Page 18 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 Online Magazine

FEA T u RE AIR TRA ff IC CONTROL
FEATURE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Beyond the Clouds

The competition among players in the global air traffic control equipment market has
increased considerably in the last few years
By Jay Menon

AS WE FLY ON A COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE, by 2019. On the basis of end user, the student exchange programs conducted
how many of us think about those who are commercial aircrafts segment is expected by universities are leading to a rise in the
keeping an eye on a screen on which your to lead, and account for 39.3 percent of the number of air travellers. The number of
aircraft is just a little spot, and making sure global air traffic control equipment market international students registering in Canada,
to keep that spot away from other spots. The by 2019. Asia Pacific is expected to be the according to the Canadian Bureau for
men and women in the tower at your local key geographical area leading in the market, International Education was 265,000 in 2012.
airport can track about ten manned aircraft followed by Europe. Since passenger comfort and safety are
at a given time, a relatively small number. R&D remains the core focus of key key concerns for airport authorities, there
In order to manage the growing air traffic, companies in the global air traffic control is a growing demand for air traffic control
traffic authorities are steadily changing equipment market. Thales Group, for equipment.
the way they operate. Global demand for instance, invested over US$3 billion into R&D
flight-management equipment such as in 2013. The development of sophisticated Selex ES
digital communications and surveillance technology for analysis, decision making, Selex ES, a Leonardo company, which is
systems is forecast to reach US$5.5 and detection fields is another area gripping looking at expanding its growth in the
billion in 2020, according to research by the focus of players. With innovation in their AsiaPacific region has been recently awarded
MarketsandMarkets. products, key players hope to serve space a contract worth around €8 million by the
The competition among players in the and aeronautics, defence and security, and Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation
global air traffic control equipment market ground transportation. The utilization of (VATM) to develop the New Hanoi Air Traffic
has increased considerably in the last few air traffic control systems benefits the Control Centre. The contract which lasts 19
years. The global market for air traffic environment to a great extent. According to months, will see Selex ES providing an Air
control equipment is fragmented in nature a research conducted by Airbus, around 9 Traffic Management automation system
and consists leading players such as Selex mn tons of fuel would be saved per year, if and associated systems. This will include
ES, Harris Corp., Cobham Plc, NavAero air traffic control and management systems the supply of an Area Control Centre system
Inc., Indra Sistemas SA, Lockheed Martin were used optimally. This would help prevent (ACC) equipped with operator consoles, a
Corp., Searidge Technologies Inc., Northrop 28 mn tons of CO2 emissions per year. The simulator and a test and evaluation system.
Grumman Corp., Thales Group and Raytheon environmental benefits of using air traffic It will also include the complete automation
Company. According to a recent survey, control equipment will thus, drive their of two control towers, one at Noi Bai (Hanoi
the global market opportunity in air traffic demand. International Airport) and one at Cat Bi.
control equipment will rise from US$4.1 Another factor contributing to the The area control centre and the control
billion by 2019. By type, the communication growth of the global air traffic control towers will also be equipped with Selex ES’s
equipment segment is expected to lead equipment market is the growing trade AMAN/DMAN (Arrival MANager/Departure
and account for 37.4 percent of the market relations between countries. Numerous MANager) tool which will allow a better
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