Appropriately on International Women’s Day, the Boeing Theatre explored diversity and inclusion with a panel on Women in Aviation.
The panel:
Huy Kim Tran, Director of Aeronautics, NASA Ames Research Center
Mildred Troegeler, Director, Global Regulatory Strategy, Boeing
Shaesta Waiz, CEO, Dreams Soar
Alex Bristol, CEO, skyguide
Martin Rolfe, CEO, NATS
Diversity and inclusion are essential to excellence and innovation, said Boeing’s Mildred Troegeler. Getting the right talent in the right places will only happen with a diverse outlook. That makes diversity an asset and it must not be seen as a barrier to entry in the industry, especially by those with diverse backgrounds.
Huy Kim Tran stressed the importance of inclusion. Diversity can only go so far unless there is a cultural change to ensure inclusion in all aspects. This is best done by ensuring that diversity and inclusion are an integral part of any project from the outset.
Shaesta Waiz expanded on the theme of cultural change by insisting that women cannot have a magnifying glass held over their capabilities. Too often, it is still the case that women have to prove they are not a man’s equal but his better. Women need the space to be vulnerable, she said, and allowed to be themselves in the workplace.
The panel concluded that there is still plenty of work to do. Diversity is a topic that must be tackled every day at every level. Change is happening but diversity has not yet been established as a normal business practice.
Setting the scene for incisive debate
Airspace World’s theatres set the tone for three days of industry insight with their opening sessions.
At the Boeing Theatre, a high-level panel discussed sustainability. Aviation’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is essential to its future. Environmental pressure is coming from a number of directions, including governments, investors and passengers. The Dutch Government’s desire to cap flights at Amsterdam Schiphol at 440,000 annually shows the mindset that aviation is facing.
Sustainable aviation fuels will do the heavy lifting but the panel highlighted the immediate gains to be made from infrastructure and operational efficiencies. The 8-11% carbon reductions on offer would add up quickly if made available from 2024 onwards. The challenge is pursuing these efficiencies while providing capacity as these two goals can be in conflict.
At the Frequentis Theatre, a panel explored how to deliver technologies for safer skies. Change management was central to the debate. If this is not tackled properly, delays or sub-optimal implementation could result. Workforce buy-in is always essential but often neglected. The panel also tackled the possibility of industry disruptors, noting that major tech companies outside of industry have far larger war chests and could yet upset the best-laid plans.
At the Wing Theatre, integrated airspace topped the agenda. From an air navigation service provider (ANSP) perspective, there is a huge new customer base waiting to be served if the right technology is in place. But ANSPs still largely deal with crewed aviation through voice communication and so integrating drones into their systems and processes will take time and effort. A flexible and dynamic approach is vital, agreed the panel, which integrates whenever possible and segregates only if necessary. Drones are already taking to the skies and the experience gained will play a key role in reducing timelines.
At the FABEC Ops Theatre, CANSO and FABEC opened industry discussions on future operations. The challenges for air traffic management are legion. They range from a volatile traffic recovery to new airspace users, taking in geopolitical turmoil, sustainability and disruptive technologies along the way.
But the industry is improving its resilience and agility. Embracing the potential of data is the key to continuing those improvements, said skyguide CEO, Alex Bristol. “Making data central to our operations and being willing to share that data is the way we will create efficiency,” he said. He added that it was a “duty” to collaborate to deliver better operations.
At the SESAR Showcase Theatre, the focus was on the practical implementation of new technologies and procedures with “walking tours” that explained how innovative ideas are delivering enhanced network operations in Europe. Dynamic airspace configuration, free route airspace, flight-centric operations and accurate weather forecasts were all presented and explained. Traffic flow and capacity can be optimised despite the complexity involved, the presentations concluded.
Turning ideas into reality
Jose I. Rodriguez, Business Development Manager, Bluenest – Powered by Globalvia), discusses the innovative infrastructure necessary for air taxis and unmanned aviation.
] In less than a hundred years, aviation went from humble beginnings to jet-engined aircraft carrying hundreds of passengers around the world. The coming decades could see an equally dramatic transformation as the industry embraces automation, artificial intelligence, and new infrastructure and airframe designs.
