With more than 21 years in civil aviation and experience at the French Civil Aviation Authority and the European Commission, Ky currently leads the SESAR Joint Undertaking – Europe’s air traffic management modernization programme.

Ky will be honoured at the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award Banquet the evening of October 23.

“I’ve watched Patrick over the last 20 years develop and become the advocate of innovation and change in air traffic control, taking the difficult stages of SESAR and executing them well and under very challenging circumstances. ATCA has chosen the perfect candidate for this award,” said Neil Planzer, ATCA chairman-elect and former Glen A. Gilbert winner

“I am extremely honored to have received this prestigious award. Even more so given that I am awarded for something that I remain so committed to – you cannot lead where you do not go. The transformation to SESAR is a milestone in aviation history and I have immense pride that I have been able to be part of that journey,” said Patrick Ky.

According to the release today of the agency’s latest NextGen Implementation Plan, these delay estimates are in addition to the benefits it expects from new and expanded runways.

“We also estimate 16 million metric tons in cumulative reductions of carbon dioxide emissions through 2020. For the same period, we estimate 1.6 billion gallons in cumulative reductions of fuel use,” states the FAA report.

“Delay reduction, fuel savings and other efficiency improvements will provide an estimated $38 billion in cumulative benefits to aircraft operators, the travelling public and the FAA.”

The agency notes however that this marked increase from last year’s estimated $24 billion in cumulative benefits is mainly due to the US Department of Transportation’s decision to increase the dollar value of passenger time savings — the first time it has done so in a decade.

The Plan which serves as a roadmap of the FAA’s ongoing transition to NextGen and which provides an overview of the benefits aircraft operators and passengers are receiving from recent NextGen improvements, concludes that NextGen is demonstrating ‘continuing momentum’ in 2013

“Metroplex, for example, is our fast-track effort to implement satellite-based procedures and airspace improvements to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in the airspace around metropolitan areas with several airports,” said the FAA. “As of January, we had eight active metroplex areas in various phases of development. By this summer, we anticipate that north Texas and Houston will enter the implementation phase, joining Washington, D.C., where new procedures are already in place.”

The FAA said it was also advancing Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B), the NextGen successor to radar for tracking aircraft and that by February it had deployed more than 500 of about 700 ADS-B ground stations.

It added that the agency was actively engaging with industry to assess options that could attract additional investment in NextGen technologies and training since the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 authorizes the FAA to establish an avionics equipage financial incentives programme.

The business said that this represented a crucial strategic acquisition for Thales, giving the world ATM leader the broadest possible product portfolio in the ATM market.

Thales will manage all EgisAvia’s ITS products including the MAESTRO arrival / departure flight sequencing systems (AMAN / DMAN,), ATALIS aeronautical information systems (AIM), DL-FEP Front End Processor and ProATN router (datalink servers) and SCANSIM simulators (air traffic control and control tower simulation).

In addition, the integration of Egis Avia’s ITS activities strengthens the group’s base of expertise across several key areas, most notably the synchronisation and optimisation of traffic during the approach, arrival and departure phases.

Thales said it is committed to support all EGIS Avia’s ITS customers and partners worldwide, while pursuing strong technical and commercial relationships that Egis Avia have previously established. Such business continuity will be facilitated by the fact all Egis Avia’ ITS staff members in Toulouse and Issy-Les-Moulineaux have been relocated to Thales facilities in Toulouse and in Rungis, and now work seamlessly with Thales ATM personnel.

Commenting on this crucial strategic acquisition, Jean Marc Alias, Thales Vice President and Head of Air Traffic Management, said: “Today’s transfer is a very important step for Thales ATM’s global activity and customer base. In particular, Thales continually strives to provide the broadest and most innovative ATM solutions to our Customers, and this acquisition gives our customers a wider choice of critical ATM products to better meet their safety and efficiency challenges. With this expansion to the breadth and scope of our capabilities and ability to service all segments of the ATM market, we can now safely say to our Customers that no area of ATM is beyond our horizon.”

Iain Harris, Engineering Director at NATS, said: “We are very pleased to continue our long standing relationship with TAG Farnborough Airport, with this contract closely following the upgrade to the Emergency Voice Communications System, which NATS was involved in just last year.”

Roger Walker, Director Airport Operations, TAG Farnborough Airport, said: “We are committed to utilising the best available technology and working with partners such as NATS to ensure that we operate the airport efficiently and to the highest standards.  This new system will be fully operational by summer 2014, in time for the Farnborough International Airshow, when we will have the privilege of showcasing the airport to a worldwide audience.”

