Weekly review #60 - 5th August

ANSP news

• NAV CANADA to resume nighttime service at twelve B.C. locations - NAV CANADA will restore regular nighttime air navigation services at twelve locations in British Columbia, beginning August 4, 2020. This decision was made after considering both the regional public health environment and operational requirements. In May 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic NAV CANADA temporarily suspended overnight air navigation services at 18 facilities.
• Skyguide - Historic slump in traffic due to the global corona crisis - Skyguide managed and monitored 270 610 flights under instrument flight rules (IFR) in the first half of 2020. This represents a year-on-year decline of 57.1%, most of which occurred in March, April and May. Air traffic in the airspace above Switzerland and in the delegated areas managed by skyguide came to a virtual standstill at times after the coronavirus crisis that reached Europe in March 2020 severely restricted air traffic. 98.3% of all flights handled by skyguide were punctual.
• PANSA deploys modern technologies under the SESAR programme - Polish Air Navigation Services Agency takes active part in the SESAR programme, the technological pillar of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative. The objective of the undertaking is to develop and implement harmonized air traffic management infrastructure in Europe and solutions allowing defragmentation of the European airspace.

Market news

• Chile enhances airspace communication capability - Air Traffic Management - The Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Chile (Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil – DGAC) has deployed aeronautical message handling system (AMHS) from Frequentis Comsoft, increasing its communication capability and fully supporting the ICAO basic and extended AMHS service profiles. The solution replaces the countries previous AMHS system.
• Successful delivery of Saab-contracted ATC Tower simulator at ANWS in Taiwan - Micro Nav delivered a 360° 3D ATC simulator to Taiwan Air Navigation and Weather Services (ANWS), including full integration with the Saab Integrated ATC Suite (I-ATS) operational system.

Reports and data

• CANSO and Aireon partnership finds global air traffic has recovered 51 percent since lowest point during COVID-19 pandemic - CANSO announced a considerable gain towards the recovery of the aviation industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 51 percent recovery of global aircraft movements since the lowest traffic point, which occurred on 12 April 2020. Since then, fourteen consecutive weeks have shown growth in unique aircraft movements, according to Aireon data.
• Frankfurt Airport: Weekly Traffic Figures for July 20 – 26

Research and innovation 

• Digital Tower 2.0: Managing the COVID crisis - Digital and remote tower technology has become an established technology solution for airports and ANSPs. Digital towers are now operational in several countries and ANSPs are developing applications beyond the remote control of small, low volume airports, and realising business cases for medium and large airports, too. 

UAV and UTM

• Above & Beyond: The Role of UTM in Enabling BVLOS Flight Webinar
• Drone detection tests at Frankfurt and Munich airports - DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung and the airport operators of Frankfurt and Munich, Fraport and FMG are starting to test drone detection systems at Frankfurt and Munich airports in August. The results of these test operations are important for the systematic detection of drones at and around German airports. Reliable detection of unmanned aircraft systems flying without permission is necessary to ensure targeted drone defence.
• Unifly appoints new CEO to prepare for accelerated company growth - To lead Unifly in its next growth phase, Leon van de Pas has been appointed CEO of Unifly. He succeeds Marc Kegelaers in this role.
• German armed forces select ESG’s mobile drone defence system with partners Hensoldt, Rohde & Schwarz, HP Wüst and Diehl Defence - Unmanned airspace - The scope of delivery includes the company’s container-based GUARDION systems for the early detection and effective defence against drones for field camp protection in the deployment and mission areas of the German Armed Forces and is primarily provided by ESG and its project partner Hensoldt. The main technological components are Hensoldt’s high-performance Xpeller system components Spexer2000 3D radars and Night Owl M cameras; R&SARDRONIS radio direction finders from the GUARDION cooperation partner Rohde & Schwarz as well as effectors from HP Wüst.