Weekly Review #273: End of year wishes and a special thank you...

Written by Vincent Lambercy | December 18 2024

There was a glitch in the production of our weekly review, leading to links being sent week after week. I'm sorry for this. I know that it is not what you expect and I would like to assure you that the issue has been taken care of.

The end of the year is coming. It is not time for sales activities anymore, so no analysis or sales tips in this weekly review. Instead, a reminder that all businesses are 'people' businesses first. Relationships are the most important aspect of business. So, it's time to think back and appreciate the people around you. Your team, your partners, and your customers. Why not send some kind words? No hidden agenda. Just a nice token of appreciation.

This is the last weekly review of 2024 and before we switch off the lights at FoxATM for the holidays, I also want to thank you, personally. I'm really proud to have readers all across the industry getting our newsletter and reading our blog posts, week after week.

And with the holiday season coming, I also want to extend my thanks to those of you who won't have a peaceful and quiet time, and instead will work to keep everything running. To the ATCOs, ATSEPs and other colleagues that will work shifts over Christmas and New Year's Eve, who will not spend time at home but at work, keeping passengers and crews in the air as safe as usual: thank you.

We'll be back on Wednesday 8 January 2025. It's going to be a special year for us, with a new project coming up. We look forward to sharing more with you very soon.

Happy Holidays!

Vincent

ANSP news

FABEC States and ANSPs invite Airspace User Associations for workshop on Performance Indicators- Performance indicators are good for assessing performance and progress towards specific objectives only if they reflect the actual performance. For several years, the FABEC members have been making great efforts to ensure that they reflect reality as closely as possible. At the request of the Airspace Users Associations FABEC States and ANSPs organised a joint workshop in Paris to identify leverages for improving performance and to try to define new pragmatic monitoring PIs through a mutual understanding of respective priorities and constraints in order to identify potential quick wins.
HungaroControl upgrades its Air Traffic Control System- Thales and HungaroControl signed a contract for the upgraded version of Thales’ TopSky. This cutting-edge system is designed to ensure safe and seamless air traffic operations, optimized to meet the growing demands of increasing air traffic flows. Through this collaboration, HungaroControl joins Alliance One, a dynamic and innovative initiative that connects users of the upgraded TopSky-ATC system.
ENAIRE launches the third edition of the Business Ideas Competition in Air Traffic Management, aimed at students, university graduates and entrepreneurs- ENAIRE is launching the third edition of the Business Ideas Competition in Air Traffic Management through CRIDA, its subsidiary specialising in Research, Development, and Innovation. This contest seeks to promote creativity, talent and entrepreneurship in the key sector of air traffic management, providing a platform to turn initial ideas into real projects that contribute to the advancement of the industry.
BULATSA validates successfully a new SESAR technology- BULATSA together with its partners ROMATSA, Leonardo and EUROCONTROL Network Manager successfully completed the first validation within the NETWORK TBO project of the European Union SESAR 3 research and innovation program in the field of air traffic management. Co-funded by Horizon Europe and managed by the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking, the validation exercise is a key step towards the final validation planned for 2025.

Market news

Malaysia goes digital with Rohde & Schwarz state-of-the-art ATC solutions for KL International Airport- Kuala Lumpur International Airport, one of the largest aviation hubs in South East Asia, transitions to IP with the modern R&S Series5200 radios and the R&S RCMS II remote monitoring and management system, enhancing the airport's ATC operations.

Context information

EGNOS reaches milestone of 1,000 approach procedures: A testimony to your commitment to safety and efficiency - EGNOS has reached an impressive milestone with 1,000 approach procedures now utilising its Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS). This achievement highlights EGNOS's vital role in transforming aviation safety, accessibility, and sustainability across Europe.
Europe unveils new plan to modernise critical infrastructure for aviation- A new roadmap, endorsed by the EU and industry, lays the groundwork to transform air traffic management and deliver more efficient, resilient and sustainable air transport. Air traffic management is at a crossroads. As a shared and interconnected infrastructure, ATM is under pressure to adapt better to fluctuating traffic, staff shortages and a rapidly evolving security context. At the same time, climate change is adding to the urgency for ATM to accelerate its transition to cleaner, more sustainable operations. Against this pressing backdrop, the SESAR Joint Undertaking has today released the European ATM Master Plan 2025, the roadmap for modernising air traffic management and making Europe the most efficient and environmentally friendly sky to fly in the world by 2045.

Research and innovation

EUROCONTROL deploys the first Air Traffic Management Digital Platform on public cloud and the world's largest aeronautical database, developed by Indra - EUROCONTROL has successfully implemented the first air traffic management digital platform in a public cloud with the cooperation of ATOS and Microsoft, using the Digital Platform developed by Indra. This breakthrough, part of the integrated Network Management (iNM) program, drives the digitalization of the systems that manage the European aviation network.
Sustainable flights start with efficient ground movements - SESAR Joint Undertaking- Discover how the ASTAIR project is using AI and machine-human collaboration to automate some routine ground movements, giving human operators more time to focus on complex, safety-critical manoeuvres.
Aireon Achieves Major Milestone to Bring Space-Based VHF to Aviation Marketplace- Aireon has reached a significant milestone in introducing space-based VHF technology to the aviation market. This advancement is set to revolutionize communication and tracking capabilities within the industry, enhancing overall safety and efficiency. By utilizing innovative satellite-based solutions, Aireon is paving the way for a new era of air transportation that prioritizes seamless connectivity and real-time data sharing.

Reports and data

Traffic development: November 2024 - ANS Czech Republic- Traffic development in the airspace of the Czech Republic (FIR Prague): Number of movements 2024: 49 638; Number of movements 2023: 45 403; Traffic comparison 2024/2023: +9,3 % Traffic development at Prague Airport: Number of movements 2024:9 891; Number of movements 2023: 8 842; Traffic comparison 2024/2023: +11,9 %
EUROCONTROL Data Snapshot #48 on the longest flights from Europe- In this Data Snapshot, we examine the air traffic dynamics within the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) area, focusing on the longest flights by country and their implications for connectivity.

UAV and UTM

Bordeaux Airport conducts BVLOS drone operations - Unmanned airspace- Bordeaux Airport conducted a real-world experiment, unprecedented in France, of automated beyond visual line of sight drone flights over the airport area. The objective was to integrate routine flight operations of automated drones into the airport’s daily operations. In partnership with Azur Drones, and benefiting from a Specific category operating authorisation issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Directorate, the initiative is part of the airport’s innovation strategy aimed at creating a permanent test zone in a complex urban setting.
Improving risk assessment processes via new SESAR-JU project - Unmanned airspace- The newly launched U-space Air and Ground Risk Models Enhancement (U-AGREE) project is aiming to improve drone operations’ risk assessment processes and adapt them to modern operational scenarios. The project is part of the SESAR Joint Undertaking programme and is coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de València.
SkyGrid publishes CONOPS blueprint for AAM airspace integration - Unmanned airspace- SkyGrid, an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Third-Party Service Provider, has released an operational blueprint for TSPs in its Concept of Operations for Third-Party Services Supporting the Airspace Integration of Advanced Air Mobility. The ConOps focuses on how SkyGrid’s ground-based system will deliver high-assurance third-party services to help the safe and efficient airspace integration of AAM under current Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules. The company is the first commercial TSP to release a ConOps focused on how approved services will support AAM.

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