Weekly Review #249 - How to build strong partnerships to bridge the offer gap in ATM

Picture of Vincent Lambercy
Posted July 3 2024 by Vincent Lambercy
I have a soft spot for smaller ATM systems and service providers, as they are often able to offer unique, tailor-made solutions to their customers. However, they often face a disadvantage: they don't have the full solution available. After all, not everybody can offer a full ATM system. Or a combination of systems, like ATM automation and voice communications, or a new display system with a recording solution, for example. But if you reduce the market to larger companies that have everything in-house, you disregard potential competitors who can, when put together, offer great solutions.
 
As a buyer, it is easier to request a single partner. It reduces risks and offers a single point of contact. If the project does not go as planned, there is one single organization to turn to. On the other hand, getting the best provider for each component instead of an average solution for a whole system also has its advantages. 
 
Now, let's look at this from the supplier's perspective. Building a partnership is no easy task. Many factors come into play and when a call for tenders comes out, the time available is usually short and does not leave a lot of time to establish a new working relationship. I'm not saying it is not possible to create a winning partnership in a few weeks, but let's face it. It is way easier to win a bid together when the partnership exists ahead of the call for tenders.
 
Identifying preferred suppliers, potential subcontractors, and potential partners is an important part of business development and there is no better time than now to start working on your partnerships. At FoxATM, we strongly believe in this and we are often in a position to create bridges, connect companies, help them identify the right partners, and support winning teams. Our deep market knowledge is a big plus and we are always interested in getting to know more companies and have more dots to connect.
 
So if you believe in the strength of well-established partnerships and are looking for your next partner, don't hesitate to contact us. We certainly know someone who can provide what you need, and our network keeps growing and covers all aspects of air traffic management.
 
Vincent

ANSP news

  • EUROCONTROL calling for common action to address air traffic control delays- EUROCONTROL has today met with representatives of European air navigation service providers (ANSPs), aircraft operators (AOs), airports (APTs) and ground handlers (GHs) to discuss the actions that need to be taken to address delays in the European air traffic control network.
  • Update 3 - Capacity restrictions in Geneva airspace lifted — Skyguide- The air navigation service provider Skyguide lifted the capacity restrictions in Geneva's airspace this morning. The heavy rainfall on Tuesday evening had led to flooding in the basement of the air traffic control centre in Geneva. As a result, airspace capacity had to be reduced for safety reasons.
  • Botswana undergoes another Oversight Audit by ICAO – Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana- The Montreal, Canada based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this week completed a Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP) on Botswana. The assessment began a week earlier on June 18, 2024, aimed at reviewing compliance of the Botswana’s Aviation Safety Oversight Systems, specifically focusing on Aerodrome & Ground Aids (AGA), Civil Aviation Organization (ORG) and Legislature (LEG).
  • FAB CE - Establishing one of the largest free route airspaces in Europe- With a Free Route Airspace that extends from Austria to North Macedonia and now extended to Italy, routes are further optimised leading to substantial reductions in emissions. The new Free Route Airspace was presented at an international meeting in Vienna.
  • More space for wind power expansion in Germany’s Hanover Region - DFS- DFS is putting the Nienburg navigation aid for aircraft back into operation on 28 June following its conversion to a DVOR. The new DVOR is significantly less sensitive to interference from wind turbines compared to the previously used conventional type, known as CVOR. The so-called building restricted area set up to protect the navigation aid’s signals can now be reduced from a radius of 15 to 7 kilometres. This corresponds to a 75-percent reduction in the protected area required. This reduction frees up more space for the expansion of wind energy in the Hanover Region, a district in Lower Saxony, Germany.
  • FAB CE - Summer is starting: How will it impact our traffic forecast?- Looking ahead at the forecast within the FAB CE region for the next few months, the good news is a recovery from the challenged days for air travel during the pandemic. In addition to the recovery of the level of traffic there are also external influences impacting an increase in en-route and overflights in our region – traffic that must be handled due to the situation in Ukraine, an increase in low-cost carriers providing flights to Balkan destinations, and sport events.
  • FAB CE Management Changes in April and May- April and May was a busy month for the transition of leadership within our FAB with three ANSPs announcing changes in their executive teams.