Under this contract, NATS will provide programme and engineering management, system configuration and safety case capabilities, ensuring that the system is active in early 2014 in order to meet all operational requirements.

NATS has contracted technology company, Indra Navia, for the supply of the system following recent successful contracts at Humberside, Birmingham and Manchester airports.

Dallas Fort Worth is the first of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) high volume hubs to transition to Raytheon’s Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) automation platform as the FAA modernizes the terminal approach control facilities (TRACONs) in the National Airspace System and installs a common terminal automation system across the FAA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Raytheon’s AutoTrac III automation system has also successfully transitioned to continuous operation in Dubai, providing approach and departure services for Dubai International, Dubai World Central, Al Maktoum International, Sharjah International, and Minhad Air Force Base, as well as air traffic control service to Ras Al Khaimah International. The system is also installed at the Dubai International and Al Maktoum International Control Towers.

“These significant milestones have been achieved through Raytheon’s close cooperation and partnership with the FAA and with the Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS) managed by Serco,” said Joseph Paone, director of Raytheon’s Air Traffic Systems. “This modernization ensures that the complex airspace in Dallas Fort Worth and Dubai is ready for the improved safety, capacity, efficiency and environmental benefits required to accommodate the forecast increase in global air traffic.”

STARS is the foundational platform for the FAA’s transformational Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative to create capacity, increase efficiency, reduce congestion and minimize fuel burn and pollutant emissions in the National Airspace. Under the FAA’s Terminal Automation Modernization/Replacement (TAMR) program, Raytheon is modernizing FAA and U.S. Department of Defense air traffic control facilities, including the largest. More than 150 STARS systems are already in operation.

Raytheon’s AutoTrac III features a new generation of flight and surveillance data processing systems and it provides the software and hardware to ensure the safety of air traffic for Dubai Approach Control. It can be easily expanded to accommodate anticipated air traffic growth in the region.

AutoTrac III has been in continuous operation for two years at India’s three busiest airports: New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. The system has also been selected by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department.

The handing over of LORADS III from Thales to CAAS marks a significant milestone in the development of the system, and a generational shift in ATM technology.

LORADS III, with the substantive number of air traffic controller positions and workstations, will help the Singapore Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) manage substantial growing air traffic over the coming years and make air transport safer, more efficient and greener.

LORADS III is a system based on the Thales TopSky-ATC, the most advanced air traffic management system in the world equipped in over 130 air traffic control centres around the world.

The system’s high level of automation and innovative software will enable more effective use of busy airspace, optimised air traffic trajectories minimising aircraft fuel consumption, and seamless integration between area, approach and tower.

Flights will be managed using a Human Machine Interface designed by Thales designed in close collaboration with air traffic controllers specifically for their needs and fully customised to fit their requirements.

The result is a highly intuitive package that reduces the informational burden on controllers by giving them the information they need exactly when they need it.

The LORADS III system comprises an integrated air traffic control system; a comprehensive simulator, which replicates the full system for training purposes; a data warehouse; and a full system development and test environment for autonomous system maintenance by the customer. Furthermore, it has been developed to stringent safety specifications, and includes unprecedented levels of system redundancy.

Chris Jenkins, Thales Australia CEO, said: “The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has a well-earned and longstanding reputation for its leadership in ATM technology. This leadership will be enhanced through the deployment of the advanced LORADS III ATM system, which will enable the Singapore ANSP to safely and efficiently manage growing air traffic in what is already one of the busiest airports and Flight Information Regions in the world”.

“Our engineers and technicians have worked with the customer in Singapore to achieve their ATM needs now and into the future, demonstrating the value of the skilled hi-tech jobs in Australia and across the world. From Melbourne to Paris, we are committed in investing in innovation, and developing the ATM systems that will be used around the world for many years to come.”

At a Public Hearing held on 18 June, pilots, cabin crew representatives and scientists addressed the members of the EP Transport Committee and reiterated the need for solid, scientifically validated Flight Time Limitations (FTL) rules for pilots and cabin crew.

The new Flight Time Limitations rules proposed by EASA have repeatedly been criticized for not complying with scientific recommendations on a number of issues, such as excessively long night flights and potentially dangerous standby provisions. At the Hearing, air crew have publicly warned about the dangers of this legislative proposal and called on MEPs to ask the EU Commission to put safety before the airlines’ commercial interests.

