What do you think of when you read about Artificial Intelligence and safety? Is it all about data?
Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have not been widely used in safety-critical applications in our industry yet, but this will change soon, as it can be seen in other sectors (e.g. autonomous vehicles).
ML-based solutions are expected to be widespread in this decade, predominantly in assisting human operators and supporting them to increase performance and safety standards.
The utilisation of ML-based applications in ATM raises additional questions, as data has a pivotal role in ML development; the operation is based on patterns and rules identified in training datasets. However, it can also be a weakness, the behaviour of the application seldom fully understandable and explainable for human operators.
We found this piece fascinating, and hope you do too. Let us know what you think of the discussion around software safety assurance.
In other news, we read this excellent interview with Matej Eljon, FAB CE Programme Manager, on The challenges facing FAB CE, the recovery and the importance of FABs.
In it, he talks about the state of play of airline activity in the FAB CE area, and when (and how) he sees recovery taking hold. Using an optimistic Eurocontrol forecast, summer traffic will recover to almost 80% of the 2019 traffic levels. But in a more realistic scenario where the vaccination rates don't go as quickly as we'd like them to, it will mean traffic would recover to 60% of 2019 levels.
Well worth a read!
ANSP news
- Michiel van Dorst reappointed as CEO of LVNL - On 1 May 2021, Michiel van Dorst will be appointed CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Air Traffic Control the Netherlands for a second five-year term.
Airports news
- India’s Jewar Airport begins the pre-qualification process for tenders - Noida International Airport has commenced the pre-qualification process for the development and construction of Jewar Airport.
- WebTrak is deployed at Dublin Airport to provide information on flight paths - Ireland’s Dublin Airport has introduced WebTrak, a web-based service that provides information on flight paths and noise levels of arriving and departing aircraft at the airport.
- BigSky operational at CDG Airport - Innov'ATM - A real data exchange platform between all CDM players at Paris CDG, BigSky offers the operational supervisor a high-performance and ergonomic tool to monitor the smooth running of operations in real-time, by consolidating and merging all the data for operated flights.
Market news
- Edda Systems - Edda Systems, Norway, delivering ATC simulator to HIAL, Scotland - On October 19, 2020, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) and Edda Systems signed a contract for delivery of the eCoach 3D TWR simulator system to Inverness, Scotland.
Context information
- The challenges facing FAB CE, the recovery and the importance of FABs – an interview with Matej Eljon - Following an introduction by Vlado Bagarić - Chair of the FAB CE CEO Committee - Matej Eljon, FAB CE Programme Manager and Director of FAB CE Aviation Ltd, talks about prospects for recovery and the role of functional airspace blocks in enhancing ATM performance.
- INAC of Venezuela joins CANSO - CANSO is pleased to welcome the air navigation service provider of Venezuela, Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (INAC), as its newest member.
Reports and data
- Air traffic volumes remain at a low level in German airspace - Traffic volumes in Germany are stagnating. In March 2021, DFS controlled around 79,000 flights in German airspace. At the airports in Germany, by contrast, traffic edged up.
- EUROCONTROL Comprehensive Assessment of COVID-19's Impact on European Air Traffic - In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, EUROCONTROL is publishing a regular comprehensive assessment of the latest traffic situation in Europe and provides a comparison to the same period in 2019.
- NAV CANADA reports March traffic figures - NAV CANADA announced today its traffic figures for the month of March 2021, as measured in weighted charging units for en-route, terminal and oceanic air navigation services, in comparison to the last fiscal year.
- Fraport Traffic Figures – March 2021: Passenger Traffic - Aircraft movements decreased by 40.1 percent year-on-year to 13,676 takeoffs and landings.
- March 2021 Irish & North-Atlantic air traffic down over 67% on 2019 figures - See our latest monthly review, now including 2019 and 2020 comparison data for North Atlantic, En-Route, Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport & Cork Airport.
Research and innovation
- Artificial Intelligence and Safety: is it all about data? - Automation is an important phenomenon in many fields of our life, and recently, it has been gaining momentum in the ATM industry.
- Getting ahead of “critical” flights in flow management - SESAR JU - SESAR JU partners are developing a more proactive approach to identifying and managing “critical” flights in the Network. The aim is to help airlines minimise costs while improving flight predictability.
UAV and UTM
- Hungary's official drone application is gaining traction - Over the last three months, almost six thousand people have downloaded Hungary's official drone application: mydronespace. The application developed by HungaroControl for drone pilots guarantees the safe movement of unmanned aircraft.
- ICAO is developing a UTM toolkit, guidance material and regulatory information - Unmanned airspace - Speaking at ICAO’s fourth Drone Enable symposium, taking place virtually on 13-15 April and 20-21 April online, Mark Wuennenberg, Secretary of the ICAO Unmanned Aircraft Systems Advisory Group, said UAS-AG is “developing Unmanned Traffic Management toolkit, complete with guidance material and regulatory information, which will be free to access on the ICAO website”.
- SESAR PercEvite research develops innovative collision avoidance technology - Unmanned airspace - Findings of the SESAR PervEvite project published by the European Commission are expected to help drones to avoid ground-based obstacles and other vehicles via Wi-Fi, 4G, and long-range radio frequency technology.
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