Optimising air space

As air space reaches optimal level in the Middle East it is imperative that both regionally and globally, air traffic control becomes unified. In an exclusive interview with MENA Infrastructure, Alexander ter Kuile shares his thoughts on the importance of management to create a unified air space.

“In the Gulf region large airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be packed tightly together, placing a huge demand on airspace capacity and efficiency”
-Alexander ter Kuile

Large portions of airspace in the Middle East are devoted to military services, and this, combined with individual states controlling individual air traffic services, and the growth in air traffic, means that the region needs to change track. Alexander ter Kuile, Secretary General for the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) believes that there is already a clear realisation in the Middle East that things must change and that a more collaborative regional approach need to be adopted in order to optimise air space design: “There is an increasing recognition that these issues must be addressed through a combined and co-operative approach between the civil and the military authorities for everybody’s benefit.”

There are already initiatives in place for the civil and military sites to co-operate more closely. While some states have had greater success than others it very much depends on the ability of the state to release airspace to a civil flight. “The bigger the airspace served by an air traffic control organisation, the more optimised the solutions can become,” explains ter Kuile. “In an area where there are many small states the area will see greater fragmentation than when you have a few larger blocks where airspace can be optimised more easily. Australia and Canada for example have a more optimised service level than say Europe, where many small states cause high fragmentation.”

Within this challenge is a further difficulty. In a region like the Middle East it is important that individual states avoid investing in their own unique system as a pure stand-alone system without taking careful consideration of the entire region. The best possible solution is a more collaborative solution. “Think globally, act locally when it comes to system implementation and avoid isolation,” advises ter Kuile.

As growth rates and plans for expansion continue to rocket, parts of the Middle East are running out of capacity and the pressure is on for states to seek a collaborative solution for the region. In the Gulf region for example, there are plans for extremely large airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which will be packed tightly together, placing a huge demand on airspace capacity and efficiency.

Investment
As states become more collaborative it is important to integrate systems in a manner that they can communicate and exchange data effectively. The exchange and availability of data is key so that a provider knows that an aircraft is arriving rather than it appearing on the radar unannounced. Ter Kuile believes that the Middle East region should be looking at technology that links various systems together so that they can talk to each other rather than use a stand-alone technology. “Providers will have to look at integration into a true network,” he says.

Ter Kuile also believes that automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) offers great possibilities for parts of the Middle East region. The co-operative technique means that an equipped aircraft can determine its own position using a global navigation satellite system, periodically broadcasting this position and other relevant information to potential ground stations and other aircraft. ADS-B provides accurate information and frequent updates to airspace users and controllers, hence supporting improved use of airspace and enhanced safety. “We need more visibility of the volumes of air traffic around the world, including the Middle East,” says ter Kuile. “The introduction of ADS-B would greatly benefit the region and I’m sure that local providers are currently working on its implementation.”

As well as investing in new technology, ter Kuile believes that an investment needs to be made into the infrastructure. Although there has undoubtedly been a lot of investment in the physical side, such as the mega airport complexes, runways and aircraft, there is a lack of investment in air traffic management. “Air traffic management is going to be the weak link in the Middle East. And it is vital that this area is paid attention to in order to see a more efficient airspace design, accommodate all of the aircraft and use all of the runways that are being built,” explains ter Kuile.

Ter Kuile goes on to say that it is imperative that all these parties work together in investing and raising air traffic management to the same degree as they have in aircraft and airports. “The aviation community consists of at least three elements: airlines, airports and air traffic management,” he says. “And investing in just two of the elements is simply not good enough. You have to take a systems approach and look at all aspects of aviation and invest in all of those aspects.”

Unity
Just as it is important that the Middle East region work together, it is vital that air traffic management as a whole works together, globally. The global air traffic management community has an urgent need to develop harmonious and seamless service and systems, rather than continue in the current state of affairs where each state has its own unique system that can be quite different to what is seen next door.

“You have to remember that any aircraft taking off from say London and flying via the Middle East to Australia has to receive an identical service in every airspace that it passes through on its way from London to the Middle East and Australia. If that is not available then air traffic management needs to work together to ensure that the service provided is seamless around the world rather than broken down into disparate and fragmented units of varying qualities of service,” says ter Kuile.    

So, are we seeing changes for the better? Absolutely, says ter Kuile, at least the thinking is changing. The acknowledgment that air traffic management is a global system is now well established, although it may well be some time before we see any results. “Investing in new technology and implementing new technology is something that takes decades at a time so this is not something that we expect to change overnight. This will take a long time to implement and we need to start now if we are to be ready for the air traffic volume that the Middle East foresees in five to 10 years from now.”

An optimist, ter Kuile believes that the signs are positive for the future of air traffic management, but is keen to stress that it will be important to work together and ensure everybody is onboard or there will be holes in the airspace. “It is imperative that everybody participates, otherwise we will see pockets or islands of lower service that would be avoided.”

An international forum

CANSO creates an international forum for discussion of air traffic management related issues, where all aviation stakeholders unite to develop and exchange ideas in support of global air navigation services. CANSO represents the views and interests of members at the relevant international institutions. CANSO sets itself the following objectives:
• The voice of air navigation service providers
• Support the improvement for global air navigation service performance
• Optimise the effectiveness of the organisation