Press Release
01 February 2008
Record Number of Nominations for ATC Global Awards 2008
London , 30 January 2008 – A record twenty-one nominations have been put forward for the ATC Global Awards 2008, Jane’s Airport Review revealed today. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday, 11 March 2008 at the Holland Restaurant within the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
This year’s nominations from the air traffic control industry span three continents and include small and multinational organisations. There are six awards categories, designed to reward new developments as well as collaborative ventures. The winners are selected by a panel of senior representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, Eurocontrol, the International Air Transport Association ( IATA), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation ( CANSO) and Jane’s Information Group.
The Award Categories are:
- Enabling Technology Award – for contribution to enhanced capacity and safety
- Industry Award – reflects a significant contribution by equipment suppliers
- Development Award – for small enterprises which have raised air traffic management (ATM) performance
- Service Provision Award – for contribution to safe and efficient airspace management
- Future Systems Award – for the development of future solutions
- Contribution to European ATM Award
Brought to you by Jane's Airport Review , the ATC Awards recognise endeavour and achievement in air traffic management and highlight contributions made toward safer skies, capacity enhancements and increased efficiency within the airspace management industry.
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Editor’s Notes
For more information, please contact Andrea Krug, Public Relations Manager, on +44 (0)208 700 3703 or send an email to andrea.krug@janes.com.
About the ATC Global Awards
The ATC Global Awards form part of the ATC Global 2008 Exhibition & Conference, founded 18 years ago under the name of ATC Maastricht, where it was held until February 2007. The exhibition has consistently grown to become the world’s largest event for the air traffic control and management industry. It brings together the suppliers and key buyers and specifiers of air traffic control and management products and services from all over the world and every area of the industry. With live product demonstrations, free seminars, leading conference and industry awards gala, ATC Global is the meeting place for the global ATC/ATM industry and key event for all ATC professionals. The next exhibition will be held from 11-13 March 2008 at the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre in The Netherlands.
Full Nominee Listing
Jane’s has received 21 nominations from all parts of the world, ranging from major international consortiums to small local enterprises. The nominees are:
Adacel Inc – Aurora Software
Adacel’s Aurora System is an advanced CNS/ATM system that improves airspace efficiency and provides higher levels of customer service in oceanic airspaces, providing user preferred routes, dynamic airborne rerouting and reductions in separation. Aurora functionality enables important initiatives in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Atlantic and Pacific regions. The system is operational in oceanic ATC centres in New Zealand, Portugal, Iceland and the United States. Airways New Zealand estimates the emissions savings made possible by its oceanic systems at c.25 million tonnes per year.
Airtel ATN ( Ireland) - Aeronautical data communications software
Airtel-ATN developedaeronautical data communications software to support Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) standards. Applications include the first a ir/ground and ground/ground router commercially deployed in 2000, and the first airborne ATN router for the Rockwell-Collins communications management unit installed on American Airlines aircraft flight decks to match VDL-2 requirements. The core software technology for the ProATN Router is now in use worldwide. Today this software is in constant use throughout the world both on the ground and in the air, nowhere more so than in supporting EUROCONTROL’s air traffic management operations.
ANS ( Czech Republic) - Integrated Air Traffic Control Centre (IATCC) in Prague
In February 2007 ANS completed the Integrated Air Traffic Control Centre (IATCC) in Prague, the largest investment and development project in the entire history of Czech civil aviation. The IATCC ensures a maximum level of safety in the Czech airspace; fulfils air carriers’ requirements to increase capacity of air navigation services systems; and aids centralisation of NAS CR operation. The CZK3,500 million project will meet airspace capacity requirements beyond the 2015 horizon within the Single European Sky project.
Comsoft GMbH ( Germany) - AMHS universal communications gateway
Comsoft’s AIDA-NG/ECG is a universal communications gateway for aeronautical messaging, to meet the new ICAO standard aeronautical message handling system (AMHS). First launched in 2002 AIDA-NG/ECG has been rolled out worldwide since 2006 and has a market share of about 80 per cent of new AMHS systems sold worldwide. Numerous customers have provided extremely positive feedback.
