of User and System Requirements for a Test Automation tool to be used in all testing stages

Project: Supervision HMI

Budget: €300K Timeline: 2003-2006

Responsibilities: 1 Software Engineer

The usability of the system was improved for non technical users. The system was quickly adopted by final users.

  • Tool to provide Supervision of components in a distributed architecture.

  • Definition of User Requirements for System Supervision HMI.