United Kingdom | March 6, 2018–A significant, multi-frequency European datalink infrastructure upgrade has been completed by SITAONAIR, marking an important milestone in realizing the Single European Sky (SES) vision, and in tackling congestion in Europe’s airspace.

SITAONAIR’s upgrade fosters and enhances the provision of air/ground (A/G) datalink in Europe across multiple frequencies, supporting the region’s increasingly pressured Air Traffic Control (ATC) network. European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) currently handle around 26,000 flights daily, with air traffic levels forecast to double by 2020.

Over the last 18 months, SITAONAIR – the air transport industry’s global leader in operational and Air Traffic Control communications – has notably extended the footprint of its crucial A/G communication service, by establishing a multi-frequency VHF Data Link Mode 2 network infrastructure (VDLm2 MF), across Europe.

The multi-frequency version of the service has been recommended by the European Aviation Safety Agency as essential for facilitating Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) – an Air Traffic Control (ATC) application mandated by the European Commission for use under the SES. The European mandate applies to airlines and ANSPs alike, with SITAONAIR providing the core A/G service enabling them to exchange vital ATC data.

VDLm2 MF is deployed on both SITAONAIR’s-own infrastructure, and on that of its ANSP partners, including BULATSA in Bulgaria, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung in Germany, ENAIRE in Spain, Nav Portugal, Romania’s ROMATSA and Switzerland’s Skyguide. Fifteen European ANSPs, from the Czech Republic and Croatia to Sweden and Slovenia, have now contracted SITAONAIR to provide VDLm2 A/G communications capabilities.

The heart of critical aviation communications

François Bardin, SITAONAIR’s Head of ATC Systems and Solutions, says: “The realization of our multi-frequency VDLm2 MF infrastructure once again sets SITAONAIR at the heart of aviation’s critical communications landscape, empowering ANSPs and airlines in Europe to provide mandated air/ground communications. We knew this vital CPDLC transition would present a challenging shift for the industry from voice to digital link communications. Thanks to our close partnership working, and tireless, proactive approach, we have made this ambition a reality.”

Eric Ménard, SITAONAIR’s Head of VHF Infrastructure, adds: “Our enhanced VDLm2 infrastructure, with its one-of-a-kind, three-layer VDL frequencies, is now operational, with a unique footprint over Europe. Our service performance has been commended by the Eurocontrol Maastricht Upper Airspace Centre, achieving, early-on, a global VDL Uplink Success Rate (USR) capable of satisfying demand, and alleviating the well-documented air transport pressures which have been encountered in Europe’s skies.

“This achievement is the result of a long-term collaboration between SITAONAIR’s teams and the industry. We would like to extend our thanks to the ICAO’s Frequency Management Group, and our European partners, BULATSA, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, ENAIRE, Nav Portugal, ROMATSA and Skyguide, for their support in delivering this initiative.”

Pleased with the results

Klauspeter Hauf, Head of Voice Communication Services at DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, says: “We are very pleased with the results of our partnership with SITAONAIR to upgrade our VHF infrastructure to multi-frequency, and within the ambitious timeframe set by the European program. We are already seeing the benefits of this significant work, which is having a widespread positive impact on Air Traffic Control across the continent.”

Speak to your local SITAONAIR contact, or submit an enquiry form, to discover SITAONAIR’s full connected aircraft and air traffic management portfolio at www.sitaonair.aero

Lido/Flight User Group Conference 2017: Lufthansa Systems’ customer event focuses on interaction, information and cooperative development

Raunheim | May 31, 2017– Lufthansa Systems today announced that it will present the first Integrated Flight Support prototype, the future core module of its new Lido/Flight 4D product generation, at this year’s Lido/Flight User Group (LUG) Conference. The conference will offer an insight into technical innovations related to the flight planning system as well as an opportunity for intensive interaction among the 170 product experts and customers attending. The LUG Conference is taking place from May 31 to June 1 in Paris, the headquarters of this year’s partner airline, Air France.

“Integrating different systems is an essential aspect of modern flight planning. Flight data is very dynamic. To get an overview of the current situation in the air, everyone involved needs the same sources of information. Airports, air traffic control and customer systems should be able to exchange data in real time. This is the only way for employees on the ground and on the flight deck to make right decisions based on the same information,” said Philipp Barzen, Head of Product Strategy Lido/Flight at Lufthansa Systems.