Eurocontrol ( Belgium) - The Airport Operations Programme
Eurocontrol’s Airport Operations Programme includes five areas - Airport Collaborative Decision Making, Airside Capacity Enhancement; the Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System; Runway Safety; and Wake Vortex. The programme is supported by videos, documentation, implementation manuals, cost-benefit analysis and safety cases. Many airports report benefits, such as Munich’s adoption of collaborative decision making in June 2007; runway guidance measures at London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Frankfurt, Vienna and Zurich airports; and capacity methodology at Prague, Lisbon and Brussels.
HITT Traffic (The Netherlands) - Airport Insight
HITT Traffic’s Airport Insight is a web-based product enabling collaboration and process optimisation resulting in lower operational costs, reduced environmental impact and improved services. Airport Insight enables airlines to follow, analyse and optimise ground operations at their main base and helps airports to reduce infrastructure maintenance costs and increase runway capacity. It has been operated by KLM Airlines since April 2007 (where it earned back the cost of the system in one Dutch winter), and at Copenhagen Airport since December 2007.
ICC ( Czech Republic) - Integration of the new Prague centre
Czech software house ICC played a significant role in the successful opening of the Czech Air Navigation Services’ (ANS) new integrated air traffic control centre (IATCC) in Prague in February 2007. The company installed 120 ATC workstations, eight critical servers and systems, and covered planning, information management, and radar fallback, leading to the successful completion of the new facility.
Micro Nav Ltd ( U.K.) - Fast Airport Builder
Simulation specialist Micro Nav developed Fast Airport Builder (FAB) allows users to create and update 3D airport models without the need for modelling specialists or third party tools.
Launched in 2007, FAB has been actively used by a Greek Airport Consultancy company and has recently been selected by Anadolu University, Turkey, as part of their Tower and Radar simulator programme. Micro Nav expects FAB to revolutionise the cost of creating 3D visual models for airport planning, simulation and training.
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) UK
1. Heathrow new control tower project
In 2007 Heathrow underwent its biggest operational change in over 50 years when NATS controllers and support staff moved to a new, GBP60 million, control tower. The move required all operational staff to be trained on the new operating system, as well as the introduction of electronic flight progress strips and a custom-built 360-degree simulator. NATS completed the project on time, on budget and with virtually no interruption to the airport’s operations, and in less than a week after the move declared “business as usual” at the new tower.
2. London Lower Airspace Radar Service
Infringement of controlled airspace by light aircraft threatens the safety of commercial flight operations in the London region and can cause significant disruption to airports. So in September 2007, NATS UK introducedthe London Lower Airspace Radar Service (LARS), providing a free-of-charge advisory service to light aircraft transiting London’s airspace below 10,000 feet. In its first three months of operation, LARS prevented 38 airspace infringements and handled numerous light aircraft emergencies. The second phase of the operation covers the airspace north of London, including Luton and Stansted, and is scheduled to go live in March 2008.
3. London Terminal Control Function moves to the Swanwick Centre
The London Terminal Control function handles all flights to and from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, London City and the three business airfields of Farnborough, Biggin Hill and Northolt. The four-year £90 million project involved building a new Operations Room and relocating more than 500 staff. In November 2007, NATS transferred the entire Terminal Control operation from West Drayton to Swanwick, overnight and without any service interruption, on time and on budget. The move is the first part of NATS two-centre business strategy, which will create additional ATC capacity in UK airspace and see operations consolidated at two centres: Swanwick and Prestwick.
Park Air Systems ( Norway) -The SCAT-1 Project
In October 2007 Park Air Systems completed the world’s very first GPS ground based augmentation landing system for commercial operations at Brønnøysund Airport, Norway. The Norwegian SCAT-1 project is replacing step-down demanding approaches by safer instrumented precision approaches on regional airports in Norway, where conventional landing systems are not feasible.
Principle Group ( U.K.) - Fosair modular ATC/M desk
Principle Group’s new Fosair Modular ATC workstation is designed to replace the traditional fixed console desk for air traffic controllers. Fosair workstation features include efficient cable management; optimum viewing by operator; air-flow management; individual height adjustment and desktop positioning; and easy reconfiguration. A total of 220 consoles will be installed at the new NATS centre in Prestwick by May 2008.
