Weekly review #164 - 31st August

First up, it's good news as last week we saw the opening of Dublin Airports' long-awaited new North Runway. It opened on Wednesday 24th, and is the airport's third runway (28R/10L). The project was eagerly awaited, after the Dublin Airport Authority was granted planning permission for the site back in 2007. 

In more airport news for the UK, London Stansted has received planning permission from the Secretary of State for the development of an airport solar farm. The 14.3MW solar farm will be on land already owned by Stansted immediately to the east of the airport at High House Farm. The development is designed to meet the airport’s current and increasing electricity demands, including from the growing use of electric vehicles.

Next up, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Zambia signed an agreement in the field of open-air transport between the two countries. The agreement comes within the framework of linking Qatar with air services agreements, opening the way for the national carrier to expand its network to reach more global destinations.

Finally, OneSky has announced that Intermap and Lufthansa Systems have signed on to be members of the OneSky Future of Flight program. Intermap and Lufthansa will combine their powerful terrain data, including vegetation and buildings, with OneSky’s world-class airspace management system.

On the lookout for a new episode of Radar Contact? This week, we were delighted to speak with Dr Debora Cazzani, the Marketing & Export Manager of MC Solutions. We discussed the mastery of MC Solutions, its history and more. Click here to listen.

Airports news

• Almost Ready: Dublin Airport Prepares To Open Its New Runway - British Aviation Group - This week will see the opening of Dublin Airports' long-awaited new North Runway. The project has been long awaited, after the Dublin Airport Authority was granted planning permission for the site in 2007.
• Regional airports can make the aviation industry better - Regional airports are going to become far more important in the coming years. Want to know why? You better read this article.
• London Stansted receives planning permission for airport solar farm - London Stansted has received planning permission from the Secretary of State for the development of an airport solar farm. The 14.3MW solar farm will be on land already owned by Stansted immediately to the east of the airport at High House Farm.

Market news

• Intermap and Lufthansa Systems Join the OneSky Future of Flight Program - OneSky is pleased to announce that Intermap and Lufthansa Systems have signed on to be members of the OneSky Future of Flight program. Intermap and Lufthansa will combine their powerful terrain data, including vegetation and buildings, with OneSky’s world-class airspace management system.
• AAI signs MoU with Sweden to facilitate smart and sustainable aviation technology collaboration - Airports Authority of India and LFV Air Navigation Services of Sweden signed a Memorandum of Understanding today at the Corporate Headquarters of AAI in New Delhi.

Context information

• Qatar, Zambia Sign Air Transport Cooperation Agreement - The agreement comes within the framework of linking Qatar with air services agreements that open the way for the national carrier to expand its network of destinations to reach more global destinations.
• Factory Acceptance Test of the ICZ LETVIS system for international airport in the UAE was successfully completed at ALES - In August of this year, at the ALES a.s. branch in Liptovský Mikuláš, Factory Acceptance Test was carried out with the participation of a long-standing customer and a representative of UAE business partner of ALES.

Reports and data

• Traffic development: July 2022 - Air Navigation Services Chech Republic - Traffic development in the airspace of the Czech Republic (FIR Prague): Month: July; Number of movements 2019: 95 206; Number of movements 2022: 70 796; Traffic comparison 2022/2019: -25,6 % Traffic development at Prague Airport: Month: July; Number of movements 2019: 15 491; Number of movements 2022: 10 599; Traffic comparison 2022/2019: -31,5 %
• Abu Dhabi’s airports enjoy ‘healthy’ half year with robust traffic growth – Airport World - Total number of flights in all the airports: 94 538

Research and innovation

• Ascend by Cirium Weekly Team Perspective: North Atlantic capacity trends - The North Atlantic route has always been the most important long-haul airline market, with more flights and seats than other long haul areas.
• Why Airbus is betting on AI to fix pilot shortage, flight safety - As airline passengers slog through a summer of rampant flight delays and cancellations, airlines are grappling with a massive post-pandemic increase in air travel demand and a long-term pilot shortage – while also prioritizing safety. Airbus is betting autonomous and AI-driven commercial flight functions can bridge that gap.
• India and Sweden sign MoU to facilitate smart and sustainable aviation technology collaboration - The Airports Authority of India and Air Navigation Service Provider of Sweden signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the AAI Office, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, New Delhi to facilitate partnerships that will drive smart, sustainable aviation technology innovation.

UAV and UTM

• • • Airways’ AirShare visualises UAS positions in real-time, integrates FlyFreely drone management platform - Unmanned airspace - Airways International’s UTM solution AirShare has launched an API to receive live unmanned aircraft positions and visualise them for airspace managers in real time. AirShare is used as an online hub for New Zealand drone users. With this API, AirShare is ready to integrate with data sources such as UA operators’ ground control stations, third party tracking devices and other UA tracking infrastructure.
    • French regulator approves Biogroup and Rigitech BVLOS operations - Unmanned airspace - Swiss-based Rigitech and France’s laboratory group Biogroup have obtained flight authorisations to begin regular BVLOS flights between Biogroup’s laboratories in Bourgoin-Jallieu and Tignieu-Jameyzieu from the French civil aviation authority.