We Are All Vital to the Continued Success of ATM
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hat a year it has been in aviation, in and announcements coming out of World geopolitics, in science, and in pub- ATM Congress, the largest, most well-attendlic health. From aviation incidents, ed ATM event in the world. This year, instead aircraft groundings, and a global pandemic, of simply providing coverage, we are excitwe are testing the resiliency of our systems ed to use this valuable platform to advance and the people who run the global airspace. thought leadership in ATM. We would like Aviation is still the safest mode of transporta- to thank our exhibitors and sponsors for oftion, and it is in times like these that we need fering their expertise and insights to fill the to stand connected as a community—even if pages of this electronic World ATM Now newswe cannot be together in person. paper. At the time, it was quite a difficult deciWe would also like to encourage you to sion to cancel World ATM Congress 2020. In visit our Presentation Theatre webpage and retrospect, just a few weeks later, it felt to us view and download materials that our prelike the easiest and best decision we could senters have provided. Even if there aren’t have made. Protectlive audiences for these ing our attendees is presentations, they still SAVE THE DATE paramount not only offer critical, innovative to the health of our information that can event, but to national benefit us all. We also security, to safe transwant to remind you to port, and to global, review the electronic regional, and local Congress Guide, get economies alike. We in touch with your need to make sure the partners and potenmany redundancies tial partners, and use we build into our processes and technolo- us as a means to network. While we adhere gies continue to keep the skies safe. Special to GDPR and our own stringent privacy polithanks are due to our friends and colleagues cies, if there are specific people or organisaon the front lines. Aviation and air traffic tions you would like to connect with, please management (ATM) are 24/7/365 operations. send us an email info@worldatmcongress. While many of us are forced into telework org and we will do our best to connect arrangements or taking leave, air traffic con- you! trollers, airspace managers, pilots, and airThank you again for your understanding, line personnel are showing up to work, each patience, and for your continued support for and every day, to ensure the safety of the World ATM Congress, the Air Traffic Control airspace—often putting their own health at Association (ATCA), and the Civil Air Navigarisk to do so. You are unsung heroes, and we tion Services Organisation (CANSO), as we appreciate everything you do. continue to navigate through these unchartFor the last seven years, this newspaper ed waters. We look forward to seeing you all has reported on all the most exciting news in Madrid next year, 9 – 11 March 2021.
Peter F. Dumont President & CEO Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA)
Simon Hocquard Director General Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO)
IFEMA Transformed Into Europe's Largest Makeshift Hospital to Treat COVID-19 Patients
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orld ATM Congress' home at IFEMA — Madrid's largest exhibition centre — has been transformed into a hospital to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. It's been fitted with 5,500 hospital beds, making it Europe's largest makeshift hospital. Hundreds of patients have been moved from local hospitals to IFEMA. Spain was one of the countries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and IFEMA quickly became a vital resource to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.
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Distance Measurement Optimised by New Fifth Generation DME Product from Thales Thales introduces the DME 500, a fifth generation radio transponder distance measurement tool used to provide en route and approach guidance for aircraft. The DME 500 allows the pilot to know the distance between their aircraft and the ground station. Improved performance, safety, reliability, and advanced maintenance through remote software updates are some of the benefits of this newest solution. With a new architecture and a digital radio system, the DME 500
offers a high level of integration, can manage 200 planes simultaneously, and significantly reduces energy consumption (up to 30 percent), resulting in a lower cost of ownership (up to 30 percent). Thales provides a complete portfolio of high performance and reliable navigation aids meeting all mandatory regulations and customer requirements. With an installed base of over 10,000 systems in more than 180 countries, Thales is the world leader in navigation aids.
• More than 25 percent of the world’s total airspace is controlled by Indra’s ATM systems. • More than 85 percent of total passengers worldwide travel make use of Indra’s ATM technology during the flight. • They’ve implemented more than 4,000 ATM solutions on five continents. • They’ve installed more than 400 ATC centres. • Indra is bringing the brightest future for tomorrow’s ATM professionals.
A digital version of the 2020 Congress Guide is available. Browse the guide for a list of exhibitor products and services, exhibitor contact info, information about the organisers of World ATM Congress, and so much more!
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Indra Is a Worldwide Leader in ATM
Was there someone you were hoping to meet at World ATM Congress 2020? You can still get in touch!
