EMMA KELLY / LONDON
US study complete, manufacturer aims for global solution, with Asia next on its list
Boeing's Air Traffic Management (ATM) division has started working with industry to determine Europe's future ATM requirements following completion earlier this year of a similar study for the USA.
The US requirements document, published in February, followed consultation with 39 stakeholders, including US airlines, passenger and cargo carrier associations, NASA, the US Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic control equipment providers and bodies representing business and general aviation operators and air traffic controllers.
John Hayhurst, president of Boeing ATM, says a similar group has been established to assess European ATM requirements, comprising national air traffic control organisations in 10 countries, Eurocontrol, major airline groups, trade associations, and Airbus and Thales - the latter two have formed their own ATM alliance with EADS (Flight International, 30 July-5 August). "We are trying to understand how the European requirements are different to the USA's," he says. Boeing hopes to complete the European study this year, after which requirements in Asia will be defined. "Our aim is to work towards a global solution," he says.
Boeing ATM has held talks with Eurocontrol to assess the situation and has been involved in the European air navigation organisation's ATM-2000+ Strategy work, which aims to deliver a gate-to-gate approach covering all phases of flight to allow the European air traffic system to cope with rising traffic levels.
Boeing believes fundamental change is required in global ATM to support growing traffic. This includes airspace redesign; trajectory-based aircraft separation with information shared with controllers on the ground; integrated communications, navigation and surveillance services; and improved information management.
The US company is continuing to study the optimum satellite architecture for its satellite-based ATM system and has started developing a US national traffic flow model.
Source: Flight International
