Now landed: Welcome to Toronto Pearson’s new and improved website.

Partners in A-CDM

A-CDM improves the efficiency at Toronto Pearson by encouraging collaboration between all partners involved.

With the implementation of A-CDM at Toronto Pearson, we move towards a more collaborative relationship with airport partners and increased communication with the GTAA Aviation Services. The result: a common situational awareness for all, improved predictability, and greater efficiency in utilization of airport partners’ resources.

NOTE: Official procedures for A-CDM can be found in the relevant Aeronautical publications: i.e., Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC).

pilot in airplane cockpit

Aircraft Operators - AO

AO have direct access to their own aircraft trajectories , manage Target Off Block Time (TOBT) and have the ability to set up priorities.

If there is a +/-5 minute change to the TOBT, the AO updates the TOBT accordingly. This informs all partners of the flight’s trajectory update, increasing the efficiency of resource allocation.

With A-CDM, the AO has greater control of its own flights. Each AO is able to swap the Target Start-Up Approval Time (TSAT) between eligible flights and to assign a higher priority to certain flights of its own, either on a long-term recurring or ad-hoc basis.

runway crew in yellow vest with batons guiding an airplane

Ground Handlers

A-CDM implementation results in improved predictability of when an aircraft will be ready to depart from its stand. Ground handling activities directly affect the aircraft readiness. A-CDM makes accurate time estimates for the completion of such activities transparent. Enhanced and shared transparency contributes to more efficient planning and use of resources.

It is common for visiting AO to delegate the responsibility for providing accurate TOBT updates to the local GH. Accurate TOBT updates result in a more accurate TSAT assigned to the trajectory, which helps minimize the delay between the time the aircraft is ready to depart and the time pushback/taxi instruction is issued.

NAV Canada Tower at Toronto Pearson

Nav Canada

NAV CANADA is the Air Navigation Service Provider at Toronto Pearson. By having an accurate and updated view of all aircraft trajectories at the airport, NAV CANADA is earlier aware of potential or actual delays. This enables NAV CANADA to issue more suitable Calculated Take Off Time (CTOT) to affected flights.

NAV CANADA issues en-route clearance and assigns departure runway for each trajectory. During winter operations, flight crew request aircraft deicing during en-route clearance delivery.

airline pilots in cockpit

Flight Crew

Both TOBT and TSAT are displayed on the AVDGS for the flight crew (and ground handling crew). If the aircraft parking stand is not equipped with an AVDGS, then the flight crew can retrieve the same information from the A-CDM web portal.

At +/- 5 minutes of TOBT, the Flight Crew contacts the Apron Management Unit (AMU) to indicate that the aircraft is ready for pushback. This indication from the Flight Crew is known as Call Ready. Once this call is made, the Flight Crew then switches to the appropriate radio frequency and awaits start-up and pushback approval.

If the aircraft is not ready to pushback at TOBT, the Flight Crew contacts the AO to advise them of this. The AO (or authorized Ground Handler) then updates the TOBT to a more accurate time, and a new TSAT is generated in the A-CDM system.

A-CDM Home

Learn how Toronto Pearson is increasing airport efficiency.

Return to home

Key Concepts

Learn about the concepts and terminology inherent to A-CDM.

Learn more