Figure 2 -6: Sample Project Planning
2.4.1 DESIGN OBJECTIVES
Irrespective of the way in which a project is initiated, one of the first tasks of the Terminal Airspace design team is to determine the project’s design objectives.
Thus, as a first step, the Terminal Airspace design team identifies ways in which higher goals (be they project and/or strategic objectives) might be fulfilled from a Terminal Airspace design perspective. Not every solution proposed is likely: to be acceptable, solutions must be safe in ATM terms, and a solution’s benefit is usually required to outweigh its costs. This ratio between benefit and cost is usually determined by undertaking a CBA (Cost Benefit Analysis). Thus the feasibility of each solution is assessed in terms of safety and cost, and a ‘solution’ is chosen.
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Usually the solution chosen is one -
[i]  which meets the objectives of ATS Safety Management1 (this includes determining the likelihood of the safety assessment showing that the acceptable level of safety will be met),
[ii]  which meets the objectives of the Air Traffic Services2 (and compliance with air traffic service Standards, Procedures and guidance material provided for by ICAO and national regulation); and
[iii]  whose Benefits out-weights its Cost.
The ‘solution’ selected by the Terminal Airspace design team may be called the Design Objective.
.  An example of a Design Objective stemming from the Project Objective, could be to design arrival and departure routes to accommodate a new parallel runway 18L/36R, whilst ensuring that risk is not increased, that current safety levels are at least maintained and environmental impact is minimised. (Note the ‘echo’ of Strategic Objectives contained in these design objectives)
2.4.2 DESIGN PROJECT SCOPE AND TASK IDENTIFICATION
Defining the Scope of the Terminal Airspace design project is the next logical step after the, design objectives have been identified. It ‘wraps-up’ what needs to be done in order to achieve the design objectives. If, for example, the design objective cited above is used as a basis for defining the scope, the scope from a Terminal Airspace Design Project perspective could include - .
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develop a Terminal Airspace Design Concept i.e. design Routes, Holding Areas, Airspace Volume and ATC Sectorisation;

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decide upon criteria on which the design will be assessed and then qualitatively assess the Terminal Airspace Design Concept and;

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decide upon criteria on which the design will be assessed and then quantitatively assess the Terminal Airspace Design Concept;