Kieran Daly/LONDON
A SPLIT IS EMERGING inside the International Air Transport Association (IATA) over the development of air-traffic management (ATM) in the CIS.
Russian ATM authority Aeronavigatsia is considering whether to accept an offer of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development funding, supported by the USA, to finance the large-scale modernisation of the nation's air-traffic control (ATC) system.
IATA, opposed by some of its member airlines, has previously supported an ARINC initiative to undertake the first phase of a piecemeal ATM modernisation.
IATA regional director for the East, Horst Herlemann, now says, however, that "...it is unfortunate that IATA got involved". He told the Air Traffic Action Group Single ATM System for Europe conference held in London from 27-29 November, that "...the main problem [with ATM modernisation in the CIS] lies exactly with the suppliers which...try to tell the CIS what they 'really' need in order to master the future".
Herlemann says that he does not blame the suppliers for pursuing their commercial interests, but he declares: "So far, the process of modernisation in the CIS is indeed supplier-driven, whereas it should be driven by demand from the users."
He picks out the example of Uzbekistan where, he says, the Government agreed to buy French ATC equipment following a visit from the President of France. Herlemann says that the purchase decision was based on a European Union study which contained "hidden" recommendations introduced on the advice of the very suppliers chasing the business.
Kieran Daly is the editor of Flight International's Air Navigation newsletter.
Source: Flight International
