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Edition 39 November 2, 2009
ATM Insight will have a new name from the next edition, ATCGobal Insight, following the purchase of the publication by United Business Media Limited, organisers of the ATC Global exhibition and conference. ATCGlobal Insight will continue to be published free of charge twice monthly to the ATM global community and will continue to be edited by Philip Butterworth-Hayes, ATC Global Editorial Director.
EGNOS starts open services
At the start of October 2009 Antonio Tajani, European Commission Vice-President for Transport Policy, announced the official start of operations for the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). EGNOS is a satellite-based augmentation system that improves the accuracy of satellite navigation signals over Europe. The system consists of transponders aboard three geostationary satellites over the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Europe, linked to a network of about 40 ground stations and four control centres. The EGNOS ground stations receive signals sent out by the US GPS satellites. Information on the accuracy and reliability of these signals is relayed to users via the geostationary satellite transponders. This allows them to determine their position to within two metres, compared with about 20 metres for GPS alone. The service is now available free of charge to all users equipped with EGNOS-compatible receivers.
EGNOS is the first pan-European navigation satellite system. It was developed as a joint project by ESA, the European Commission (EC) and Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. The European Satellite Services Provider, ESSP SaS, founded by seven air navigation services providers and based in Toulouse, France, manages EGNOS operations. A contract between the EC and ESSP SaS was signed on 30 September. The contract provides for the management of EGNOS operations and the maintenance of the system until the end of 2013.
Netherlands freezes charges for five years
Government Transport Minister announces agreement with Netherlands ANSP LVNL to freeze navigation charges for 5 years.
Dutch Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings announced in mid-October that navigation service provider LVNL is to freeze navigation charges for the next five years. The government has agreed to a loan of up to EUR45m which LVNL will replay over five years to enable charges to stay at 2009 levels. LVNL plans cost cuts of Eur35-45 million, but says controllers will not be affected.
Nav Canada reports fall in traffic and emissions
Nav Canada results for the year ended August 2009 show revenues before rate stabilization were CAD1,163 million, compared to CAD1,228 million for the previous year. The lower revenues arose primarily from a six per cent year-over-year decline in air traffic volumes. Operating expenses before rate stabilization were CAD905 million which was CAD56 million lower than in the previous year.
In October 2009 Nav Canada published a Progress Report on Collaborative Initiatives for Emissions Reductions (CIFER) that estimates that improved efficiencies achieved through new technologies and procedures will save 8.4 million metric tons of aviation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the period 2009 to 2016. Examples include Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B), introduced over Hudson Bay in January 2009. The technology allows controllers to safely separate equipped aircraft by five nm, instead of 80 nm. Reduced separation opens up more fuel efficient routes, with an estimated reduction in GHG emissions of over 500,000 metric tons by 2016. Further ADS-B networks are planned in the Eastern Arctic and Southern Greenland, where it is estimated that oceanic ADS-B will reduce GHG emissions by 130,000 metric tons over the next seven years.
Nav Canada has also expanded surveillance in northern Canada where seven new generation radar systems have allowed the company to reduce aircraft separation requirements from 80 to 5 nm. To date, this has reduced GHG emissions by some 450,000 metric tons with an additional savings of 650,000 projected by 2016.
One of the benefits of expanded northern surveillance is that it facilitates the efficient use of polar routes for inter-continental flights. Nav Canada estimates savings of 3.6 million metric tons of GHG and over CAD1.1 billion in fuel by 2016 through the use of these routes. Another initiative highlighted in the report is Area Navigation (RNAV) which allows more direct flight paths rather than routing that only follows ground-based navigation aids. Total fuel savings are estimated at CAD440 million over 20 years, with GHG savings of nearly 1.8 million metric tons. WestJet has also introduced Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approaches at 20 airports to eliminates inefficient step down approaches, with associated GHG and fuel savings.
FAA releases FOD advisory circular
The FAA released an Advisory Circular at the end of September on foreign object detection (FOD) equipment. The circular contains minimum performance specifications for four types of FOD detection equipment and follows several years’ research by the FAA Centre of Excellence in Airport Technology (CEAT) into new FOD detection technologies. The FAA tested stationary radar, stationary electro-optical, stationary hybrid radar and electro-optical, and mobile radar. The specific equipment included: a millimetre wave system developed by QinetiQ in the UK, a combination radar and high resolution camera system developed by Xsight of Israel, a mobile millimetre wave radar system developed by Trex Enterprises in the US, and a high resolution intelligent vision system from Stratech of Singapore. The circular is only mandatory when FOD detection equipment is purchased through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) or Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) scheme. The development is a direct response to the rise of new automated techniques that can detect hazardous material on the runway. The technology is used in addition to traditional visual inspection procedures carried out by airport personnel.
