Airbus actively involved in Latin American Air Traffic Management modernization

Mexico and Colombia, the latest to follow the modernization trend

As a rule of thumb, air traffic doubles every 15 years globally and Latin America is definitely following this trend with over 314 Airbus aircraft delivered the past 10 years. Airbus Global Market Forecast predicts an average of 5,2 percent yearly growth in Latin America for the next 20 years.

This increase in air traffic needs to be managed by many stakeholders such as airports or air traffic control and airlines are always looking for operations optimization, seeking efficiency from the Air Traffic Management System.

Airbus has created a specific Air Traffic Management entity, Airbus ProSky, with the objective to support airlines, civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers in modernizing Air Traffic Management (ATM). Its primary mission is to provide additional capacity using the current resources while defining the future requirements of high density airspace. In that respect, Airbus and Airbus ProSky are working on the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and the Single European Sky Research program (SESAR).

While increasing capacity remains the main objective, managing the demand is another key element of ATM modernization: this is called Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM). Airlines today work hard to optimize flight plans, fuel burn and fuel on board but everyday operations can impact their planning: low visibility, runway maintenance or simply peak time when demand exceeds capacity can create unnecessary holding or taxi time increasing cost of operations.

Already present in Central America and the Caribbean, including new Required Navigation Performance approach procedures*, which will increase airport access and lower fuel burn, Airbus ProSky was recently selected by Aerocivil and SENEAM (Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano) to implement ATFM with Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) in Colombia and Mexico earlier this year.

The deployment of such a nationwide system will allow both countries to anticipate and optimally use the capacity available at Bogota and Mexico City Airports. And in case of over-demand, they will then be able to take efficient actions and avoid unnecessary holdings. Airlines will be actively involved thanks to the CDM process, allowing dynamic prioritization of the slots.

Airbus, through Airbus ProSky, is proud to extend its cooperation with many civil aviation authorities and air navigation services providers in Latin America with one singular objective in mind: lower airline operations costs.

*: On going RNP projects with Avianca and IATA

For more information contact:
Rafael Alonso-Nivez
Account Executive – Latin America
rafael.alonso-nivez@airbusprosky.com