“Aviation will transition from piloted aircraft to being remotely piloted and finally full automation,” says Jose Rodriguez, Business Development Manager, Bluenest. “AI will make decisions or at least instantly propose decisions and electric batteries, or hydrogen fuel cells will provide power.”
Bluenest is exploring the future of air mobility and plans to build vertiports – airports for air taxis, drones and other eVTOL (vertical take-off and landing) vehicles – around the world.
It anticipates ground transport gradually shifting to the sky beginning with local cargo being carried from out-of-town locations into city suburbs. In the late 2020s, air taxis could take to the skies in rural and costal locations – away from traffic and large populations – and in the next decade passengers will routinely be taking automated air taxis from an airport to their downtown hotel.
Vertiports will make this future possible. Rodriguez explains this essential infrastructure will come in various sizes but have a relatively small footprint, simple designs and integrate other transport modes as much as possible. In fact, there are already more than 30 vertiport designs to cater for different users and environments.
“A vertiport will not be so different from a heliport and many of the relevant ICAO regulations will apply,” he says. “But there will be different levels, including waiting areas and perhaps different transport options at an underground level.”
Vertiports could also house air ambulances and other emergency services. The plan is to make them as sustainable as possible and solar panels or hydrogen power are being explored as part of the designs.
Air navigation
A key aspect of this industry transformation will be the integration of air taxis and drones into civil aviation airspace. Initially, the low-level flights will mean little interaction with commercial aircraft, but this will progress into dedicated control centres where controllers interact with the local air navigation service provider. Once suitable trials and certifications are complete, Rodriguez expects AI to dynamically allocate slots for perfect coordination with the local airport.
“But commercial aviation will always have precedence,” he says. “You’re talking about a handful of passengers versus hundreds of passengers.”
More of a concern, according to Rodriguez, will be securing the long-term investment and resources necessary to turn aspirations into reality. Margins will be tight and though vertiports will charge a modest take-off and landing fee, the business model has yet to be defined and finalised. Bluenest – owned by Globalvia – is collaborating with manufacturers to ensure vertiports and air vehicles are aligned, minimising research and development costs.
What is certain, believes Rodriguez, is that innovative air mobility will become vital to businesses and national GDP as well as the quality of life for communities.
“We are agnostic,” Rodriguez concludes. “Much like an airport, we will cater to air vehicles from multiple manufacturers and for multiple uses and we will take advantage of all the expertise they have to offer. Our infrastructure is the key to tackling important challenges in congested cities and remote areas by connecting people and goods.
“A lot of research, standardisation, regulation, experimentation and development is still ahead, but we are confident that vertiports will become as important as airports, train stations and logistical hubs,” he adds. “We will collaborate as much as necessary to ensure a sustainable and exciting future. There is no limit to ideas and innovation and unmanned aviation will become a reality.”
Putting Europe on course for seamless skies
Claudio Clori, Director of Administration de la Navigation Aérienne (ANA) Luxembourg, and Chairman, FABEC, says functional airspace blocks have laid a foundation for cross-border cooperation.
The pandemic had a huge impact on aviation globally but arguably central Europe – among the busiest and most complex airspaces in the world – felt its effects more than most.
Despite this, the six State members of FABEC (Functional Airspace Block Europe Central) – Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland – had to keep operations going. Cargo carriers, humanitarian aid and repatriation flights still needed to cross the continent. Luxembourg-based Cargolux experienced unusually high demand, for example.
“At the same time, we had to take precautions to protect our staff, including our air traffic controllers, and maintain their motivation and proficiency,” says Claudio Clori, Director of Administration de la Navigation Aérienne (ANA) Luxembourg, and Chairman, FABEC. “It was a huge challenge, especially with so little revenue generated and so much volatility in planning. It was impossible to know in advance what would happen in a month or two.”
The crisis did allow FABEC some breathing space to prepare for the post-pandemic world, however. FABEC air navigation service providers (ANSPs) continued hiring and training staff. It proved being a wise decision as FABEC ANSPs were resilient enough to make a speedy recovery in air traffic. Infrastructure projects – especially those concerning a digital transformation – were also maintained, their efficiency gains deemed more important than ever.
