Weekly Review #260 - Storm Boris and how ATM manages...

Written by Vincent Lambercy | September 18 2024

The news in Europe has been dominated by Boris, the storm that hit Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Austria over the last days. Rivers got out of their beds, trains and roads were impacted and air traffic too. I was flying to Vienna myself for a long weekend and my flight was delayed and also entered a holding pattern before landing and the flight home was delayed too.

How do high winds impact ATC? For one, only one of the two runways in Vienna was available, runway 29, as the other runway would have too much crosswind. Secondly, stronger winds and especially gusts lead to more go-arounds, requiring additional capacity and ATC reduces capacity to account for it.

Another aspect is how strong winds reduce capacity on final, as aircraft move slowly over ground. What can ATC do about this? One option is to implement time-based separations instead of distance-based separation and also optimize pairwise separation. EUROCONTROL encourages the LORD concept and some airports like Heathrow and Amsterdam have implemented it. It is not something that ATCOs can manage alone but with good system support, this allows them to squeeze a few more arrivals per hour. We had a podcast episode about this, with Sebastiaan de Stigter of LVNL, click here to listen to it.

High winds have no effect on our scanning of the air traffic management market and we keep monitoring it, day in, day out, and you’ll find the usual selection of what we captured below. Don’t forget, it is only a third of what we captured and if you want the full package, including calls for tenders, contact us and let us discuss!

Vincent

ANSP news

ENAIRE, DSNA and EUROCONTROL promote projects to improve airspace management- The aim of the meeting is to explore constant improvements to the current interfaces that support the various air traffic flows of ENAIRE and DSNA at the air traffic control centres in Madrid and Barcelona with Bordeaux, Brest and Marseille.

Airport news

Seoul to develop UAM hub around Gimpo International Airport- Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea will host a new UAM hub by 2030 according to new plans from the city’s local government. impo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, will host a new Urban Air Mobility (UAM) hub by 2030 according to new plans from the city’s local government.
Completion of flight check of centre runway paves way for three-runway operation- The recent completion of the flight check for the centre runway marks a significant milestone in paving the way for a three-runway operation. This accomplishment showcases the dedication and expertise of the team in ensuring the safe and efficient utilization of airport facilities.
Flights Cancelled at Gatwick and Heathrow as Chaos Continues- The recent chaos at Gatwick and Heathrow airports has led to numerous flight cancellations, leaving passengers stranded and frustrated. Delays and uncertainties plague the travel plans of many, with no immediate solutions in sight. The impact of these ongoing disruptions is significant, affecting not only travelers but also airport operations and airlines. Authorities are working to address the issues causing the chaos, but the situation remains tense as passengers await updates and solutions.

Market news

ERA is at the gates of the 69th country! It has signed a new contract to install twin WAM systems in Albania- Era has signed a contract to install Twin WAM systems in Albania, marking its entry into its 69th country. This expansion highlights Era's continued growth and global presence in the aviation industry.
HungaroControl Launches VFR Mobile Application Developed by R-SYS- HungaroControl has introduced a new VFR mobile application, which was developed in collaboration with R-SYS. The application aims to provide pilots with enhanced tools and features for visual flight rules (VFR) navigation and communication. By partnering with R-SYS, HungaroControl seeks to offer innovative solutions to improve safety and efficiency in aviation operations. The launch of this mobile application demonstrates a commitment to technological advancements and user-friendly solutions in the aviation industry.

Context information

CANSO Director General addresses APAC Civil Aviation Ministerial Conference- Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO, attended the second Asia Pacific Civil Aviation Ministerial Conference in New Delhi, where he emphasised the urgent need for a consensus on Air Traffic Management to support the region’s growing aviation sector. In his remarks, Simon highlighted the disparity between investment in airport infrastructure and ATM capacity, warning that this could lead to a capacity crunch if not addressed.
EUROCAE Symposium 2025- EUROCAE has chosen Madrid as the host city for its 2025 gathering, scheduled for 23-24 April. This event will bring together industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders to explore the latest advancements and future prospects in the aviation sector.
ATM Cost-Effectiveness (ACE) First look at ACE 2023 data - EUROCONTROL- A new report providing a first look at ANSP 2023 cost effectiveness data has been produced by the EUROCONTROL Performance Review Unit. This data has not yet been validated and thus may differ from that in the High-level Summary Report planned for December 2024 and the final ACE report in May 2025.
What You Need to Know About the European Data Link Mandate- This article provides important information on the recent European Data Link Mandate that aircraft operators should be aware of before flying to Europe. It highlights the key requirements and implications for operators in order to ensure compliance with the mandate.
The Role of Airport Master Planning in Long-Term Operational Success- This article explores the significance of airport master planning in ensuring efficient long-term operations. It discusses how meticulous planning and foresight play a pivotal role in aviation infrastructure development and modernization.
Singapore’s Changi Airport to expand with new mega terminal to stay ahead of regional rivals- Singapore will start construction of a new mega terminal at Changi Airport in the first half of next year, aiming to lift the aviation hub’s annual passenger handling capacity by more than half. The new Terminal 5 would add capacity for another 50 million passengers a year when operational in the mid-2030s, up from 90 million, and would allow the aviation hub serve more than 200 destinations, from almost 150 now.

Reports and data

Fraport Traffic Figures – August 2024: Passenger Numbers and Cargo Volumes Continue to Grow- The number of aircraft movements edged up by 1.1 percent to 40,359 takeoffs and landings, while maximum takeoff weights (or MTOWs) climbed by 2.6 percent year-on-year to approximately 2.5 million metric tons.
Summer 2024 – Overview of Network performance - EUROCONTROL- In the 3 months of summer 2024 (June, July and August), traffic in the European aviation network was 4.8% up compared to the same three months of 2023, with an average of 34,042 flights per day.
ANS of Czech Republic published traffic development numbers for August 2024- Traffic development in the airspace of the Czech Republic (FIR Prague): Number of movements 2024: 73 636; Number of movements 2023: 68 691; Traffic comparison 2024/2023: +7,2 % Traffic development at Prague Airport: Number of movements 2024: 13 306; Number of movements 2023: 12 066; Traffic comparison 2024/2023: +10,3 %

UAV and UTM

Researchers develop sUAS landing system for deliveries in difficult terrain - Unmanned airspace- Researchers at the Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University, Chennai, have developed an intelligent autonomous landing system for small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) that could enable expansion of operations across areas with difficult terrain.

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