Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A‑CDM) is a collaborative operational concept developed by EUROCONTROL, ACI, IATA, and CANSO to improve the efficiency and resilience of airport operations by optimizing resource usage and improving the predictability of air traffic. Since 2005, A‑CDM has encouraged transparent, real-time information exchange between airport operators, airlines, ground handlers, air traffic control (ATC), and the EUROCONTROL Network Manager.

The concept focuses especially on the turnaround and pre-departure phases of a flight. It allows for more accurate departure data, particularly target take-off times, to be exchanged with the European ATFCM network—leading to better en-route and sectoral planning.

Core Components of A‑CDM:

• Real-time data sharing across all key stakeholders

• Monitoring key turnaround milestones: landing, in-block, boarding start, off-block, take-off

• Coordinated planning and decision points including:

  • TOBT (Target Off-Block Time)

  • TSAT (Target Start-Up Approval Time)

  • CTOT (Calculated Take-Off Time)

  • Variable taxi times, departure sequencing, and collaborative recovery procedures

The ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan includes A‑CDM as part of its system upgrade framework, with defined steps and timelines to guide the implementation of collaborative operational improvements. For smaller airports, the Advanced ATC Tower concept provides a streamlined alternative, offering partial integration with the ATFCM network by sharing a core subset of A‑CDM data.

What Are the Benefits of A‑CDM?

A‑CDM delivers significant operational gains (EUROCONTROL Impact Study):

• Up to 10% reduction in ATFM delays

• 85% increase in predictability of take-off times

• Optimized use of airport resources (stands, gates, taxiways), reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions

• Enhanced slot adherence and resilience during irregular operations

• Shared situational awareness that promotes joint decision making and reduces misunderstandings

Studies show that wider A‑CDM deployment across Europe could reduce total network ATFM delays by 18–23% and improve sector capacity by up to 4%.

Where Is A‑CDM Implemented?

A‑CDM is now fully operational at over 30 major European airports, including Amsterdam, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris CDG, Vienna, Zurich, London Heathrow, Madrid, and Rome Fiumicino. Implementation continues to expand as more airports recognize the strategic and operational advantages of the model.

Putting A‑CDM Into Practice on the Ramp

Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) isn’t just for airports with formal implementation—it’s a mindset any ground ops team can adopt to improve coordination and on-time performance. As airlines and airports face growing network complexity, the principles of A‑CDM—transparency, collaboration, and real-time actionability—are more relevant than ever. Here’s how you can apply A‑CDM principles in day-to-day operations:

A‑CDM-Inspired Practices for Ground Teams:

• Keep TOBT accurate: Regularly update the Target Off-Block Time based on real conditions to keep sequencing realistic.

• Track milestones actively: Use actual timestamps for in-block, boarding, off-block, etc., to identify bottlenecks and delays.

• Share updates early: Don’t wait for final confirmation—share estimated delays or service disruptions as early as possible.

• Align with service partners: Ensure handlers, catering, fueling, and cleaning teams operate from the same turnaround timeline.

• Log disruptions transparently: Record both primary and contributing delay causes in real time, not hours later.

How Cosmos Supports Your Approach

Cosmos helps operational teams apply these principles even in non-A‑CDM stations by providing:

• Collaborative delay tracking for every flight

• Real-time SLA monitoring and alerting

• Integrated delay attribution workflows

• A shared data view for airline and ground partners

The result? More synchronized turnarounds and stronger collaboration—whether you're in a certified A‑CDM airport or not.

Curious how Cosmos supports transparent, collaborative operations across your network? Let’s connect.