Page 3 ATCA (the Air Traffic Control Association) and CANSO (the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) are honoured to announce the winners for the inaugural Maverick Awards presented by World ATM Congress. The Awards — which received over 100 nominations in this first year — showcase the brightest ideas for the future, recognise positive contributions to the environment and conservation, celebrate cooperation between partners and stakeholders, and promote overall excellence in the aviation industry. Due to the cancellation of World ATM Congress 2020, winners of each category were announced on 23 March 2020 via teleconference by ATCA’s President and CEO Peter F. Dumont and CANSO’s Director General Simon Hocquard.
NATS, NAV CANADA, and Aireon LLC Win Maverick Collaboration Award What is ATM without collaboration? The airspace relies on it to get people, cargo, and aircraft to their destination safely. In few other industries do you see competitors working together for the greater good. The Maverick Collaboration Award presented by World ATM Congress recognises the importance of effective relationships and partnerships within and across disciplines and sectors to achieve a shared goal. The 2020 award was presented to NATS, NAV CANADA, and Aireon LLC for the development and deployment of the world’s first space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). Aireon LLC developed the innovative service, and on 27 March 2019, they worked with NATS and NAV CANADA to transition the space-based ADS-B into service. NATS, NAV CANADA, and Aireon LCC have since worked together to develop new tools and models, worked with
regulators, created standards, delivered data, consulted with customers, and ensured strong communication between all stakeholders. NATS and NAV CANADA continue to work with Aireon LLC daily to deliver the service over the North Atlantic. “The deployment of space-based ADS-B is the beginning of a global revolution that is already showing its promise by delivering enhanced safety, efficiency, and environmental benefits,” said Rudy Kellar, Executive Vice President, Service Delivery at NAV CANADA. Since its deployment a year ago, this new air traffic surveillance system is transforming the world’s busiest oceanic airspace. Space-based ADS-B helps improve airspace management by supporting new separation standards, reducing speed restrictions, and increasing approval of flight requests. Space-based ADS-B has also outperformed regulatory expectations and build specifications with position up-
date intervals of two to four seconds, and a latency of approximately 0.18 seconds. The standard for air traffic surveillance technology is eight-second position update intervals and a latency of 1.5 seconds. Don Thoma, Chief Executive Officer of Aireon, said “deployment in the North Atlantic has set the standard for how Aireon and our customers operationalise space-based ADS-B, and we look forward to scaling it across the ATM industry.” ANSPs, airlines, and controllers aren't the only ones recognising benefits. Pilots, flight staff, and ground staff have also seen improved services. Space-based ADS-B has allowed for more efficient and accurate routing, saving time and fuel. Additionally, a higher percentage of flights receive their requested flight level, speed, and point of entry, making for a smoother trip and better experience. According to Juliet Kennedy, NATS Operations Director, “it is truly a transformational
technology that is not only changing how we operate over the North Atlantic but will also affect how air traffic is managed around the world over the coming years.” Almost 10 years after NATS, NAV CANADA, and Aireon LLC vowed to work together to make flying safer, more predictable, fuel-efficient, and environmentally sustainable, the impact on ATM operations is remarkable. All the partners agree that to the teams winning this award, “It is recognition for the innovative thinking, hard work, and collaborative effort that went into this project — and validation that space-based ADS-B delivers gamechanging performance improvements to air traffic management.” Together, NATS, NAV CANADA, and Aireon LLC have created a platform for solid and sustainable growth showing that ANSPs can embrace disruptive technology to improve the performance of global ATM services.
Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions and Scandinavian Mountains Airport Win Maverick Innovation Award ter ski areas that cover airspace in Sweden and Norway. Saab’s remote tower centre currently services four airports, but eventually they plan to more than double its reach. “You have to be a little bit crazy to participate in the Maverick Awards because it shows you can move things in the ATM business,” said Niclas Gustavsson, Vice President of Business Development and Government Affairs for Saab. “The idea to design an airport with a different operational and business model was very innovative. It’s important to show the possibility to do things differently. And we managed to get it done on time and get regulatory approval.” Saab has revolutionised remote tower technology in the last decade to the point that it’s become a matter of when the capability will be adopted across the globe, not if. Gustavsson said that the Scandinavian Mountains Airport represented “a shift in our business” because its remote capabilities were
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Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions has revolutionized remote tower technology. And they’ve taken it one step further with their latest development, equipping the new innovative Scandinavian Mountains Airport with remote and digital tower services from their stateof-the-art remote tower centre. That’s why Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions and Scandinavian Mountains Airport were the perfect candidates for this year’s Maverick Innovation Award. It recognises new ideas, technologies, and concepts that challenge current ATM norms with the potential to significantly advance performance, operations, or capabilities. Saab provided the on-site camera tower for the Scandinavian Mountains Airport in Sälen, which is Sweden’s first new airport in 20 years. Saab will also provide digital air traffic control services from Saab’s remote tower centre in Sundsvall, Sweden, for the next 10 years. Scandinavian Mountains is a regional, green airport that services win-
planned from the outset but notes that it was a joint venture with the airport, which was very supportive and “a big player in this.” Scandinavian Mountains Airport’s first flight was on 23 December 2019, and there’s been no disruption in operation since. “It’s the start of a longer journey,”
said Gustavsson. “This technology can work for airports of all sizes. It all supports the situational awareness of controllers, but it cannot replace the controller. It’s not about automating away people. It can create a better working environment and attract a new generation of controllers.”