Airport news

Market news

  • QCAA Organizes Training Program for Second Group of Egyptian Air Traffic Controllers- Within the framework of existing cooperation in the field of civil aviation between the State of Qatar and the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, and their efforts to enhance joint work, exchange experiences, and build and develop capabilities in both countries, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) is organizing a training program for the second group of Egyptian air traffic controllers over a period of five days, from 30 June to 4 July 2024.
  • Systems Interface awarded Navaid contract by the Irish Air Corps- Systems Interface Ltd. has secured a contract awarded by the Irish Air Corps on behalf of the Minister of Defence. The contract involves the Supply, Installation, and Commissioning of an Indra Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Range (DVOR) and 2 Indra Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Ireland.

Context information

  • EU and ICAO enhance Memorandum of Cooperation to support technical cooperation in aviation worldwide- The European Union and ICAO have signed a new Annex to their Memorandum of Cooperation to establish a strong partnership in supporting technical cooperation projects globally. ICAO and EASA pledged to reinforce their collaboration in jointly assisting civil aviation actors from countries across the five continents with “capacity building, technical assistance, and implementation support
  • Finland has a good ability to detect interference with satellite navigation- In Finland, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom is responsible for monitoring the use of the wireless communications and radio network frequencies as well as investigating radio interference including satellite navigation services. The Agency has good capabilities throughout Finland to detect and locate signals that may interfere with satellite positioning, and a comprehensive situational picture of interference on land, at sea and in the air.

Research and innovation

  • SESAR Deployment Manager reports significant progress in CP1 Implementation- The SESAR Deployment Manager's latest 2023 Monitoring View report highlights significant advancements in the implementation of the CP1 Regulation, underscoring the ongoing commitment to enhancing European air traffic management. The comprehensive report, detailing progress as of December 2023, reflects substantial achievements and outlines key milestones in the SESAR deployment programme.
  • Three simulations with Türkiye's DHMI take place at our EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub- In the first half of 2024 DHMI and EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub collaborated on three significant real-time simulation projects. These exercises took place at the EIH’s unique simulation facilities located near Paris and aimed at validating: the triple-runway operations at iGA Istanbul Airport; the redesigned Antalya terminal manoeuvring area with independent parallel runway operations; and the new Antalya airport layout including new aprons, parking positions and taxiways.
  • New SESAR JU members to bolster European air traffic management modernisation- NATS and Lilium will contribute to the SESAR JU’s task of advancing cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking solutions to make European ATM smarter and more sustainable. Their adhesion signals a recognition of the importance of collaboration, especially in an industry such as ATM, where no one organisation alone can make the transformative changes needed. By working together, SESAR JU ensures that Europe remains at the forefront of global innovation in aviation, ready to meet the challenges facing the sector, from climate change, growing traffic density and the new security context.

Reports and data

  • Big monthly upturn in traffic at Hong Kong International Airport- Traffic numbers continue to rise at Hong Kong International Airport as it recovery from the global pandemic gathers pace. Figures released by Airport Authority Hong Kong show that 4.07 million passengers and 29,855 aircraft movements were handled at the airport in May, upturns of 30.8% and 34.5% respectively on the corresponding month a year ago.

UAV and UTM

  • Project BLUEPRINT trials lay groundwork for open-architecture UK UTM system - Unmanned airspace- Project BLUEPRINT, a two-year initiative, has been pivotal in advancing BVLOS drone operations in the UK. The project team successfully developed and integrated minimum viable products (MVPs), laying the groundwork for BVLOS solutions. A comprehensive sensor network was deployed, enhancing situational awareness and safety. Initial testing validated the system’s functionality and performance, securing approval from the relevant authorities and demonstrating compliance with aviation standards.