AVINOR CASE
PREPARING TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE SINGLE EUROPEAN SKY
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he aviation industry has undergone dramatic changes over the last decade, in particular airlines. Now, the time has come to air traffic services. In 2004, EU launched the Single European Sky Initiative (SES), which is an ambitious transformation programme encompassing the entire air traffic management industry. The SES objective is to cut air traffic management costs by 50% before 2020 along with an ambition of tripling the airspace capacity, improving safety by a factor of 10 and reducing the environmental impact by 10%. Reaching these goals is critical for having a competitive European air transport sector in the future. To fulfil the SES objectives, fundamental changes of the air traffic management industry are required. Structural changes, new solutions and cross-border collaboration among national service providers are examples of such changes. This will alter the current industry logic as we know it. With the implementation of the SES package II in March 2009, the real change process has taken off.
with an ambition of tripling the airspace capacity, improv ing safety by a factor of 10 and reducing the environmental impact by 10%. Reaching these goals is critical for having a competitive European air transport sector in the future. To fulfil the SES objectives, fundamental changes of the air trafficoday’s management industry are required. fragmented upper airspace (dividedStructural into the boundaries changes,ofnew solutions and cross-border collaboration national borders) will be replaced by large cross-border among national service To providers are examples of such gains of airspace blocks. realise the potential efficiency changes. This will the alterAir theNavigation current industry logic as we know the new airspace, Service Providers (ANSPs) need it. collaborate With the implementation of the SESbusinesses. package II in March to and consolidate their This consolidation 2009,not theaffect real change process has taken does tower services, which in off. contrast will be affected by
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deregulation and competition in the future. In some countries this is A new industry is emerging already a reality,landscape as in Sweden where a privately owned tower service Today’s fragmented upper airspace the at three company won the bidding contest for (divided the towerinto services boundaries of national borders) will be replaced by large regional airports at the first open tender in Sweden in the autumn of cross-border airspace blocks. 2010. A situation that will spreadTotorealise Norwaythe andpotential the rest of Europe efficiency gains of the new airspace, the Air Navigation in the future.
Service Providers (ANSPs) need to collaborate and con solidate their businesses. This consolidation does not It is clear that SES will impose significant challenges for all European affect tower services, in contrast will be affected ANSPs. But, the changeswhich will also create new, interesting opportunities. by deregulation and competition in the future. In some countries this is already a reality, as in Sweden where a vinor, a state-owned Norwegian company, is providing privately owned tower service company won the bidding air traffic services in Norway and operates 46 Norwegian contest for the tower services at three regional airports at airports. More than 40 million passengers depend on their the first open tender in Sweden in the autumn of 2010. A services each year; a figure that is expected to grow over the next situation that will spread to Norway and the rest of Europe couple of years. , due the characteristics of the network with many in the future. It is clear that SES will impose significant small airports, it is challenging to keep the unit cost for air traffic challenges for all European ANSPs. But, the changes will services competitive. also create new, interesting opportunities.
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Rather than being reactive to the changes in the industry, Avinor has Proactively facing the new reality taken a stand not only to proactively work with new and more efficient Avinor, a state-owned Norwegian company, is providing solutions together with other ANSPs and technology providers, but air traffic services in Norway and operates 46 Norwegian also to look for more efficient ways internally to provide their services. airports. More than 40 million passengers depend on Together with eight other ANSPs – LFV (Sweden), Naviair (Denmark), their services each year; a figure that is expected to grow Finavia (Finland), ISAVIA (Iceland), LGS (Latvia), IAA (Ireland) and over the next couple of years. , due the characteristics NATS (UK) – Avinor is working to establish one single airspace block of the network with many small airports, it is challenging for the service area covered by these members. The aim is to provide to keep the unit cost for air traffic services competitive. seamless, cost-effective service to customers across the entire airspace, in line with Single European Sky, and this is expected to be in place Rather than being reactive to the changes in the industry, by the end of 2012. Avinor has taken a stand not only to proactively work with new and more efficient solutions together with other ANSPs and technology providers, but also to look for more efficient ways internally to provide their services.
ABOUT
Together with eight other ANSPs – LFV (Sweden), Na
Avinor is responsible for planning, developing and viair (Denmark), Finavia (Finland), ISAVIA (Iceland), LGS operating the Norwegian airport network and operates (Latvia), IAA (Ireland) and NATS (UK) – Avinor is work 46 airports in Norway, thereof 12 in co-operation with ing to establish one single airspace block for the service the armed forces. area covered by these members. The aim is to provide Operations also include air traffic control towers, control seamless, cost-effective service to customers across the centres and technical infrastructure for aircraft navigation. entire airspace, in line with Single European Sky, and this Avinor has around 3,000 employees and is a limited is expected to be in place by the end of 2012. company, 100% government owned. Each year, approximately 40 million passengers travel through Avinor’s airports.
etc.) instead of having air traffic controllers working lo cally at each airport. The concept is brand new, but not yet certified. Thus, a lot of challenges still remain before it becomes operational.
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To ensure the long-term sustainability Norwegian n addition, Avinor has conductedofa the pre-study assessing the airport system and a competitive unit cost, the remote“Remotely potential of a new operating model for tower services, tower conceptTowers”. might beThis a keyconcept solution. Avinor’s ambitions Operated changes the way tower services areprovided clear: they wish take a leading rolefor in the transfor are and is intoparticular suitable airports with relativelymation of the air traffic services in Europe and in fulfilling few aircraft movements. In short, the service is provided remotely from SEScentral objectives, creating efficient European athe tower through the use an of technology (camera, air sensors, etc.) transport sector. So the journey continues. instead of having air traffic controllers working locally at each airport.
The concept is brand new, but not yet certified. Thus, a lot of challenges still remain before it becomes operational. ABOUT
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the Norwegian airport system and a competitive unit cost, the remote tower concept might be a key solution. Avinor’s ambitions are clear: they wish to take a leading role in the transformation of the air traffic services in Europe and in fulfilling the SES objectives, creating an efficient European air transport sector. So the journey continues.
AIRPORTS IN NORWAY OPERATED BY AVINOR
SVALBARD