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ENAIRE Awarded Maverick 2020 Sustainability Award The Maverick Sustainability Award presented by World ATM Congress recognises leaders, initiatives, and organisations working towards reducing aviation’s impact on the environment and making significant contributions to improving the environmental footprint of aviation through ATM. This year’s winner is ENAIRE for the design and development of a monitoring mechanism that saved, through ATC direct clearance, about 7 million nautical miles for flights managed in Spanish airspace, preventing the emissions of 243,000 CO2 tons into the atmosphere. World ATM Congress (WATMC) sat down with José Antonio Aznar, Head of ENAIRE’s Quality and Environment Division, to learn more: WATMC: What motivated you and your organisation to participate in the first-ever Maverick Awards? Aznar: ENAIRE is the main ANSP of Spain and the fourth largest in Europe in number of operations managed. The Maverick Awards are the most renowned recognition regarding innovative ATM projects, sponsored by ATCA and CANSO, and it’s presented at World ATM Congress, which is the most important event for ANSPs and the aeronautical sector in general. I can’t think of a better showcase in the aviation sector to share your best practices. Why is your project important to the sustainability of ATM? To clear direct routings in tactical is one of the most common ways for ATC to deliver flight efficiency. It saves plenty of fuel for airlines and many tons of gas emissions to the atmosphere. How much we were saving, how often, and where? We didn’t know – until now. One basic principle in quality management is that you have to start measuring what you want to improve. Improving environmental impacts is no longer just an option
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for aviation. We have to convey the message to society that the aviation sector is right now doing their best to protect the environment and combat climate change. Tell us about ENAIRE’s monitoring mechanism and its development. How long did it take to develop? This monitoring tool was developed by ENAIRE in close collaboration with CRIDA, our ATM research and development enterprise, and it’s been incorporated into our global performance monitoring system called PERSEO. The monitoring tool uses the flight plan route and the radar track as the two main data inputs. With these data, it is capable of detecting those points along the route where a direct has been cleared by the ATC officer. It works out the distance saved and the fuel and emissions associated with it. We started designing it with CRIDA in
special thank you to our renowned panel of judges:
Eammon Brennan, Director General, EUROCONTROL Teri Bristol, Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Peter F. Dumont, President and CEO, ATCA Simon Hocquard, Director General, CANSO Capt. Gilbert Kibe, Director General, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Hon. Donna McLean, Founder and Owner, Donna McLean Associates, LLC
late 2018 and finally implemented it in our PERSEO system in October 2019. How does identifying event points in direct routings equate to so many fuel and emissions savings? The ATC directs monitoring tool has put numbers to something we already knew, that ATC officers’ everyday work saves a lot of fuel and emissions to mitigate climate change. It’s in their DNA to try to reduce distance and time for the traffic they manage whenever they can. A direct routing is always a tactical decision, and it can be granted once the ATC officer assesses that the global conditions (nearby aircraft, weather conditions, etc.) allow for a direct clearance. We are now able to know that, in one year, our Spanish ATC officers saved seven million nautical miles for airlines and 243,000 CO2 tons from entering the atmosphere.