For Claudio Clori, this strategy and the work FABEC has done in the past decade make the functional airspace block (FAB) a showcase for what can be achieved.
“When you look at the cooperation we have at the operational, technical and strategic levels and the collaboration within FABEC between civil and military operations, it is clear that we wouldn’t be where we are today without FABEC,” he says. “We have also established better partnerships with airspace users and all stakeholders are working towards the same goals.”
He accepts that the FAB framework isn’t perfect and there have been plenty of challenges to overcome. But he stresses that the good has far outweighed the bad and there are now open and, strong relationships.
“Every strategy has several layers,” he explains. “A FAB facilitates the processes, communication flows, and operational and technical cooperation that comprises those layers. Sharing experiences enriches the community and creates new ideas and innovation. We will continue this exchange at all levels and between FABs as well.”
FABEC is in the process of reviewing its strategy with a view to improve efficiency, environmental performance and stakeholder value.
“We have a decade in front of us where we can make a real difference,” the FABEC Chairman concludes. “The hard work has been done and the foundations have been laid. Now we can start to build. There is still a lot of work ahead, but the benefits of everything we have done so far will become clear in the years ahead.”
Christian Schmidt, CEO GroupEAD said: “GroupEAD Europe has been, and still is, responsible for running EAD operations, ensuring the quality of data and providing training to users of such an efficient, high quality compliant and future orientated system. The key role that GroupEAD Europe has played in this successful story, acting as a EAD Service Provider and supporter for all the ANSP’s in the frame of migration to the EAD, has made the company become a reference contact in the world of Aeronautical Information Management and a key player to define, face and achieve future challenges that AIM and SWIM will bring to the aviation industry. Over the past years our trusted partnership with EUROCONROL grew stronger and we are happy and honoured to provide the EAD Service on behalf of EUROCONTROL. These successful 20 years could not have been achieved without our strong and reliable partner EUROCONTROL. But a company’s success story is always also only possible with dedicated staff, whom I want to thank for their strong efforts and our clients, who supported us over the past 20 years. We are looking forward to continue our successful collaboration in support of EUROCONTROL on its path to transformation and digitalization of Aeronautical Information Management. It is our aim to operate upon the highest qualitative standards and to enable customers an improved and harmonized data use and exchange to achieve their operational needs and efficiency objectives.”
Iacopo Prissinotti, EUROCONTROL Director Network Management said: “I sincerely congratulate GroupEAD on their 20-year anniversary of providing the EAD Operations Service, being one of the core components of EAD and being a key industrial partner behind the success of the EUROCONTROL EAD serving our States and clients around the world with an EASA certified service that will deliver even more digital and higher quality aeronautical information. The support of GroupEAD in the transition from the existing EAD towards the new eEAD as EUROCONTROL sets out on its Network Transformation 2030 with the modernisation programme iNM is highly appreciated and demonstrates once again the professional and trustworthy partner GroupEAD was for the last 20 years, and still is.”
About GroupEAD
GroupEAD, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) and navigation service provider, has been successfully operating the European AIS Database (EAD) on behalf of EUROCONTROL since 2003, ensuring 24/7 access to real-time data from ECAC area, NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) and Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB).
Founded in 2001 as a joint venture by Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), ENAIRE and Frequentis AG, GroupEAD has been providing AIS services all over the world by establishing and maintaining a centralized quality-assured AIS database.
GroupEAD is a unique AIM and navigation service provider that has been operating the EAD on behalf of Eurocontrol since 2003. As European Market Leader in AIM services with more than 20 years of experience and operating the EAD, a Single European Sky certified service, GroupEAD is fully committed to AIM and offer extensive knowledge in AIM services and consulting, data processing and management and training services for the clients in the area ANSPs, Airports and Airlines.
About EUROCONTROL
EUROCONTROL is a pan-European, civil-military organisation dedicated to supporting European aviation. As Europe’s Network Manager, we play a central coordination role, using our technical expertise to support Member States and a wide range of stakeholders (air navigation service providers, civil and military airspace users, airports and aircraft/equipment manufacturers). We strive to make European aviation safe, efficient, scalable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, partnering with the European Union to make the Single European Sky a reality.
