Blog
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
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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Recognising the importance of Just Culture to aviation and beyond
In 2008 I attended a press conference in Brussels hosted by Eurocontrol and IFATCA. At the conference David McMillan, then Director General of Eurocontrol and Marc Baumgartner, then President of IFATCA introduced the principles behind 'Just Culture'. At the time it was a relatively new concept, but now it is well-established in the aviation and ATC industry. But there is a lot more work needed and being done to develop these principles. Last week in Malta the Just Culture Regional Workshop run by EUROCONTROL and MATS, Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd.
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Thales Wake Vortex Solutions
Air Traffic booming by 2020 is forecasted by all stakeholders & Major Airports will approach their ultimate Capacity with increasing delays. Wake Vortex Separation is in most cases the limiting factor to Runway capacity.Based on innovative approach and focused on Airport benefits, Thales has developed from Approach to Runway solutions to mitigate the impact of Wake-Vortex that optimize the Arrival / Departure sequences (depending on the environmental conditions & local traffic mix), reduce separation minima while ensuring the right level of safety and ensure the optimum …
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Advanced Controller Working Position
Tower Air Traffic Controllers have to deal with a wide range of information. Besides, a variety of different sorts of information is shown on many screens.The SESAR A-CWP (Advanced Controller Working Position) concept integrates different ATC systems and functions into a configurable Tower Controller Working Position that enhances situational awareness – and this leads to an increase in safety.
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Windfarms and radar surveillance – which mitigation technology is right for you?
Airports faced with potential windfarm interference, or windfarm developers faced with addressing CAA or regulatory concerns will already know that a whole range of different technical mitigation solutions exist and that they vary in their performance characteristics and costs. Since many (if not all) of the technical solutions are only just reaching maturity, there is limited evidence of their long-term performance in an operational environment.
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