“We have clearly heard the voice of scientists and their unanimous recommendations to change the proposal. From now on, nobody can claim ‘We did not know’,” said Nico Voorbach, ECA President. “It’s time for EU decision-makers to play with open cards: either they follow the advice of independent scientists and propose safe rules; or they reject their recommendations and push a text with serious safety loopholes. But then they must take full responsibility and face liability claims if an accident happens”.

“We would like to thank the Transport Committee for its deep interest in this legislative proposal and for listening to all stakeholders”, says Philip von Schöppenthau, ECA Secretary General. “This is what EASA has largely failed to do. Air crew and passengers are now counting on the EP to defend their fundamental right to travel safely.”

“Both EASA and the Commission have shown an extraordinary resistance to independent external scientific advice”, says Jon Horne, ECA Professional Affairs Director, who represented European pilots at the Hearing. “Our duty as pilots is to bring passengers safely to their destination. It is time for the European Parliament to show its political leadership and ensure we can fulfil that duty”.

The purpose of this Hearing was to learn about the safety gaps in the EASA proposal and to provide an opportunity for MEPs to take an informed decision before accepting or rejecting the rules in the autumn.

The office is located in Silicon Oasis and is part of Egis Group facilities. Located 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport and the Business District, the office is ideally located for servicing Helios’ growing business in the Middle East and India.

Heading the Dubai office is Alan Corner, Director Middle East and Asia. Alan has been a regular visitor to the region as part of Helios work for governments, aviation regulators and air transport service providers there.

“The Middle East is, and will continue to be of strategic importance to the global economy,” says Helios Executive Chairman, Dr Mike Shorthose. “We are delighted to launch our presence in the region to serve our distinguished clients there. This provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of this complex market and its needs. By having a permanent presence we hope to serve existing clients better, and develop new customer relationships.”

Commenting on his move from the UK to Dubai, Alan Corner adds: “This is the logical step for us. Dubai is perfectly situated to support our growing number of Middle East contracts and, of course, will provide much easier access to our Indian customers. We are most grateful to our colleagues in Egis Group for their help in facilitating this move and we shall enjoy being co-located with them.”

As the second FRA milestone, available from AIRAC 02 May 2013 and in cooperation with the Belgrade ACC, the Zagreb ACC has introduced night time cross-border DCTs routes connecting most feasible cross-border entry to exit points regardless of the existing TCPs between the AoRs of Belgrade and Zagreb ACCs.

Data exchange for cross-border DCTs is processed via OLDI using dummy points at the common boundary in both ATM system datasets, allowing for flight planning independent of fixed published entry/exit points.

The FRA Zagreb has now expanded to a total of 19 cross-border DCTs (eastbound and westbound) and 24 DCT routes within the Zagreb AoR, one of the latter being available H24 (PEROT – VANAX).
These cross-border DCTs can, in a single night, enable potential savings of:

• 916 NM reduction in planned route distance,
• 5,3 Tonnes of fuel,
• 16,2 Tonnes of CO2 emissions,
• 65,7 kg less NOx.

DCT routes are published in the NM RAD document, Appendix 4 (En-route DCT limits) available on the Eurocontrol NOP portal.

The next FRA Zagreb step will be the extension of the validity period of DCT routes to H24 (available day and night).

Within the scope of FAB CE APDG planning, there are also plans to connect the existing cross-border DCTs with FAB CE partners and to connect them with the flows coming from outside the FAB area. Further development in this area is planned for spring 2014.

The data link waveform tests, performed as part of the first of three research phases on the programme, simulated communication between one aircraft and one ground-based pilot station. The objective of the test was to verify the waveform’s efficient and cooperative utilsization of the radio spectrum on which it operates.

“There are a number of areas where the ability to safely operate unmanned systems in U.S. airspace will provide significant benefits, including public safety enhancements, agricultural solutions, and other applications that are unforeseen today,” said Dave Schreck, director of UAS and Control Technologies for Rockwell Collins.

“However, we all agree that there are many considerations that must be thoroughly researched to allow the safe, efficient and routine operation of unmanned systems in the national airspace. Our collaborative effort with NASA to examine the communication implications is an excellent example of the extensive research that is underway.”

Further testing on this system will occur on a NASA-owned Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft at the Eastern Iowa Airport throughout the week. The news media is invited to the Rockwell Collins hangar at noon on June 18, where Rockwell Collins and NASA representatives will be available for interviews.

This project, co-funded by Rockwell Collins, develops an open, non-proprietary data link waveform that eventually will be released as a public resource. It will help both the industry and the Federal Aviation Administration develop an appropriate set of rules and requirements for reliable unmanned flight operations in the national airspace system.