GroupEAD to celebrate its 20th Anniversary of the European AIS Database (EAD) Operation Service
Article provided by
2023 marks a fundamental milestone in GroupEAD’s history: Together with its trusted partner EUROCONTROL, they are celebrating 20 years of providing quality-assured EAD Service.
The world’s largest repository of aeronautical information was starting in June 2003 with GroupEAD as Data Operations Service Provider on behalf of EUROCONTROL. The EAD is the first aeronautical information solution providing a service that is common and standardised for all aviation stakeholders. All the aeronautical information necessary for a safe and efficient flight is stored in a common database, based on universal system’s languages for the exchange of information. This allows the final user to retrieve information needed from one single source in one single format, instead of requesting it from every single country in the world, each one applying their own specifications. After 20 years of this common service provision, hundreds of million EURO savings have been achieved in the aeronautical information multi-national client data exchange chain; and the service has also spread worldwide and enabled new standards and a higher quality of aeronautical information worldwide.
In numbers this means for the 20 years of service provision in partnership with EUROCONTROL: 41,8 million of Static Data Updates, 18,2 million of NOTAM/SNOWTAM processed, 1.300 Training Courses have been provided, 4.500 Airlines, Flight Plan Service Providers, AIS Providers and many more users spread worldwide over 56 Countries, are using daily the EAD system, and GroupEAD achieved an excellent Service Quality of 99,6% based on EURCONTROL Service Level agreement.
Christian Schmidt, CEO GroupEAD said: “GroupEAD Europe has been, and still is, responsible for running EAD operations, ensuring the quality of data and providing training to users of such an efficient, high quality compliant and future orientated system. The key role that GroupEAD Europe has played in this successful story, acting as a EAD Service Provider and supporter for all the ANSP’s in the frame of migration to the EAD, has made the company become a reference contact in the world of Aeronautical Information Management and a key player to define, face and achieve future challenges that AIM and SWIM will bring to the aviation industry. Over the past years our trusted partnership with EUROCONROL grew stronger and we are happy and honoured to provide the EAD Service on behalf of EUROCONTROL. These successful 20 years could not have been achieved without our strong and reliable partner EUROCONTROL. But a company’s success story is always also only possible with dedicated staff, whom I want to thank for their strong efforts and our clients, who supported us over the past 20 years. We are looking forward to continue our successful collaboration in support of EUROCONTROL on its path to transformation and digitalization of Aeronautical Information Management. It is our aim to operate upon the highest qualitative standards and to enable customers an improved and harmonized data use and exchange to achieve their operational needs and efficiency objectives.”
Iacopo Prissinotti, EUROCONTROL Director Network Management said: “I sincerely congratulate GroupEAD on their 20-year anniversary of providing the EAD Operations Service, being one of the core components of EAD and being a key industrial partner behind the success of the EUROCONTROL EAD serving our States and clients around the world with an EASA certified service that will deliver even more digital and higher quality aeronautical information. The support of GroupEAD in the transition from the existing EAD towards the new eEAD as EUROCONTROL sets out on its Network Transformation 2030 with the modernisation programme iNM is highly appreciated and demonstrates once again the professional and trustworthy partner GroupEAD was for the last 20 years, and still is.”
About GroupEAD
GroupEAD, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) and navigation service provider, has been successfully operating the European AIS Database (EAD) on behalf of EUROCONTROL since 2003, ensuring 24/7 access to real-time data from ECAC area, NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) and Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB).
Founded in 2001 as a joint venture by Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), ENAIRE and Frequentis AG, GroupEAD has been providing AIS services all over the world by establishing and maintaining a centralized quality-assured AIS database.
GroupEAD is a unique AIM and navigation service provider that has been operating the EAD on behalf of Eurocontrol since 2003. As European Market Leader in AIM services with more than 20 years of experience and operating the EAD, a Single European Sky certified service, GroupEAD is fully committed to AIM and offer extensive knowledge in AIM services and consulting, data processing and management and training services for the clients in the area ANSPs, Airports and Airlines.
