Weekly review #105 - 30th June

ANSP news

• A6 Alliance marks 10 years by reaffirming commitment to the Single European Sky - The A6 Alliance today marks its 10th anniversary by reaffirming its commitment to the modernization and digitalization of air traffic management, delivering a safe and sustainable future for aviation.
• NATS - Airspace change final design modified following consultation feedback - Proposed new arrival routes into London Luton Airport have been modified in direct response to feedback from residents and other stakeholders received in the public consultation held from October 2020 to February 2021.
• InterFAB Expert Talk: Volatility in air traffic – a growing challenge for the aviation sector - Unexpected geopolitical events, extreme weather and shifting passenger preferences make traffic forecasting difficult. In the fifth InterFAB Expert Talk on 24 June 2021, hosted by FAB CE, industry experts came together to discuss volatility in air traffic and the delivery of cost-effective services in the aftermath of COVID-19.
• Poland’s PANSA “to adapt constitution to enable delivery of commercial UAV services” - Unmanned airspace - Poland’s Council of Ministers will “adopt an amendment to the act on the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency by the end of September…The most important change is the possibility of PANSA establishing subsidiaries that could provide commercial services. This is a response to the growing market of drone operators,” according to Poland’s Rynek Loteniczy news service.
• Weather impact for ATM: a challenge rewarded! - Activities with METSAFE and two upper area control centers from the French DSNA have been rewarded by the SESAR JU! The Weather Impact Prediction for ATM project launched last summer to address the provision of enhanced weather information and impact on traffic flows reached second place for the SESAR Digital European Sky Award, in the Exploratory Research category.

Airports news

• Egos - New airport capacity for Djibouti, East Africa - On 3rd June 2021, Egis and Aéroport de Paris Ingénierie signed a memorandum of understanding with the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority for the development of new airport capacity in Djibouti, East Africa. Egis and ADPI will conduct the project feasibility study, develop the airport master plan and development programme, and set up a financial plan for the new infrastructure.
• Riyadh Airports Company and ADB SAFEGATE Launch a Next-Generation Airport Management Platform at KKIA - Riyadh Airport Company, which operates King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, has collaborated with ADB SAFEGATE to launch a next-generation airport management platform at KKIA. The platform will enable RAC to take full control of operations at KKIA by facilitating proactive and data-driven decision-making, improving planning, disruption management, and utilization of airport assets and resources.

Context information

• EUROCONTROL’s Performance Review Commission publishes its Report on European Air Traffic Management performance in 2020 - The independent Performance Review Commission of EUROCONTROL has published its Performance Review Report for 2020, considering the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the European ANS system and the implications for the future.
• FAB CE traffic forecast for strong rebound during summer months - Air traffic is set for a strong rebound among the seven FAB CE States during June and July 2021, according to the most recent six-week Eurocontrol forecasts, with traffic levels predicted to average around 72% of 2019 levels by the start of August.

Research and innovation

• FATHOM, EUROCONTROL’s new interactive analysis tool, helps aircraft operators achieve more efficient, sustainable flights - FATHOM is an interactive analysis tool developed by the EUROCONTROL Network Manager that allows aircraft operators to access comprehensive data on their flights, giving them insights into traffic, punctuality, schedule and air traffic flow management delay, fuel burn, route charges, route length, and flight time.

UAV and UTM

• European DACUS research project publishes results of study into low-level urban airspace operating environment - The research project DACUS has published a document that provides detailed descriptions of low-level airspace characterisations, including communication, navigation and surveillance performances and legislative framework, for urban drone operations.
• TEOCO partners with Swisscom to use cellular communications to support drone operations in the future - Unmanned airspace - Communications specialist TEOCO, together with partner STRAPAG has established a partnership with TEOCO’s AirborneRF to enable the operational deployment of drones over Swisscom’s cellular network.
• Successful test run of GoDrone app issuing air traffic control instructions to drone pilot - LVNL in cooperation with Dutch Drone Delta conducted a successful test run, during which air traffic control instructions were issued to a drone pilot via the GoDrone app. The aim of the test was for LVNL to gain knowledge and experience for further development towards an operational UTM system for managing unmanned aircraft, which will eventually make it possible to provide air traffic control for drone pilots.
• Egnos project demonstrates safe satellite-based approach procedures by autonomous vehicles - Unmanned airspace - The Egnos Civil Aviation Roadmap project at Grottaglie Airport in Italy has just concluded. Results were shared during the online conference GNSS-Based Autonomous UAS Flight Demo Day on 24 June 2021. The event was attended by representatives of European Union Agency for the Space Programmes, ENAC, Aeroporti di Puglia, DTA, Italian Space Agency, D-Flight participated along with the ECARO Consortium Partners, coordinated by ENAV.