EUROCONTROL is working hard to support its partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. They've begun publishing a regular comprehensive assessment of the latest traffic situation in Europe and provide a comparison to the same period in 2019.
The page includes data snapshots, updated traffic scenarios for 2021, updated forecast updates for 2021-2024 and regular, detailed COVID impact briefings for individual countries.
It also includes useful resources to help passengers confidently plan European travel while staying healthy and safe.
It's packed to the brim with insights and we highly recommend you visit their page for updates.
In other news, we welcome the European partnership to open cities’ airspace to drones for the first time. Funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 programme, the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) consortium for this project is made up of 22 companies from 14 countries across Europe.
The project will develop the solutions and procedures to integrate both the conventional air traffic management (ATM) system and the U-space control system to allow drone operations in cities.
Drones will boost the competitiveness of the entire economy and offer enormous potential for economic development and job creation.
What a great development to facilitate the work of regulatory bodies working on establishing the rules that will govern urban air mobility, and the development of technical standards and solutions shared by all manufacturers and operators.
ANSP news
- Finland and Estonia set to merge air traffic control services - Both Finland and Estonia have revealed plans to merge air traffic control systems beginning as early as next year. As the two countries share the same airspace, establishing a system to collaboratively use should help reduce costs and improve flight safety.
- CANSO recommends MARIA project as best practice in four areas - The Model of ATM Reality in Action (MARIA) project, developed by NAV Portugal, was recognized for the third consecutive year as a best practice for safety management systems in the civil aviation sector. The recognition was awarded by CANSO, an association that brings together more than 85% of air navigation service providers.
Airports news
- DGCS President signed a contract Indra to provide communication equipment for the new tower at Kuwait International Airport - The Directorate-General for Civil Aviation signed Tuesday a 9.2 million Kuwaiti Dinar (USD 30 million) contract with Indra to provide communication equipment for the new tower in Kuwait International Airport.
- Sonderborg Airport enhances air traffic solutions - Sonderborg Airport in Denmark is set to upgrade its remote control and monitoring system and automatic weather observation platform from Insero Air Traffic Solutions to help modernise operations.
Market news
- Keysoft Solutions Ltd. Changes its Company Name to Transoft Solutions (UK) Ltd. - Keysoft Solutions transitions to become officially known as Transoft Solutions Ltd. In 2019, Keysoft Solutions was acquired by Transoft Solutions, Inc., global leaders in developing highly specialized software solutions for aviation, civil infrastructure, transportation and operational professionals, headquartered in British Columbia, Canada.
- ENAIRE engages DFS Aviation Services consulting - DFS Aviation Services has been contracted by ENAIRE for the provision of operational and training consultancy services regarding the successful implementation of Flight Information Service for VFR aircraft by dedicated FIS-personnel. The consultancy will last until December 2022, when it is anticipated that the new FIS for VFR will commence operation.
Reports and data
- Flight statistics in May: recovery of air traffic in Ukrainian airspace stabilizing - A total of 16,986 flights were performed in Ukrainian airspace in May 2021, which is 43.4% less compared to 2019. The absolute value of the number of flights provided with air navigation services is growing from month to month, while the dynamics of recovery is the same as in April.
- Oro Navigacija: an increase in the number of flights during the last week of may - Even though it is difficult to keep up with the results of 2019, May of this year can be singled out for significant growth of the number of flights. During the last year, the number of flights increased by 53 percent and amounted to 11.6 thousand flights.
- Air traffic in Germany continues to grow - Recovery of air traffic continues unabated. In May 2021 DFS controlled almost 98,000 flights in German airspace. DFS expects further increases in the summer and autumn.
- NAV CANADA reports May traffic figures - NAV CANADA announced its traffic figures for the month of May 2021, as measured in weighted charging units for en-route, terminal and oceanic air navigation services, in comparison to the last fiscal year and to its 2019 fiscal year.
- Fraport Traffic Figures – May 2021: Frankfurt Airport Passenger Volume Showing Signs of Recovery - With 16,977 takeoffs and landings, aircraft movements climbed 118.7 percent compared to May 2020.
Research and innovation
- European partnership to open cities' airspace to drones for the first time - The SESAR JU ATM U-space project, AURA, will tackle one of the main hurdles that prevent drones from taking off in cities: their safe integration into the very low-level airspace without impacting conventional air traffic operations in controlled airspace.
UAV and UTM
- "Japanese transport ministry plans to implement BVLOS drone flights before 2023" - Unmanned airspace - The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan has announced the formation of the “Next Generation Aviation Mobility Planning Office” to handle regulation and issues surrounding aviation mobility. Among key activities, the ministry expects to regularise flight beyond the visual line of sight before 2023.
- ISO “takes next step to develop UTM service provider and vertiport global standards” - Unmanned airspace - ISO Technical Committee 20/SC16 has decided to develop draft international standards for UAS traffic management service suppliers (ISO 23629-12) and vertiport operations.
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