About EUROCONTROL
EUROCONTROL is a pan-European, civil-military organisation dedicated to supporting European aviation. As Europe’s Network Manager, we play a central coordination role, using our technical expertise to support Member States and a wide range of stakeholders (air navigation service providers, civil and military airspace users, airports and aircraft/equipment manufacturers). We strive to make European aviation safe, efficient, scalable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, partnering with the European Union to make the Single European Sky a reality.
End-to-End ATC Visual System
Article provided by
As part of the ‘Europe for Aviation’ team, we are delighted to be joining the wider aviation community at the first edition of Airspace World in Geneva. Over the three days, we will be showcasing with our partners how we are working together to drive forward the modernisation, safety and sustainability of European aviation.
ATC systems are comprised of various hardware, software, and systems components designed to support the management of controlled airspace. The complexity of modern airspace management and the ATC systems with which the ATCO must interact influences workload and task performance, increasing the need for streamlined operation. Furthermore, as these systems become increasingly complex, interoperability becomes a significant concern, impacting performance when interaction is not seamless. EIZO’s ATC Visual System encompasses monitors, video encoders, graphics boards, and an upgradeable data capture & content management solution. They are completely interoperable with one another from the outset, ensuring streamlined installation and operations.
Make the Switch to a Smarter Monitor
A typical ATC configuration consists of multiple workstations, monitors, and applications. Streamlining visual information displayed across multiple monitors with the ability to manage, distribute, and interact with each system in accordance with requirements of the ANSP and the needs of the ATCO is a crucial component in facilitating a smarter viewing environment.
EIZO has redefined the role of ATC monitors using integrated smart technologies in its Raptor products. Monitors with EIZO’s Intelligent Display Platform (IDP) equipped enable simultaneous display of video signals from up to four independent sources and complete freedom for users to place each window anywhere on the screen with pixel precision, as well as scale, and layer order priority as required for the task at hand. This provides advanced control beyond what traditional Picture-in-Picture (PinP) and Picture-by-Picture (PbyP) functions are capable. This flexibility is important to creating an optimized visual experience, as the technical requirements of every ANSP varies.
In traditional configurations, a KVM switch has been an essential component to addressing the distribution and management of video signals and control across multiple workstations and monitors. The KVM switch is often separated from the hardware to which it is connected. The signal transmission may travel a significant distance depending on the length of the cables needed to connect all devices. The longer the transmission path, the higher risk for signal degradation, which may cause latency or in some cases, complete signal loss.
EIZO developed the answer with SwitchLink integrated switching management. SwitchLink is built directly into Raptor smart monitors to enable seamless switching of keyboard, mouse, and dynamic touch input (a world first achievement) between up to 6 video input sources without the need for an external KVM switch. This not only saves the space that would otherwise be needed for the KVM switch hardware and cables, but also reduces the number of devices that need powering, simplifies signal and cable management, and reduces points of failure across the greater system.
In addition to these smart functions, the new Raptor SQ2826 – EIZO’s 6th generation 2K x 2K monitor – is the first primary control monitor to feature truly built-in image capture at-the-glass. Using the monitor’s video output connection, all displayed image content including the monitor’s OSD menu operations can be accurately streamed to a second monitor. It can also output the signal through EIZO’s Re/Vue encoding & streaming device and SafeGuard data capture & content management solution to enable remote live viewing or record to the server for a fully integrated ATC Visual System.
End-to-End Integrated Solution
A typical ATM video-based recording system comprises of a local video encoder, a connected network, and centralized servers running dedicated software to capture the video data from the network. EIZO is the only manufacture that provides a fully integrated ATC Visual System with “turnkey” encoding & streaming solutions, recording software and servers, in addition to its line of smart monitors.
The Re/Vue line of encoding & streaming solutions offer a true lossless compression ratio of 10,000:1 to 40,000:1 for typical ATC data – unrivalled in the industry. They use EIZO’s unique compression algorithm, capable of providing lossless encoding of video data at full frame rate up to and including 4K monitors, with reduced bandwidth and storage requirements. They are also designed to be interoperable with EIZO’s Raptor smart monitors, so they can take full advantage of functions such as the Raptor SQ2826’s at-the-glass image capture function, as well as fully integrated with EIZO’s SafeGuard data capture & content management solution.
