With the installation of electronic flight strips and the associated data-sharing capabilities, TFDM will enable more efficient management of traffic management on the surface. With real-time updates of surface movements, TFDM will support surface scheduling and metering. The surface scheduling tool will run all of the time and the surface metering tool will run when demand exceeds capacity.

The surface metering functionality is built off the Surface Collaborative Decision Making Concept of Operations, and requires cooperation of FAA, flight operators, and airports to be successful and enable all parties to reap the benefits.

Integrating TFDM data with flight operator/airport data and other FAA systems, such as TBFM (Time Based Flow Management), TFMS (Traffic Flow Management System), and surface surveillance data from Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X)/ Airport Surface Surveillance Capability (ASSC) allows flight operators, controllers, and airports to more efficiently manage the flow of an aircraft through all phases of the flight from departure gate to arrival gate. This will result in improved surface traffic management, more efficient en-route Traffic Management, and better airport operations.

Map of surface metering deployments:

See a full deployment schedule