Un même système pour l'ATC en Espagne et au Royaume Uni

Si on ajoute la confirmation du FAB UK-Irlande ... on commence à pouvoir préfigurer l'un des gros blocs de contrôle aérien du futur ... il y a du soucis à se faire sur l'atlantique !

"The two companies which run air traffic control in Britain and Spain today launch a new Joint Venture company which will develop for both of them the Air Traffic Management system of the future.

The new company, to be called SACTA ATM, will develop the Spanish ATC system SACTA (Sistema Automatizado de Control Transito Aéreo) to a point where it is also capable of managing UK airspace – some of the most complex in the world.

The company will be owned jointly by National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and its Spanish counterpart Aena (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea). It is the first time that two Air Navigation Service Providers have collaborated in such a commercial venture, anywhere in the world.

The new-generation SACTA system will be introduced first in Gran Canaria in 2007; its introduction into the UK ATC operation is planned at NATS’ new centre at Prestwick in Ayrshire, and then into the Swanwick centre in Hampshire.

The Joint Venture agreement was signed yesterday at the industry’s premiere conference in Maastricht, Holland by Paul Barron, Chief Executive of NATS and Francisco Quereda, Air Navigation Director of Aena.

“Our vision is for this Joint Venture to be at the heart of driving change in Europe and we are delighted to have reached this point,” said Mr Barron. “We will be able to showcase the latest SACTA system at our new Prestwick Centre as we develop it as the platform for our two-centre strategy.

“Both Aena and NATS will gain from this venture. We bring our unique experience of managing complex airspace and large volumes of traffic, whilst Aena brings experience of a system which has already proved itself.”

Mr Quereda added: “This will jointly and efficiently satisfy our requirement for SACTA to meet the future demand of the European air traffic sector.“

“Aena has developed SACTA over more than 20 years so that all the Spanish centres will be harmonised and integrated. SACTA’s adaptability will enable Aena and NATS to position our joint venture strategically and competitively in Europe. We have a good partnership and a strong understanding and we are very pleased to cement that through the JV.”

The two companies started working together almost three years ago to evaluate SACTA’s adaptability for use in the complex airspace over the UK. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Co-operation last year to pave the way for the Joint Venture.

NATS and Aena are also working with Germany’s air traffic service provider, DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH) to evaluate options for the next-generation of Flight Data Processing (FDP) systems."