SafeGuard is an end-to-end system comprising of software, servers, and all other necessary hardware components, and associated services provided entirely by EIZO. It receives multiple feeds from communication interfaces and provides a highly secure archive supporting the management, analysis, and distribution of data for mission-critical ATC. SafeGuard achieves synchronous data playback of multiple channels from a user-specified time frame via browser-based client. Data is streamed from a secure server during playback, so files do not need to be maintained on a local workstation. This alleviates storage issues and streamlines data access between operating workstations.
In conclusion, it is not uncommon for an ANSP to receive a solution made up of multiple vendors’ products because of various motivating factors, one of which is related to initial cost of installation which may not take into consideration the long-term investment and costs of future upgrades or maintenance. ANSPs can mitigate issues related to interoperability, increasingly complex hardware infrastructure, and system complexity affecting operator efficiency by engaging with expert manufacturers who ensure streamlined installation and operation with integrated solutions.
In-house design, engineering, and manufacturing positions EIZO to advise on creating an effective architecture for an end-to-end ATC Visual System, assist in future upgrade planning, and provide solutions that are designed and tested for interoperability from the outset. Furthermore, EIZO’s engineers can test hardware platforms and equipment ahead of deployment to mitigate potential risk and limit costly program delays. Choosing a proven, smart, and interoperable solution is key to ensuring the visual component of the ATC system remains adaptable to technological advancements while ensuring reliability for long-term operation.
EIZO’s ATC Visual System will be fully demonstrated in booth G14 at Airspace World 2023.
The “Europe for Aviation” stand & theatre (#H22) will host an impressive agenda featuring demos & exhibits on the latest ATM developments, as well as briefings & panel discussions with top playersand experts from across the industry. We will be talking about the hottest topics affecting aviation, including decarbonisation, artificial intelligence, air-ground connectivity, drones, innovation, ATM network operations, civil-military cooperation, space and ATM, and many more.
On 8 March, make sure to take a seat in our theatre for the session on decarbonising aviation, starting at 11:30 with a keynote speech by ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano, followed by a one-to-one interview with Henrik Hololei, Director General DG MOVE at the European Commission. His intervention will be followed by a panel introduced by EUROCONTROL Director General Raúl Medina and focused on concrete contributions to sustainability with the perspective of research-deployment-operations.
At 12.30 join the official stand opening ceremony, which will be followed by a reception.Don’t miss the opportunity to catch up with EUROCONTROL experts and learn more about the latest developments including:how the EUROCONTROL Network Manager is preparing to deal with increasing traffic in the European network over the summer, which is expected to be up to 15% above the already saturated traffic levels of 2022. Briefing in our theatre on 9 March, at 10:15-10:45the range of innovative projects driven by our Innovation Hub – on the exhibit part of the stand, and a panel discussion in our theatre on how to drive innovation forward on 9 March, at 13:00-13:45the latest technological developments at our Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre, including a presentation on ADS-C at our pod over the three days, and a briefing in our theatre on the ATC automation project ARGOS, on 8 March, 10:45-11:15briefings on trajectory-based operations, surveillance monitoring and air traffic flow management in the exhibit part of the stand civil-military airspace user performance tools (LARA, PRISMIL), which will be showcased on the exhibit part over the three days, and a panel debate on civil-military collaboration in our theatre on 9 March, 11:00-12:00and a lot more!
Airport Simulation platform
If you have an ATC operational background, sign up for our airport simulation platform to test first-hand the runway solutions we have developed to optimise aircraft spacing buffers and separation minima on final approaches.
Skyguide receives world first Air Navigation Service Provider GreenATM Award
Skyguide was earlier today awarded in CANSO’s new GreenATM programme. Presented at the CANSO Executive Summit in Geneva, the award presented to the Swiss Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) recognised its work to minimise excess emissions in the Swiss airspace, as well as for the reduction of its own direct environment footprint.
