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Air Traffic Control Network Blog. Updates from the Editor and team on developments within the network. ATC Events and happenings which don't feature in the news section.
Blogs
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Vertiports – Initial thoughts on their design
There has been much published regarding the development of urban air mobility (UAM). The term refers to vehicles, often uncrewed, that may be described as flying taxis. Without a vested interest in any party, Lilium and Volocopter are two examples of UAM manufacturers. Whilst there have been announcements heralding the age of city-centre to city-centre transfers, there has been less attention given to exactly where such flights will start and end. There has been even less attention to the shape of the protected airspace that will be needed.
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AAIB report on B737 incident 11 Sept 2021 Aberdeen Airport
At 1341 hrs on 13 September 2021, the AAIB was informed that a serious incident had occurred to Boeing 737-800, registration G-FDZF, during a go-around at Aberdeen Airport on 11 September 2021. The AAIB began an investigation assisted by the operator, the National Transportation Safety Board in the USA, and the aircraft manufacturer. The aircraft deviated significantly from the expected flight path, initially climbing, but just before it reached the cleared altitude began to descend.
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C.B 'Sully' Sullenberger confirmed as ICAO Ambassador
C.B. 'Sully' Sullenberger was appointed as the US ambassador to ICAO on December 2nd. It is coming up to 13 years ago that Sullenberger rose to fame when he successfully ditched Airways flight 1549 (A320) on to the Hudson river. All 155 passengers survived the water landing and were rescued by nearby boats.Sullenberger has stated that aircraft emissions are top of his agenda as the new ambassador to ICAO.He stated he would "underscore the administration’s commitment to meaningful action on carbon offsets, sustainable aviation fuels, and gradual direct emissions reductions."
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64th Gordon Bennett Cup - FAI World Long Distance Gas Balloon Championship
After a year away due to the pandemic the Godron Bennet Cup returns to the skies this year from Toruń in Poland. 15 teams will be competing in this years event: AUT 1/2, FRA 1/2/3, GER 1/2/3, POL 1/2/3, SUI 1/2/3 & USA 1 The rules are unchanged from the inaugural event in 1906. The goal is to fly the furthest non-stop distance measured in straight line from the launch site.ATC and MET coordination is paramount with this competition and PANSA will be the ANSP responsible for the initial safe passage of the balloons after their launch which is scheduled for 19:00 local time on …
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Tower Built for the Future
Air traffic controllers recently moved into a new air traffic control tower at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. Work first began in June 2015 on a replacement for the existing tower that was built over 45 years ago. At 19.4 metres high (63 ft.), the new tower is almost five metres (16 ft.) higher than the previous structure. A larger cab increases controllers’ workspace from the current 24 square metres (260 sq. ft.) to 32 square metres (345 sq. ft.). The four storey building also has an elevator, unlike its predecessor.
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Assessing the White House ATC Reform Principles
At a gala White House event on June 5th, the Administration made its strongest endorsement yet of converting the FAA's Air Traffic Organization into a self-supporting ATC corporation, along the general lines of what was narrowly approved last year by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Chairman Bill Shuster (R, PA), who has championed the idea for several years, also spoke at the event and has said repeatedly that this year's version will include changes based on feedback received over the past year.
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Fresh Thinking on ATC Reform in Europe
The problem with ATC in Europe is not the organizational structure of ANSPs: nearly all have been corporatized, and all charge their customers for ATC services in accordance with ICAO charging principles. The problem is Balkanization—within the European Union alone there are 27 separate ANSPs, leading to a system far more-costly and less-efficient than that of the United States, with a single ANSP and significant economies of scale. The Single European Sky project is an attempt to fix this, but has foundered on the rocks of nationalism, since no government has been willing to shut down …
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The Human Factor in Remote Tower Operations
The interest for Remote Tower Operations (RTO) is increasing. More and more ANSPs are considering implementing remote towers. Reasons for this change are foreseen efficiency, both in terms of costs as well as execution of the operation. But is this enough? A typical set-up for a remote tower system consists of a set of high quality cameras that are mounted at an airport, often on top of the tower building or on a high pole. The camera output is projected on a large wall of monitors in a room, either at the airport itself or at a remote location.
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60th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett
On September the 16th around 22:00hrs 24 teams will take to the air to compete in the 60th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett. The starting place for this year's event is Gladbeck in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.The aim of the contest is to fly the furthest distance from the launch site. ATC Network would like to wish all participants a safe and succesful race.As usual with this gas balloon race co-ordination with ANSPs is paramount. The participating countries/airspaces was released on July 18.
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Air Traffic Controller takes to the Olympic track in Rio
Natasha Hansen begins her Olympic Games later today at the velodrome in Rio. She will be competing in the three track cycling events: Women's Sprint, Team Sprint and Keirin. Natasha is an Air Traffic Controlller with Airways in New Zealand. She normally works the control tower at Invercargill Airport (NZNV) although she is currently taking time out from her career as a controller to fully concentrate on her preperation for the Olympics. Her Olympics begins with the Women's Sprint event followed by the Keirin on Saturday and the individual sprint event on Sunday.
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