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ongratulations to all of our finalists:
Collaboration Award • ASE NCA • A consortium of Healthrow Airport Limited, NATS, Harris Orthogon, and EUROCONTROL Innovation Award • Austro Control • NASA Sustainability Award • HungaroContro, BULATSA, and ROMATSA • NAV CANADA
In a global first, Inmarsat have partnered with the European Space Agency to develop the Iris programme. This essential component of ATM modernisation is a secure satellite-based data link that allows for increased capacity and efficiency, while enhancing safety and reducing environmental impact. Learn about the future of real-time air traffic management at inmarsataviation.com/iris
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How Can We Improve Europe’s Congested Skies? The aviation industry faces an unprecedented and challenging period. While there is uncertainty about the long-term impact and recovery from COVID-19, the environmental impact of flying continues to be an issue. As the aviation industry evolves, reducing the environmental impact of a congested airspace is crucial. The combination of overcrowding and inefficiencies in continental airspace costs airlines (and their customers) almost five billion euro annually. Flight paths predominantly follow set air corridors that make routes longer than necessary, equating to an extra 29 miles flown on the average European flight.[1] These inefficiencies force airlines to burn more fuel, generate more emissions, pay more in costly user charges, and increase delays for customers. SESAR Joint Undertaking estimates that 5-10 percent of aircraft CO2 emissions are avoidable — generated by an outdated aviation infrastructure that produces unnecessarily long trajectories and congestion.
It has never been a more important time for the aviation industry to work together. We’ve seen the difference that collaboration can make with the announcement of the European Green Deal.[1] Europe aims to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and cites digital technologies as “critical enablers for attaining the sustainability goals of the Green deal.” [1] Together, Inmarsat and the European Space Agency (ESA) are aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal with the rollout of Iris. The first-of-its-kind programme is essential to the delivery of the EU’s Single European Sky (SESAR), aimed at modernising ATM. Following five years of research and preparation, Iris is now in the implementation phase. With a secure satellite datalink, it delivers high-speed bandwidth for real-time communication, allowing aircraft to be pinpointed in four dimensions for more precise and efficient flight operations: latitude, longitude, altitude, and time. Using Iris, pilots can collaborate
It has never been a more important time for the aviation industry to work together.
with air traffic controllers to take the shortest available flight routes, reroute inflight to avoid turbulence and adverse weather, and cruise at optimum altitudes. For passengers, it means fewer disruptions and delays. Without the SESAR programmes, flight delays and cancellations could become even more prevalent in the future due to rising levels of airspace congestion. Scheduled to enter commercial service in 2021, Iris is integral to advancing
the European Green Deal by providing vital bandwidth to reduce air traffic delays and emissions. The ability to take more direct routes will play a part in reducing the environmental impact of aviation as Europe’s skies continue to get busier, and Inmarsat is committed to support the EU in achieving these goals. [1]
www.lse.ac.uk/business-and-consultancy/consulting/consulting-reports/sky-higheconomics-chapter-two
What Does World ATM Congress Mean to You? Richard Parker is CEO and founder of Altitude Angel. Coming to World ATM Congress in 2015 was one of the best decisions we made as a company. At the time we’d not been in business long and it was a big investment, but it paid off. We met Frequentis, who went on to both invest in and partner with Altitude Angel. World ATM Congress enables us to be close to our customers and partners, adding more value to them. Five years on, we’re the world’s leading UTM technology provider, powering three national deployments, have a partnership with DJI, and deliver services to hundreds of thousands of operators worldwide. Like all those planning to exhibit and attend World ATM Congress 2020 (WATMC), we were saddened when we found out the event would not be going ahead. The organisers were put in a very difficult position in the most unusual of circumstances, but the right decision was made to cancel. We’ve been very fortunate in that the face-to-face meetings and demonstrations of our tech we had scheduled for the week have still taken place, only virtually. WATMC: Tell us about your exciting year! Parker: It’s been a busy year. When I think what we’ve accomplished since World ATM Congress 2019 it seems incredible to think we’ve packed it all in to the last 12 months. We were very pleased to announce we had been chosen by LVNL to develop and deploy the Netherlands’ first nationwide UTM system. Later this year, we will start to rollout across the Neth-
erlands a technically advanced, nationwide, UTM platform which will serve as the foundation for safe integration of UAVs and further increase their use in Dutch airspace for years to come. We’ve also been demonstrating our technology across the globe. We spent much of the summer dividing our time between Estonia and Finland as one of the UTM platforms showcasing our industry-leading technology as a central partner in the Gulf of Finland (GoF) trials. And only last month we were in Rwanda as the lead and ”umbrella UTM“ for the African Drone Forum and Lake Kivu Challenge, which was an amazing event to be a part of. What did you plan to showcase at World ATM Congress 2020? At the stand we had planned to demonstrate our GuardianUTM Operating System which is a comprehensive platform now forming the basis of three major national UTM deployments, with several more in the pipeline. For the first time at World ATM Congress we were to showcase our Conflict Resolution Service. When we launched the service last year it was hailed as a “game changer,” the world’s first open automated ”conflict resolution service“ available via an API to all. Using this service, any pilot or operator can securely check for conflicts in their drone flights quickly and easily. This was a massive step forward, not just for Altitude Angel, but for the future of automated flight services, which can easily be integrated into any flight planning or flight control system and will become essential building blocks for the future of automated aerial transport. The news of this release
Parker (third from left) with his Altitude Angel colleagues at World ATM Congress 2019.