Los Angeles begins tailored arrivals
Los Angeles International is the latest US airport to introduce Tailored Arrivals (TAs) in partnership with Boeing, scheduled to begin on Nov 4, 2009. Following check flights in early September, the following airlines plan to fly daily TAs: Qantas, Air New Zealand and United Airlines. TAs reduce fuel use and minimise noise emissions by using continuous descent approaches down to the runway, starting from when an aircraft begins its descent. TAs have been in use at San Francisco International since 2007, where over 2,200 approaches have resulted in significant reduction in fuel burn and emissions. In the 12 months to December 2008, participating airlines saved over 0.5 million kg of fuel and 3.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide. Boeing Research & Technology chief engineer Rob Mead was awarded the 2009 TechAmerica Innovator Award for his TA work in early October.
Common standards for data exchange
The EC’s Single Sky Committee approved a new interoperability Implementing Rule on Aeronautical Data and information Quality (ADQ) in early October 2009. The rule supplements the existing provisions of ICAO Annex 15 to meet Single European Sky (SES) data quality and interoperability performance requirements, notably to support new concepts of operations such as Precision-Area Navigation (P-RNAV). Specifically, the rule defines requirements for how data should be originated, transferred, handled and processed within the data supply chain to achieve required quality. In addition, it addresses interoperability requirements by the implementation of a common dataset and digital data exchange format. Eduardo Morere Molinero, from the Single European Sky unit of the European Commission said: “An interoperable European ATM Network is a key component of the Single European Sky and ADQ is part of a series of successful regulatory actions by the European Commission to implement the SES interoperability Regulation”.
The full text of the ADQ implementing rule is available at the European Commission’s web site:
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air/single_european_sky/implementing_rules_en.htm
More information on the ADQ implementing rule is available at the EUROCONTROL web site:
http://www.eurocontrol.int/ses/public/standard_page/sk_adi.html
Cork opens control tower
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) started operations from its new air traffic control tower at Cork Airport at midnight October 27, 2009. The Eur7.5 million project provides connectivity between Cork and control centres in Shannon and Dublin. Construction of the tower commenced in August 2007 and took ten months to complete, while fitting out and testing the upgraded ATM system took until mid October 2009. Speaking about the project.
Industry
Saudi adds radar sites
Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL) has been awarded a major contract by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia selected Raytheon Systems Ltd (RSL) to provide secondary surveillance radar systems, together with supporting infrastructure, for en route and approach control at the Kingdom’s major international airports. Raytheon is also setting up a regional maintenance facility to support systems supplied to GACA and other service providers in the region.
Europe starts to build SWIM network
The Eurocontrol contract award to SITA in late October for a pan-European communications network service (PENS) is the first step in creating a system wide information system (SWIM). The PENS network supports seamless exchange of voice and data communications between European air navigation service providers. “This is the first step for SWIM,” said Bo Redeborn, Eurocontrol director of Cooperative Network Design (CND). “We are developing a truly consolidated backbone for ground-ground communications in Europe. PENS creates the physical layer on which we can run the communications that future applications require”.
PENS is a managed internet protocol (IP)-based regional communications backbone service, designed to replace current ad-hoc, bi-lateral communications. It will help those ANSPs who are still using the X25 Protocol to move to an IP service in line with Single European Sky regulation. It will also replace individual IP network services used for services to the Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) and the European Aeronautical Information Service Database (EAD), providing significant economies of scale. The contract between Eurocontrol and SITA is worth up to Eur50 million over eight and a half years. The project will be managed by Eurocontrol and overseen by a board containing representatives from participating organisations. Eurocontrol will host the PENS Management Unit, which will take care of the day-to-day management of the service and pay costs for the first two years. After this period, PENS users will pay for their own management services.
China to extend VHF Mode 2 coverage
ARINC signed a memorandum of understanding with Aviation Data Communications Corp (ADCC) of China to extend its joint venture GLOBALink data link communications services including VDL Mode 2 in the Asia Pacific region. The joint venture company ADARI Aviation Technology currently operates 87 remote ground stations throughout China. The Asia Pacific GLOBALink network currently includes 140 remote ground stations located across 12 countries.
Stratech secures first European order
Stratech Systems has secured its first European contract to supply its iFerret airfield/runway surveillance and Foreign Object and Debris (FOD) Detection System for apron and taxiway surveillance.
SAIC secures NextGen transformation contract
The FAA has awarded Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) a contract worth up to USD106 million if all options are exercised to provide program management and technical services in support of the agency's NextGen transformation program efforts. The single-award, indefinite-delivery/requirements contract has a one year base period of performance, and four one-year options. SAIC will provide program management and technical services in a range of task areas including safety management systems, aeronautical communications activities, and aviation weather programs.