Innovation, efficiency, and engagement are key to Skyguide’s environmental action. Continuous efforts within the company have indeed proven successful in a Swiss federal context, both in terms of contributing to the implementation of the Energy Strategy 2050 and deploying the “Exemplary Energy and Climate” plan of best practices. The steady improvements of its environmental performance are encouraging and have now allowed for a maturity level 3 accreditation of Skyguide’s environmental efforts by CANSO.
Inspiring higher levels of environmental action CANSO developed the idea of an accreditation programme evaluating ANSPs efforts in the environmental domain and triggering additional ones. The GreenATM programme, launched in late 2022, covers a range of topics related to ANSPs own environmental footprint and efficiency efforts within the airspace for which they are responsible. ANSPs are assessed against five defined levels with progressively ambitious and comprehensive objectives for each topic. GreenATM hence provides an objective validation of ANSPs efforts to increase sustainability and environmental management.
In addition, with the creation of a shared baseline of evaluation for ANSPs worldwide, and subsequently a growing participation in the accreditation programme, best practice will undoubtedly be uncovered and shared across the industry. This will inspire coordinated action between ANSPs and enable the delivery of initiatives that will greatly benefit the environment.
“We are proud to have Skyguide as the very first ANSP accredited under this new programme. Their Level 3 achievement is evidence of strong environmental sustainability efforts across a broad range of topics and engagement with employees and airspace users on initiatives that will deliver tangible environmental benefits”, says Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO.
“Reaching Level 3 of GreenATM is a great recognition of Skyguide’s engagement for the environment. By highlighting the areas in which Skyguide positively influences its own environmental footprint and that of its customers, we are convinced that this accreditation is a great opportunity to stimulate progress in the implementation of new solutions, and to aim at the next levels of GreenATM. ANSPs play an important role in the decarbonisation of the aviation industry and this programme is a major step in inspiring the focus, progress and collaboration we need”, says Alex Bristol, CEO of Skyguide.
Welcome to Airspace World!
A message from Simon Hocquard, Director General, CANSO
Air traffic management’s premier global event is finally here.Over the next three days, Airspace World will give you the opportunity to network with your peers, listen to some of the industry’s most insightful speakers and learn about cutting-edge technologies. Achieving the seamless skies of the future starts here and now!
Simon Hocquard, Director General, CANSO
We have many challenges in front of us. The continued effort to improve safety always tops the agenda but we can never forget the need to digitise, to be efficient and to ensure sustainability.
All these topics and more will be discussed at Airspace World. There will be innovative ideas and many speakers and exhibitors may even offer up exciting, potential solutions. After all, this ground-breaking event comprises 10,000 air traffic professionals, nearly 200 exhibitors and over 100 speakers – representing the very best the industry has to offer.
Inspiration surrounds you!
I urge you all to take advantage of this unprecedented gathering to find out about how our global sky will be transformed and to ensure you are positioned to contribute to the critical developments in front of us.
As well as the exhibitors, make sure you visit the theatres too. They offer rich content on subjects ranging from drone integration to next generation technologies.
There is also a session on Women in Aviation at the Boeing Theatre. I note this as today is International Women’s Day. Diversity is so important to our future. This is not so much about expanding the talent pool but simply that every study shows that a diverse workforce enables better business outcomes.
It’s also important to note that we’ve taken sustainability seriously in the planning of Airspace World. Palexpo has 15,000 solar panels on its roof, making it Switzerland’s second largest photovoltaic solar power station. And 100% of the food waste will be recycled and converted into biogas.
Of course, an event of this size and importance doesn’t just happen. Thank you to all our sponsors and to all those working behind the scenes who have made the next three days possible. Most of all, thank you to all our visitors. Shaping our future skies will only be possible if we all work together. Your presence in Geneva means we have taken an important step forward.
Enjoy Airspace World!
Transforming vision into implementable plans
Advertisement
In his keynote speech at the CANSO Executive Summit, Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the Council, ICAO, explained how lessons learned are informing the future of air traffic management.
The pandemic highlighted the need for collaboration, for example. ICAO had to work extensively with the World Health Organization (WHO) on air travel guidance and this led to the innovative Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART). CART included representatives from across the industry and proved the value of cooperation, ultimately leading to a safe and speedy recovery.
