Order 7110.65P, Air Traffic Control, with changes

2/19/047110.65PChapter 13. Decision Support ToolsSection 1. User Request Evaluation Tool (URET) − En Route13−1−1. DESCRIPTIONa. URET, a decision support technology andcomponent of the Free Flight Program, is utilized inthe en route environment and is located at the RadarAssociate (RA) position at an operational sector. Thepurpose of the tool is the prediction of conflictsbetween aircraft and between aircraft and special useor designated airspace, and it also provides trialplanning and enhanced flight data managementcapabilities.b. URET is designed to enhance the efficiency ofthe Sector Team by providing decision support in theprediction and resolution of potential conflicts, and,as a result, allowing controllers more latitude in othertasks, such as responding to user requests. Further, theuse of the tool could provide increased system safety,decreased system delays, and increased systemflexibility, predictability, productivity, and useraccess.c. URET predicts conflicts up to 20 minutes inadvance using flight plan, forecast winds, aircraftperformance characteristics, and track data to deriveexpected aircraft trajectories. URET supports earlyidentification and resolution of predicted conflictsand the evaluation of user requests, and it is to be usedby the sector team in performing their strategicplanning responsibilities.13−1−2. CONFLICT DETECTION ANDRESOLUTIONa. Actively scan URET information for predictedalerts.b. When a URET alert is displayed, evaluate thealert and take appropriate action as early as practical,in accordance with duty priorities.c. Prioritize the evaluation and resolution ofURET alerts to ensure the safe, expeditious, andefficient flow of air traffic.NOTE−URET alerts are based on radar separation standards.Caution should be used when situations includenonstandard formations.d. When a URET alert is displayed and whensector priorities permit, give consideration to thefollowing in determining a solution:1. Solutions that involve direct routing, altitudechanges, removal of a flight direction constraint (i.e.,inappropriate altitude for direction of flight), and/orremoval of a static restriction for one or morepertinent aircraft.2. Impact on surrounding sector traffic andcomplexity levels, flight efficiencies, and userpreferences.13−1−3. TRIAL PLANNINGa. When URET is operational at the sector andwhen sector priorities permit, use the trial plancapability to evaluate:1. Solutions to predicted conflicts.2. The feasibility of granting user requests.3. The feasibility of removing a flight directionconstraint (i.e., inappropriate altitude for direction offlight) for an aircraft.4. The feasibility of removing a static restrictionfor an aircraft.13−1−4. URET−BASED CLEARANCESWhen the results of a trial plan based upon a userrequest indicate the absence of alerts, every effortshould be made to grant the user request, unless thechange is likely to adversely affect operations atanother sector.User Request Evaluation Tool (URET) − En Route13−1−1