created headlines all over the world as the industry realised what a key technological milestone had been passed — something at Altitude Angel we’re very proud of. What do you think you’ll be telling me when we meet at World ATM Congress 2021? Good question! From the conversations we’ve been having this week, there are lots of ANSPs who are interested in seeing how we can help them deploy a UTM platform, allowing them to realise the social and economic benefits drone operations can bring. One of the huge and significant differentiators in our solution is it’s actually a series of platform-based capabilities that can be fully tailored through configuration to meet the ANSP’s operational
requirements as they evolve, rather than enforcing an out-of-box policy or procedure. Plus, having the benefit of our global developer platform being interconnected means the ANSP can optionally enable direct integration with drones and a whole ecosystem of apps around the world. This year, and every year, we’ve introduced game-changing technology. But there are always more boundaries to push and records to break. So, when we meet next year, I hope we’ll be talking about new and exciting partnerships we have in place and the value we’ve helped our customers and partners to unlock, some amazing technical developments we’ve introduced, and how our technology is truly enabling the safe integration of drones into airspace worldwide.
SAFE AND SECURE ATC COMMUNICATIONS HAS A NEW STANDARD Increasing global air travel, rapid technological change and growing threats of cybercrime pose great challenges for future ATC operations. The advanced ATC communications suite CERTIUM® is the technological answer and promise to engineers and controllers alike to increase safety and security beyond existing market standards. One-stop-shop solution with perfectly matched components Strict “security by design” philosophy and culture ► Flexible yet secure IP architecture ► Comprehensive maintenance concepts for cost-efficient operation ► ►
Discover CERTIUM®: www.rohde-schwarz.com/certium
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Prioritising Business Continuity By Hannu Juurakko, Vice President ATM Civil, Chairman of ATM Executive Team, Frequentis Aviation remains the critical backbone of our economy. Until recently our focus was on airspace capacity and managing the increasing volume of flights with the same workforce. Today, as we come to terms with the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry, it is key for us to pull together and remain resilient as flights in many countries remain grounded, reducing capacity needs for the time being. But this current situation has certainly shown the need for updated business continuity concepts and plans to ensure appropriate controller staffing, as was recently outlined by several ANSPs in a CANSO-organised webinar. We have already seen cases where ATC service in a sector was interrupted, due to a suspected COVID-19 case affecting a controller. Today’s operational ATC concept does not allow another sector to immediately take over operations, even
The first thing we need is a more harmonised concept of operations (CONOPS) to allow properly trained controllers to manage a different sector of another airspace.
if complete area control centres (ACCs) must be taken out of service. These incidents demonstrate, more than ever, the need to design, plan, and implement business continuity measures, even beyond national or regional borders. In Europe, Frequentis is part of the SESAR Virtual Centre effort to drive the technical and operational implementation of the virtual centre concept. This would allow air traffic control operations to be carried out at another location, removing the need for an ATC suspension. By geographically decoupling ATM services from location, virtual centres increase agility, capacity, and cost-efficiency, while enabling better contingency planning. The concept’s principles are already realised with remote digital towers, allowing ATC services to be provided away from the airport. But what do we still need to allow full cross-border collaboration? The first thing we need is a more harmonised concept of operations (CONOPS) to allow properly trained controllers to manage a different sector of another airspace. Next, we need a more networked approach to the way ATM systems are connected, enabling safe and secure data exchange, even across national borders. Finally, it requires a joint effort by ANSPs and policy makers to ensure we have
the proper legislation to enable such an operational concept. We don’t doubt that things will return to normal, people will continue to travel, and goods will need to be transported. One thing we are certain of, and is also clear in the current climate, is that when we work together on a common goal, we are far more likely to succeed. Perhaps this recent situation is a chance for us to look more closely at the long-term challenges we have ahead of us and jointly implement solutions which enable a resilient, sustainable air transport system, robust enough to withstand potential future crises. What the industry has gained is an increased drive to prioritise business continuity.