ICAO’s efforts to continue supporting innovative solutions during the pandemic, especially in sustainability, also led to a historic 41st Assembly. A Long-Term Aspirational Goal was agreed that targets net zero carbon emissions by 2050, aligning with the industry vision.
ICAO anticipates sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will account for about 55% of carbon savings, new technologies about 21% and operations about 11%, with the remainder coming from market-based measures.
Sciacchitano said ICAO is committed to promoting SAF and increasing production. It will also look to support other new technologies, such as electric batteries and hydrogen.
There are many other challenges lying in wait, continued Sciacchitano, including cybersecurity, civil-military cooperation and the integration of drones into civil airspace. “Our duty is to anticipate those challenges,” he said.
Reliable and accurate data will be vital and ICAO is establishing standards that will measure the performance of the aviation sector across various metrics and help to identify future priorities.
Sciacchitano predicted that in the future, pilots would be safety monitors rather than safety managers and they will fly in a highly digitised environment. “The aim is to transform this vision into implementable plans,” he noted.
He accepted that it was challenging to get timely consensus from 193 States, especially when the pace of change is accelerating. But events like Airspace World help to change the paradigm by making introductions, fostering collaboration and defining the pathway forward, he concluded.
The pathway to integrated skies
To continue pushing the limits of innovative thinking, a panel of industry experts at the CANSO Executive Summit discussed the needs of future airspace users.
The panel:
Wille Walsh, Director General, IATA
Dr Giorgio Cioni, Director of Armament and Airspace Capabilities, Division of Defence Investment, NATO
Akbar Sultan, Director, Airspace Operations and Safety Program, NASA Aeronautics Research Directorate
Benjamin Binet, Vice President, Strategy and Technology, Thales
Earl Lawrence, Chief Compliance and Quality Officer, Xwing
Moderator: Simon Hocquard, Director General, CANSO
The debate ranged across a variety of topics but stressed that the new normal must be different. Drones need to be integrated into civil airspace in a transparent manner, civil-military cooperation must be flexible and regulations must keep pace with innovative developments.
NATO’s Giorgio Cioni highlighted the changing needs of airspace users. New military aircraft are increasingly flying beyond normal parameters requiring larger volumes of airspace to be closed when these aircraft are operating. NASA and Xwing picked up on this, noting that space launches also require significant closures to commercial traffic and there are ever more drones at low levels.
Performance profiles will therefore be diverse and there will be millions of operations a day in any given airspace rather than tens of thousands.
New technologies will help airspace structures become more dynamic but automation will be crucial. Simply, the complexity will be beyond human management. Trust is also a key component in managing risk and as collaboration increases, so too will trust.
IATA DG, Willie Walsh, stressed that modern aircraft are more than capable of handling any new requirements. “At the moment, we are operating [aircraft] like we did back in the 1960s,” he said. “We want to operate aircraft in the way they were designed to operate.”
NASA’s Akbar Sultan suggested a framework for deliberating on new processes and technologies. Safety, efficiency or user preference are typical end goals, but the challenge is to embrace all three simultaneously rather than let one aspect dominate, he said.
Sustainability is another major factor going forward and all panellists were keen to point out this extended beyond reducing carbon. Financial sustainability is equally important as there won’t be a viable industry otherwise. Benjamin Binet from Thales suggested that the usual investment cycle – paying large sums for new systems every ten years or so – might be abandoned in favour of buying these systems as a service.
Xwing’s Earl Lawrence suggested that earlier engagement in dialogue with all parties would help. And that dialogue must be started effective, constructive and lead to results. Data sharing, another aspect of collaboration, cannot have negative consequences for any party, he said.
During the debate, Walsh made two telling comments that won approval from panellists and audience alike. In reference to regulations adding layers of complexity, he said safety should not be decided by politicians but by people who properly understand risk assessment.
And quoting George Bernard Shaw, he concluded the panel by noting that the unreasonable man tries to adapt the world to his needs while the reasonable man tries to adapt to the world. “Progress is therefore made by unreasonable men”.