South Korea selects Park Air radios
Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, has been awarded a contract to supply and install fourteen VHF and four UHF ground-to-air radio communication systems and a 20-position voice communication control system (VCCS) for Gimpo International Airport, Seoul, South Korea. Park Air will supply its digital end-to-end solution including GAREX 220 primary and emergency VCCS; PAE T6 UHF/VHF radios and civil works.
The contract is expected to be completed in 2010 and follows on from previous contracts awarded to Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems for the supply of air traffic control systems across South Korea, including those at Incheon Airport, Incheon area centre and other regional airports.
Thales completes UK navaids programme
Thales UK reports successful installation of 25 ILS and DME systems at 23 locations across the UK and RAF overseas sites. The first installation was completed at RAF Waddington in July 2007. Thales is now responsible for the through-life support for all 25 systems under Contractor Logistic Support arrangements up until March 2017, at which point the Future Precision Approach & Landing System (FPALS) is planned to enter service.
Singapore takes delivery of an ADS-B system
The ADS-B system supplied to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) by Comsoft has passed site acceptance tests. The system includes ADS-B sensors and a redundant data processor for sharing and distributing ADS-B data, a control and monitoring platform (QCMS) capable of managing up to 64 redundant ground stations, and an advanced network management system (CNMS). The system is due to be connected to the CAAS ATM system.
Pegasus 21 moves ahead
Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) completed factory acceptance tests of data display equipment and record and replay equipment for the new Warsaw area control centre in early October. Indra is supplying its automation system to the new facility which will begin operational testing during 2010 ready to open in 2011. Indra completed centre upgrades at Katowice, Gdansk and Poznan in the first half 2009.
Meanwhile Comsoft reports successful operation of its RMCDE and RMCDS surveillance data network located at the major sites of Warsaw, Katowice, Gdansk and Poznan. The network is made up of two isolated underlying IP-based networks, and local surveillance data is collected, enhanced, processed and exchanged between the sites to provide surveillance data in real-time, in the requested form, at any time and any point within the country.
India and Singapore complete AMHS tests
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) have conducted interoperability tests using Comsoft’s AMHS messaging solution. The tests follow similar message exchanges in Europe and Middle East between Comsoft customers. The two Air Navigation Service Providers plan to establish a permanent AMHS connection over the ASIA/PAC ATN. Meanwhile the CAAS and Comsoft have also signed site acceptance test certificates for most ADS-B receivers plus an ADS-B processing system in September.
Heathrow adds camera surveillance
London Heathrow added specialised cameras to the foreign object detection (FOD) system that operates on its two runways in October 2009. The cameras use infra-red and night vision technology to enhance the Tarsier millimetre wave radar system supplied by QinetiQ. The sensors scan the runways around the clock, sensing debris as small as a suit case wheel, and alerting airside operations. The cameras automatically zoom in on the object and allow the airport’s airfield safety unit to identify and remove debris.
Australia takes delivery of traffic flow management system
Airservices Australia has completed site acceptance testing of Metron Aviation’s Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) system which is currently being deployed at Airservices’ National Operations Centre in Canberra. The system is designed to balance air traffic demand with capacity, and help to reduce delays and emissions at an airport and airspace level.
Ricochet wins Oslo contract
Norway’s Avinor has selected Ricochet’s record and replay solution for Olso Airport. The record and replay engine provides simultaneously recording of voice, CCTV, radar and screen images.
Naverus works with ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips has selected Naverus to provide PBN procedures and aviation support services in Alaska. Naverus will help the company gain regulatory approval to fly Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures in the 737-700 aircraft it operates on North Slope oil and gas operations. Naverus also will develop RNP approach procedures at the Deadhorse, Alaska airport, near the Prudhoe Bay oilfield, located more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The new navigation procedures will cut the distance the aircraft fly when they make instrument approaches to Deadhorse, saving at least 12,650 gallons of fuel and reducing CO2 emissions by at least 250 tons per year. Additionally, the new procedures should improve schedule reliability and reduce the number of times the aircraft are required to divert from Deadhorse to an alternate airport due to weather.
People
ERA appoints new vice-president
Marc Lamidey, president and CEO of Brit Air has been elected as Vice-President of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA). Lamidey replaces Padraig O’Ceidigh, chairmain of Aer Arann who stepped down from the ERA Board this year. He sits alongside Carlos Bertomeu, CEO of Air Nostrum who was elected as vice-president last year.
ENAV appoints general manager
The Board of ENAV has appointed Massimo Garbini as the Organisation's new General Manager.
The Board of ENAV, which met in Rome under the presidency of Luigi Martini, has appointed Massimo Garbini as the organisation's new general manager. He already covers the role of Responsible for Operative Area. Garbini takes over from Nadio Di Rienzo.
Jarrell joins Sensis
John Jarrell has been appointed vice-president and general manager of Sensis Corporation Air Traffic Systems. Jarrell was previously senior vice-president for SITA Airport & Desktop Services.
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