No, there is no spelling mistake in the title… we are not talking about that famous (or infamous) institution in Las Vegas. The title of this section of the blog and the first article in it comes from the name affectionately given to the rather somber office building in Blagnac outside Toulouse which used to house the SESAR crew during the definition phase.
Do you know SESAR?
SESAR is now under the management of a dedicated joint undertaking with the direct and indirect involvement of some 70 companies. But what exactly is SESAR all about? When this question is asked, people involved in ATM will usually respond by quoting the official line which describes the essence of the thing: a program that will have a huge impact on ATM related R&D in Europe and on ATM itself as new services and operational procedures are implemented in the 2012 to 2020 time-frame.
Details? This is where all too often the question is met with hesitation or a blank stare…
As Patrick Ky, SESAR’s executive director, highlighted recently, even from a project management perspective alone, SESAR is one of the most complex programs you can imagine. 295 projects managed by a total of 70 companies…
In view of the less then stellar performance of some previous ATM projects in Europe, people can be forgiven if they have doubts, especially if information about what is cooking is hard to come by or such information that there is, reflects a reality that is not always the same as SESAR’s.
The need for precise information
That the SESAR Joint Undertaking and its members face a huge and difficult challenge in respect of the program’s communication needs is obvious.
Of particular concern must be the fact that the need to communicate the details of such a highly complex subject exists on different levels. From the airline CEO who may be more at home in economics than air traffic management to the pilots and air traffic controllers whose tasks will be most directly affected, everyone must understand and sign up to what SESAR is bringing.
A feeling of common ownership needs to be developed on all levels.
A particular responsibility will fall upon the aviation press who will need to familiarize themselves with the many new concepts and paradigm changes the program involves and report on them with precision, putting things in the context of the new ATM environment being built in Europe.
How can we contribute?
Under the “SESAR’s Palace” category of our blog, we will strive to bring you reliable news about SESAR from all available sources. We hope you will make use of such news to start lively and interesting conversations in the blog as well as ask your questions.
Alongside the official communications activities of SESAR (which I am sure will be thorough and manifold) the blog can become a useful grass-roots forum to further explore some of the details or to look at things together which may be giving rise to some concern or are subject to disagreement.
Obviously, the blog will also be an excellent place to celebrate SESAR achievements when the time comes.
30 projects in 30 days
SESAR is planning to launch 124 projects in 2009. 30 projects have been launched in the first month following signature of the various contracts on 12 June 2009. In their communication on this achievement, three projects were highlighted.
- Project “GBAS Cat II/III” for the development of satellite based precision landing systems;
- Project “SWIM Air-Ground Capability” for the design of the future aviation intranet;
- Project “Airport Surface Datalink” on WiFi standards for communication between all partners on the airport ground surface.
The take-off roll has started, that much is sure…
30 in 30 days is certainly an impressive strike rate. Dare one hope that they will all add up to a coherent strategy? And if so, what is it?
SESAR is on track to consume squillions of €, I recommend the thoughts of none other than Ernest, Lord Rutherford (founding father of Nuclear Physics): ‘ We have no money, so we shall have to think’.