Sensis Corporation ( USA) - Cockpit Alerting Technology
Sensis Corporation and Honeywell’s Cockpit Alerting Technology detects and communicates potential runway incursions directly to an aircraft cockpit, synchronized with air traffic control tower alerts. The project was launched with the objective of defining an open standard which could be adopted by all airport surface management systems worldwide. The technology was demonstrated to US FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials in August 2007.
SESAR Consortium ( France) - SESAR Definition Phase
The SESAR Consortium is an air transport group representing all stakeholder categories and co-funded by the EC and Eurocontrol. The Definition Phase, started in March 2007, is the first step in the SESAR programme and defines plans of renovating European air traffic management to address performance objectives for 2020 and beyond. After endorsement by the Council of Ministers in June 2008, the main output, the “ATM Masterplan” (D5), will be handed over to the SESAR Joint Undertaking for the development activities. The Definition Phase has led to an unprecedented mobilisation of the aeronautical industry not only in Europe but also in other regions of the world.
SITA and DGCA ( Indonesia) - Indonesian Regional Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Operational Trial
SITA and DGCA Indonesia nominated the ADS-B trial in Indonesia which enabled real-time surveillance data sharing between regional navigation service providers in 2007. ICAO has since formed a sub-regional task force to accelerate the implementation of ADS-B in the region, and Indonesia’s DGCA is using the trial’s recommendations to provide policy guidance to begin implementing ADS-B operationally in Indonesia starting in 2008.
Stratech Systems ( Singapore) - iFerret runway surveillance and FOD system
Stratech’s iFerret Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection system was developed to improve runway safety. It is a passive system that can detect an object the size of a golf ball at 250 m, continuously monitors the runway and offers a full visual assessment and verification of the FOD. It can adapt to environmental changes such as lighting conditions, shadows and weather. Stratech demonstrated iFerret airfield/runway surveillance and foreign object and debris (FOD) detection system at Singapore Changi and the FAA Center of Excellence in Airport Technology in 2007.
Thales ( France) - ADS-B trial
Thales is the key supplier for the two largest ADS-B operational deployments: the FAA surveillance broadcast services project; and the Australian upper airspace programme. In addition, the joint venture between L-3 Communications and Thales, ACSS, has delivered over 9,000 TCAS avionics packages to aircraft operators, establishing a large base of ADS-B capable aircraft.
Transtech Airport Solutions ( Israel) - CAMS Non-Cooperative A-SMGCS
Transtech’s innovative ground surveillance technology addresses the industry’s urgent need for runway safety improvement while increasing airport capacity. The CAMS is a runway safety net based on distributed millimeter wave radar for detection, and non-cooperative optical sensors for flight identification. The system’s 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional displays provide consolidated airfield traffic maps. London Luton began operating CAMS in October 2007, and the system being tested at Frankfurt Hahn, Madrid Barajas, and U.S.
Wacom Europe ( Germany) - CINTIQ 21 UX interactive pen display
Wacom Europe’s CINTIQ 21 UX interactive pen display allows complete replacement of the analogue flight strip with a digital system. The display works directly on the electronic flight strips, which can be edited and managed using the pen as if on paper. This requires no additional training and saves time. Since launch in 2005, between 2,000 and 3,000 displays have been installed at ATCs and Airports in over 15 countries.
John Crichton, President and CEO, Nav Canada
John Crichton has led Nav Canada’s transformation form a government owned and operated CAA into an efficient, agile and responsive private sector corporation. Under John Crichton’s leadership, Canada’s air navigation system has experienced a reduction in system delays, annual operating expenses and improved safety. It has launched an ADS-B programme, developed the EXCDS paperless flight data processing and display system, and implemented the Canadian Automated Air Traffic System (CAATS).
About Jane’s Information Group (www.janes.com)
Jane’s, an IHS company (NYSE: IHS), is the leading open source information provider and conference organiser on defence, international risk and national security to governments, militaries, industries and academia around the globe. Jane’s is headquartered in London and also has offices in Alexandria, Virginia; Singapore; Tokyo; Dubai; and Sydney, Australia. For more information, please visit our award-winning website, www.janes.com.
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