Page 25 - AAA MAY-JUNE 2012 Online Magazine

YOU SAY I SAY

YOU SAY, I SAY

The skies are becoming busier than ever. guiding all those aircraft safely demands
highly sophisticated systems and operators – but some say they could do better.
Much better. The civil air navigation services organisation (canso) and Boeing
say more must be done to speed up improvements in traffic management and

consequent fuel consumption. not everybody agrees.

sustain future growth, and local communities must
be part of the future of airport growth.
With the increased demand for environmental
stewardship, the entire aviation industry is looking at
every opportunity to reduce its net carbon footprint
through new aircraft designs and alternative fuels,
in conjunction with more efficient operations that
minimise fuel use and reduce delays. The capabilities
of today’s high-technology airplanes are underutilised
in the current constrained and outdated aTM system.
The pace of change and implementation must be
stepped up to meet a medium-range aspirational
Today’s air Traffic ManageMenT (aTM) system goal of 94 to 95% aTM efficiency by 2025, consistent
is already highly optimised. There is, however, room with the original canso aspirational goal of 95 to
for improvement especially related to aTM initiatives. 98% aTM efficiency by 2050.
Parts of the aTM system are approaching maximum
capacity. current policy and procedures will not - CANSO and The Boeing Company

i don’T agree that acceleration is needed. The software development and certification. The cost
current schedule is adequate, with many in- and complexity of modifying an aircraft that needs
service aircraft requiring expensive modification to add a gPs, two new Transponders, a VHf digital
programmes to meet the existing deadline of Transceiver, communication Management Unit and
december 2015 for ads-B implementation in Multi-function control and display Unit, plus a flight
european airspace. as an example of costs, the Management computer operational software update,
price of the software update for Tcas Transponders i can only leave to your imagination.some reports
to implement Tcas 7.1 is Us$32,000 to $174,640, say that for a worldwide fleet of 8,000 airliners of
depending on the age of the aircraft and its existing 100 seats or more, the ads-B costs are likely to be
avionics, according to the faa. This task takes one between Us$256 million and Us$1.74 billion.
man only 30 minutes using a data loader to upload
the new software – but the price covers the cost of - F. Bonrow, aircraft technician

The capabilities of today’s high-technology airplanes are
underutilised in the current constrained and outdated ATM
system, undermining the profitability of the aviation industry

- Neil Planzer, VP of Air Traffic Management, Boeing Flight Services

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