CRDS Rising from the Ashes

Few of our readers will still remember the original goal of EUROCONTROL… It was to have been THE European air traffic control organization. Nice dream it was and we all know what happened. More recently there was CEATS, the Central European Air Traffic Services Program which was a bit like a Phoenix, the original EUROCONTROL… Continue reading CRDS Rising from the Ashes

New clouds on the Mode-S/ADS-B horizon in Europe

Most of those who took part in the epic battle over the introduction of Mode S Enhanced Surveillance (EHS) have either retired, moved to other activities or flew west to greener pastures but I guess there is still a hard core who will remember how the airspace users lost that one to the three big… Continue reading New clouds on the Mode-S/ADS-B horizon in Europe

Trajectory based operations (TBO) – Still not properly understood in SESAR? Take 2.

You may recall that a while ago I had written an article with the same title, expressing concern that this all important element in the SESAR Concept of Operations was apparently still not properly understood by some of the “experts” working on the subject. Recently another paper dealing with trajectory management crossed my desk and… Continue reading Trajectory based operations (TBO) – Still not properly understood in SESAR? Take 2.

Airbus now also an air traffic management company

Several years ago, Boeing was so worried about the sad state of air traffic management in the US and Europe that they actually thought it would adversely impact their customers to the point where they would end up buying fewer aircraft… This was the stated reason for the establishment of Boeing ATM, a new division… Continue reading Airbus now also an air traffic management company

Functional Airspace Blocks (FAB) – New category on Roger-Wilco

FABs may be the highest political priority for the European Commission and they certainly are the source of high flying political statements, but I still do not like them. Why? Well, the idea when it first came up was a good one. At the time, functional fragmentation of air traffic management in Europe was costing… Continue reading Functional Airspace Blocks (FAB) – New category on Roger-Wilco

Why is the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) wary of consultants?

OK, you may say that consultants have made a bad name for themselves and you would be partially right. In some industries some of them have and we all suffer the consequences to some degree. But on the other hand, many companies have found considerable cost savings in the use of consultants who will perform… Continue reading Why is the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) wary of consultants?

Air Traffic Management déjà vu

Reading Henning’s article and with my up-close-and-intimate involvement in the SESAR definition phase (and the 20 or so years leading up to it) I could not escape a terrible feeling of déjà vu. This was only strengthened when I read the news about ANSP CEOs rumbling that the performance targets of the EU’s Single Sky… Continue reading Air Traffic Management déjà vu

Is SESAR doing what the airlines intended?

Exclusive interview with Dr. Henning Hartmann Today we bring you an exclusive interview with Dr. Henning Hartmann, who was, during the SESAR Definition Phase with Lufthansa German Airlines and representing the Airspace Users, he was also the person responsible for the development of the SESAR Concept of Operations (ConOps). He will give us his views… Continue reading Is SESAR doing what the airlines intended?

Are ATM operational concepts the cause of failure?

I have known Jean-Marc Garot, the former director of EUROCONTROL’s Experimental Centre in Paris for a long time. A forward thinker and in many ways a visionary, he retired from EUROCONTROL in 2005. He has now published an interesting article in The Controller magazine with the title “What is an ATM concept?” I think everyone… Continue reading Are ATM operational concepts the cause of failure?

Conversion course – Does anyone understand the airlines?

My fascination with aircraft started at about age 5 and I first heard about air traffic control when I was 16. Gabi Nemeth who made music besides being an air traffic controller was on a TV talk show and he made a gallant effort to explain what ATC was all about… He must have done… Continue reading Conversion course – Does anyone understand the airlines?