Rohde & Schwarz Introduces the CERTIUM® Advanced ATC Communications Suite While safety and availability without compromise are non-negotiable requirements, operations must remain efficient and flexible. In order to both answer these challenges and give a promise to ATC controllers, engineers, and decision makers, Rohde & Schwarz introduces an advanced ATC communications suite from the microphone to the antenna, called CERTIUM®. With CERTIUM®, Rohde & Schwarz offers a one-stop-shop for the full life cycle of a system — from design, manufacturing, and system integration to project implementation and tailored maintenance services. Addressing enhanced security requirements and ANSPs’ operational challenges to remain efficient when handling increasing flight volumes, Rohde & Schwarz launches a next generation radio with a revolutionary security-by-design architecture that goes beyond existing market standards. Rohde & Schwarz is also showcasing its comprehensive CERTIUM® portfolio of solutions for civil ATC operations: • Advanced IP based communications systems for modern ATC networks. • Test and measurement equipment for reliable and high-precision analysis of ground-based augmentation systems during ground and flight inspection. • Automatic location of communicating aircraft and immediate indication on radar screen. • Effective drone detection and countering. • Test and measurement equipment for reliable and high-precision analysis of ground-based
Rohde & Schwarz introduces an advanced ATC communications suite from the microphone to the antenna, called CERTIUM®, including a next generation radio with a revolutionary security-bydesign architecture that goes beyond existing market standards.
augmentation systems during ground and flight inspection. For example, the Irish (IAA) and Icelandic (ISAVIA) ATC authorities are jointly responsible for the flight corridor over the North Atlantic. The two ATC centers are both equipped with an IP-based voice communications system (VCS) from Rohde & Schwarz. The systems are interconnected via a secure network to allow air traffic controllers at either control center to fully or partially take over the duties of the other center for ground-to-air and ground-to-ground communications. Other recent successes include Rohde & Schwarz
teaming up with Leidos to provide the voice communications system for the Future Flight Services Program and the award of Rohde & Schwarz to upgrade Finland’s ATC communications infrastructure. As a trusted partner of air navigation agencies, airport service providers, local authorities, armed forces, and the aviation industry with installations around the globe, Rohde & Schwarz helps to ensure ATC safety and security with a wide range of advanced technologies, high-performance products, and reliable services.
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The Integrated Flight Deck: Bringing New Technologies Together for Optimal Benefit For over a decade, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation industry have been working on technology advancements that enable flight crews to more effectively participate in the ATM system. Now many of those new technologies are nearing readiness for widespread deployment. But how will these diverse technologies—each developed with a different concept of use—work together? How will their introduction affect pilot and crew workloads? What education and familiarisation will be needed to enable flight crews to use the new technologies most effectively? Under what circumstances will crews transition from one new technology to another in the course of a flight—and how can they do that seamlessly and to maximum benefit? These are questions the FAA and The MITRE Corporation, which operates the FAA’s federally funded research and development center, are conducting research to answer. Their goal? Integrating operational use of new flight deck capabilities in a way that produces maximum benefit. One of the technologies examined as part of this effort is Controller/Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC), also commonly referred to as Data
Comm. This technology allows exchange of text and data between the air traffic controller and the crew, eliminating or reducing the need for voice communications. Another technology, Required Time of Arrival (RTA), is a flight deck capa-
that will enable controllers to provide crews with automation-generated trajectory adjustments, consisting of a path change and an accompanying speed, to meet a specific ATM goal for the flight. Path Stretch instructions provide both ground and air systems
How will these diverse technologies—each developed with a different concept of use—work together? How will their introduction affect pilot and crew workloads? What education and familiarisation will be needed to enable flight crews to use the new technologies most effectively?