The core features of the Lido/Flight 4D flight planning solution are the integrated and continually updated aeronautical database and the optimizer. The system calculates the most suitable route for each flight based on all flight-related data, taking into account weather conditions and the current airspace situation including any restrictions. By migrating to the new product generation, customers will benefit from a modern architecture offering even better integration of relevant data from adjacent systems, a modern graphical user interface and display, 4D optimization and extensively automated flight planning and control processes.

Lufthansa Systems is taking an agile approach to the further development of Lido/Flight 4D. This means that customers are continually involved in the process. In addition to the two big annual customer events – the LUG Conference in the spring and the LUG Forum in the fall – the Lido/Flight-Team is holding workshops and gathering feedback on new features. The second release of Lido/Flight 4D R6.2.0 is planned for the fall of 2017 and will include improvements to crew briefing and route optimization. This is followed by another important milestone in the spring of 2018, a technical release with a complete migration to Linux. The prototype, which provides a glimpse into the future of Lido/Flight 4D, goes even further: It shows the new interface as well as other new functions, such as integrated navigation maps from Lido/Navigation.

“Along with the integrated map display, we are expanding our strategic cooperation with the Lido/Flight and Lido/Navigation product teams to create even better applications for pilots,” Barzen said. One example is the new Lido/mBriefing app, a mobile briefing solution with a direct interface to the Lido/mPilot mobile navigation solution.

During the LUG Conference, product experts will explain the new features of Lido/Flight 4D to customers in various sessions. They will also talk about the technical prerequisites for migration and discuss training concepts. Lufthansa Systems is thus taking a holistic approach to flight planning optimization and supporting its customers in the areas of further development and migration.

The product known previously as Lido/Flight has performed successfully in the market for more than 20 years. Since 2015, Lufthansa Systems has been working intensively on developing the new Lido/Flight 4D generation. Around 120 airlines with a total of more than 6,000 aircraft are currently using the flight planning solution from Lufthansa Systems. More than one half of all flights in Europe are calculated using Lido/Flight 4D. In various comparative analyses based on thousands of flight plans, Lido/Flight was able to reduce fuel costs by an average of 2 percent, cut flying times by 1.9 percent and save 1.6 percent of air traffic control fees compared to its competitors. Thanks to this savings potential, Lido/Flight 4D will pay for itself after an average of about one year.

• Brazilian low-cost carrier is first airline in the Americas to deploy Flight Tracker

Geneva | August 18, 2015– Azul is the first airline in the Americas to deploy SITA OnAir’s AIRCOM® FlightTracker, The service was activated on 1 August. Brazil’s leading low cost carrier, flying to 100 destinations across the country, can now track flights in real time on every route.

“FlightTracker’s momentum is building rapidly as more and more airlines across the world start using it to meet industry requirements for tracking each and every flight at all times,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of SITA OnAir.

FlightTracker was the obvious choice for Azul. From its beginnings in 2008, it has used SITA OnAir AIRCOM® technology, making the addition of FlightTracker a simple software upgrade to the ground-based server. Now Azul can track its entire fleet of Embraer 190 and 195s, ATR 72-600s and Airbus A330s. The A320neos and A350s that Azul has on order will also be tracked as soon as they enter service.

Video about AIRCOM FlightTracker

FlightTracker uses multiple sources of data, including air traffic control information, terrestrial and satellite feeds, and the airline’s flight plans, to provide real-time aircraft position monitoring. These include theDepartment of Airspace Control’s air traffic management network, which is managed by SITA. FlightTracker generates automatic alerts when an aircraft goes outside pre-determined parameters, giving flight controllers full information at all times.

“Our flight tracking brief, through ICAO and IATA, was two-fold,” says Dawkins. “Flight operations teams need to be able to follow aircraft positions and identify any unexpected deviations or gaps in position reports, while using existing equipment and procedures, without adding significant cost. We can also exceed the initial specification for reports every 15 minutes, depending on an airline’s requirements.”

AIRCOM® FlightTracker is used in every phase of the flight. More frequent reports can also be provided, for example in the case of an emergency.

More than 90 airlines around the world use SITA OnAir’s AIRCOM® technology. Several have already deployed FlightTracker, with more expected to follow.