Let's start by looking at news from the Middle East. Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum Internation Airport are set to receive the most advanced digital voice-over IP communication system in the world. That's thanks to a new deal with Indra.
In the UK, Heathrow Airport will continue its strategic partnership with NATS. Their collaboration with the leading air traffic services company is now set to keep going until April 3030.
There's big news for Ukraine as it signs a milestone aviation agreement with the European Union. The air transport agreement signed at the summit in Kyiv lays the foundations for a 'Common Aviation Area' between Ukraine and the EU. Here's the full story if you'd like to learn more.
Finally, we're pleased to see that there are continued positive signs of air traffic growth. In September, ENAIRE managed over 147,000 flights which is only 27% less than in 2019. This is another great sign that air traffic continues to trend in the right direction. Long may it continue!
Kuala Lumpur airport chooses R&S as auxiliary ATC radio - Rohde & Schwarz, together with a local aviation company, has won a contract by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to provide Kuala Lumpur International Airport with auxiliary radios to maintain uninterrupted Air to Ground VHF Communication System. For this, CAAM chose the most innovative air traffic control radio available, the R&S Series5200, part of CERTIUM, an advanced communications suite for ATC.
NATS lands Heathrow 5-year contract extension - Heathrow Airport has extended its strategic partnership with leading air traffic services company, NATS. The extension will see the current contract run through to April 2030.
Context information
Aviation: EU and Ukraine sign milestone aviation agreement - The European Union and Ukraine today signed a comprehensive air transport agreement during the Ukraine-EU Summit in Kyiv. This Agreement opens the way for a ‘Common Aviation Area’ between the EU and Ukraine, based on common high standards in important areas such as aviation safety, security and air traffic management.
Reports and data
Oro Navigacija: During the third quarter the number of flights increased 1.6 times - The total number of flights operated by the air traffic controllers of state enterprise Oro Navigacija during the previous month increased 1.7 times in comparison to the same period last year and amounted to 17.5 thousand flights. As for the entire third quarter this year, the total number of flights increased 1.6 times in comparison to the results of 2020.
ENAIRE managed over 147,000 flights in September, just 27% less than in 2019 - Month by month, the trend continues as air traffic recovers to pre-pandemic levels. ENAIRE managed over 147,000 flights in September (147,221), which is just 27.6% below the average for the entire network for the same month in 2019, the baseline year for data comparisons, since traffic in 2020 fell to very low levels as a result of COVID-19.
NAV CANADA reports September traffic figures - In September 2021 weighted charging units increased by an average of 72.9 percent compared to the same month in 2020. As compared to the same month in 2019, September 2021 weighted charging units decreased by an average of 35.2 percent.
HKIA Records Double-digit Increase in Cargo Traffic in September - Airport Authority Hong Kong today released the traffic figures for Hong Kong International Airport for September 2021. Meanwhile, the airport handled 13,920 flight movements, surging by 32.0% from a low base during the same month last year.
UAV and UTM
Vantis and Thales Build Statewide BVLOS Network - Thales was one of three aviation giants providing engineering and integration services being evaluated to enable BVLOS UAS flights on Vantis. A state selection committee made up of members from the North Dakota Department of Commerce and Northern Plains UAS Test Site, which administers Vantis, selected Thales as the long-term systems integrator for Vantis design, operations and maintenance.
Munich Airport partners with Urban-Air Port - Munich Airport International GmbH and Urban-Air Port® Ltd, announced that they will collaborate in developing eVTOL ground infrastructure and airport operations that facilitate the vertical take-off and landing of electric air taxis expected to be operational by the middle of the decade. Coupling MAI's world leading airport knowledge and operational experience with UAP's innovative ground infrastructure technology and solutions, the partners will provide a roadmap for efficient and sustainable flight operations.
OneSky Completes Phase 1 of Quantum Computing Pilot Program for Urban Air Mobility Optimization - OneSky announced the completion of Phase 1 of the Urban Air Mobility Quantum Computing pilot program, meant to demonstrate how quantum computing can develop an optimized real-time, three-dimensional air traffic control system for when our airspace is inevitably buzzing with thousands of autonomous vehicles.