bility that allows pilots to enter target times for reaching certain points along their intended route, such as the point at which they will cross from en route into terminal airspace. Some of this data can even be directly loaded into the aircraft’s flight management system using CPDLC for easy execution by the pilot. MITRE is also assessing flight crew interactions with the flight management system and other flight deck avionics resulting from new controller decision support tools. Path Stretch is a planned decision support tool
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better alignment in flight trajectory prediction and allow for expanded application of time-based management, which is foundational to trajectorybased operations. Because there is an expectation that these capabilities will be used both individually and in combination with each other throughout a single flight, the FAA and MITRE are assessing resulting pilot-avionics interactions now to understand how they all will work holistically. MITRE is bringing the technologies together in its aviation laboratory and testing their combined use
by qualified line pilots and different crew settings in simulated flight deck environments. These tests are generating valuable data, as well as implementation recommendations, for the FAA and industry. Additionally, since mobile technologies such as tablets are now ubiquitous onboard aircraft (providing pilot reference materials such as checklists, maps, and navigation procedure charting), the FAA and MITRE are also exploring how these compact, yet powerful machines might be used in other ways. MITRE is considering many possibilities, including how iPads can be used for enabling air-ground trajectory negotiation. MITRE is currently examining how these devices can support RTA when that capability is not available in aircraft avionics, enable improved departure time planning for business jet operators, and use these devices to provide information pilots need to engage in advanced interval management operations. All these explorations will ultimately yield a more integrated and effective flight deck operating environment, benefiting air traffic controllers, flight crews, and the flying public alike.
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PANSA Operationally Launched PansaUTM, the First Drone Flight Coordination System in Europe On Monday, 2 March, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) launched the first operational drone flight coordination system in Europe for use by air traffic controllers and others. The PansaUTM system has successfully passed the accreditation process run by PANSA and supervised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Poland. PANSA launched the new system in the controlled airport areas of Poznań, Bydgoszcz, and Modlin. By the end of March, additional locations are planned (next aerodrome control towers and FIS sectors), and the entire implementation process is planned to be completed in the second quarter of 2020. ”During last year’s World ATM Congress in Madrid, we presented the innovative PansaUTM concept worldwide. Now, just one year later, we offer
you a solution that is already opera- fic controllers, PansaUTM is informational,” said Janusz Janiszewski, Presi- tion about unmanned aerial vehicle dent of PANSA. ”This is a huge success (UAV) flights planned in the vicinity of for PANSA and Poland, which confirms airports and the possibility of issuing permits for flights, our country’s imsimilar to crewed plementation of ”This is a huge success for aviation. And all the assumptions PANSA and Poland, which this is offered in a of the U-Space confirms our country’s dynamic and elecconcept.” implementation of the astronic way. The PansaUTM ” P a n s a U T M ’s system allows for sumptions of the U-Space range of support fast, digital, nonconcept.” for UAV operators verbal communiin preparing for cation between air traffic controllers and drone op- flight covers the whole of Poland,” said erators. Thanks to PansaUTM, drone Filip Sosin, U-Space Programme Managoperators can quickly check flight op- er. ”In turn, the system modules supportportunities in a given area, digitally ing the functions of issuing digital consubmit a flight plan, and obtain per- ditions by the Agency and consents to mission to fly if it does not threaten flights are being gradually implemented the safety of the aircraft. For air traf- around communication airports.”
”Launching PansaUTM is an important step towards ensuring the safety of advanced drone operations and a pillar for the development of the drone applications market, which is the subject of the program Żwirko and Wigura of the Responsible Development Strategy,” said Małgorzata Darowska, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Infrastructure for Unmanned Aircraft. PansaUTM is a concept of digital coordination of UAV flights and management of applications and permits for flights in the Polish airspace. It includes PANSA’s proprietary operational solutions and the system part provided by technology partner HAWK-E, integrated with Droneradar, which is the most popular application among drone operators in Poland.
KVM Is Changing the Face of Airport, ATM, and Control Operations The air traffic industry constantly seeks new ways to improve operational efficiency whilst ensuring total operational safety and, at the same time, remaining within budgetary constraints – which is the objective and driving force behind the SESAR programme. A technology that is delivering benefits and gaining prominence within the industry is KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) extension and switching. It offers enormous advantages to the air traffic industry and reaches deeply into airport management, passenger and baggage handling, and security operations. KVM extenders allow workstation video monitors, keyboards, and mice to be separated from their associated computer hardware by hundreds, even
thousands, of metres. An example lies in the control tower: visual controllers rely on computer-generated information, but there is usually limited room at the top of a tower. The computer units are located in server rooms at ground level and connected to workstations in front of the controllers. Incorporating a KVM switch matrix connected to all controllers’ stations and computer units and allows controllers to access any source device. Operators can select any ATM or ATC tool at will and change between them instantly; any desk can serve any purpose. Backup stations can be created, and supervisory staff are given complete freedom to select the process or controller they wish to observe.
In the new world of remote towers, KVM stimulates new ideas and techniques. Remote data sources and camera images can be easily and reliably accessed, enabling the construction of backup control rooms and remote towers within, or at any distance away from, the target airfield. The same concepts are regularly applied to other air-movement operations. Passenger information systems, digital signage, security, training, baggage handling, and airfield lighting are examples of services that regularly benefit from KVM extension and switching, providing information at a distance to the end user. Computing systems will inevitably be used in ever-increasing numbers in
the future. Artificial intelligence, camera security, drone detection, and facial and personal recognition will flourish, each requiring controlled connection to remote computing resources. The ability to dynamically select and interact with distant devices is one that KVM technology provides instantly. KVM systems incorporate superior video and data processing technology that is already proven and accepted within the air transport sector – as are its reliability and resistance to external security attacks. It will continue to provide a base on which airport infrastructure can be developed and will stimulate new ways that can help the industry become more efficient and more secure.
Attention World ATM Congress 2020 Presenters! World ATM Congress 2020 is an international forum for spotlighting incredible research, innovative tech demos, and compelling marketing presentations. Over 130 sessions were scheduled to take place. Since the cancellation, we have offered our presenters a platform to link recorded or livestreamed sessions on our website. Several organisations have already taken advantage of this opportunity! Visit the individual presentation theatre agendas at worldatmcongress.org/free-education to view presentations and webinars from Vaisala, AirMap, Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, Ansart BV, MicroStep-MIS, ISDEFE, Isdefe Horizons Network, GroupEAD, Loon, NASA, AIA, Airbus, Collins Aerospace, Airways New Zealand, Snowflake Software, and Egyptian Air Traffic Controller Haitham Bakr. Interested in participating? Contact Abigail.glennchase@worldatmcongress. org today!
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Implementing Remote ID and Drone Traffic Management: A Case Study from AirShare Remote ID lays the foundation for the safe and effective integration of drones into the existing aviation system. The capability is crucial for the development of unmanned aircraft traffic management (UTM) services and for enabling complex commercial and humanitarian drone uses globally. In 2019, AirShare introduced remote ID as part of its UTM ecosystem. Airshare is the subsidiary of Airways, New Zealand’s ANSP, tasked with national UTM development. It’s headed by CEO Trent Fulcher. AirShare began operational service in 2014, making it the world’s longest serving UTM service. The early platform provided information to drone operators about airspace and landowner rules, allowing them to log flights and receive air traffic control approvals. It has been completely redeveloped in the six years since and now allows for the management and live tracking of drone flights across New Zealand’s controlled and uncontrolled airspace. There are more than 22,000 registered AirShare users
– no small number in a country with 5,000 registered aircraft – who are logging upwards of 1,000 flights weekly through the platform’s web and mobile apps. AirShare’s global search for UAV identification and tracking technologies began in 2018. “We needed a solution that was designed for UAV dynamic flying conditions, was UAV agnostic, built on readily available networks, and at a price point that the broader UAV operator community could bear,” said Fulcher. With a lack of suitable solutions in the market, AirShare’s response was to develop a purpose-built network Remote ID solution, comprised of UAV flight controller integration, an external hardware device, and software infrastructure. “This combination allows authorities to identify, locate, and track the location of the pilot on the ground as well as the UAV in live flight,” said Fulcher. “It also facilitates alerts and comms directly to the pilot, so specific warnings and instructions can be pro-
vided to help mitigate airspace risk.” AirShare’s Remote ID solution has been designed and built in New Zealand but is applicable for ANSPs and regulators globally, with countryspecific network considerations built into the design. It even supports UAV operators who perform operations in multiple countries. In parallel with Remote ID developments for cooperative UAV users, Airways is now testing non-cooperative drone detection feeds at New Zealand’s largest airport, providing additional insight that allows air traffic control to better manage airspace incursion risks. With drones outnumbering traditional aircraft in New Zealand skies by an estimated 15 to one, Remote ID is enhancing the safety of operations by providing those responsible for managing the airspace with greater visibility of who is flying and where. As UAV operations continue to increase in volume and complexity, Remote ID will be a critical enabler for safe integration across the aviation system.
“We needed a solution that was designed for UAV dynamic flying conditions, was UAV agnostic, built on readily available networks, and at a price point that the broader UAV operator community could bear.”
—Trent Fulcher, CEO, Airshare (Airways New Zealand’s UTM subsidiary).
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