NATS - National Aerospace Technology Strategy > ATVPs and AINs > Air Traffic Management ATVP
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The environmental cost associated with UK passenger air travel, including the contribution from climate change, local air quality and noise costs, has been estimated at over £1.6 billion in 2000. The climate change cost alone is expected to rise to over £4 billion by 2030, principally as a result of the predicted increase in air traffic. Although more flights will support economic growth, it presents a major challenge to thesustainable development of air transport, as highlighted in the June 2005 Sustainable Aviation report.
The sustainable development, and hence environmental impact, of aviation is now regarded as a critical constraint on the capacity of the
In response to these issues a partnership of government and industry, the Aerospace Innovation Growth Team (AeIGT), defined with a National Aerospace Technology Strategy (NATS), the need to address ATM. Consequently, the UK ATM Technology Validation Programme was formed to define and validate ATM based solutions to this challenging problem. The formation of the Programme also responds to the AeIGT study 'An Independent Report on the Future of the UK Aerospace Industry' which identifies that UK companies should seize the advantage by developing new technologies and products in support of an enhanced ATM system.
A multi-year programme of work is proposed, the first phase of which will identify, investigate and prioritise innovative ATM concepts and technologies that will provide the means of safely and efficiently accommodating the predicted growth in air traffic while addressing the needs of Sustainable Aviation and minimising the associated effect on the environment.
Work Themes
These potential solutions will be taken forward into future validation phases of the Programme within one or more of the following themes:
1. Airport Operations. Projects to validate solutions that may be implemented to enhance surface movement operations, and final approach and initial departure phases of flight.
2. Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) Operations. Projects to validate solutions that may be implemented to enhance TMA operations including descent and sequencing of arrival aircraft towards final approach, and departing aircraft during climb.
3. En Route Operations. Projects to validate solutions that may be implemented to enhance cruise flight in areas currently covered and not covered by radar.
As these validation projects progress, they will deliver defined ways of achieving the Programme objectives and identify how the validated concepts and technologies may be implemented in an operational environment. Ultimately, these solutions may be deployed and integrated into the ATM system to achieve the operational efficiencies necessary to realise the required benefits. The Programme will be aligned with ongoing work within Europe, thus ensuring a consistent pan-European approach.
The UK ATM industry will benefit by developing its technology capability to ensure that it plays a driving role in the development of a future European ATM system and enhances its position in the global ATM market. UK Academia, who will actively participate in the Programme, will also benefit through exploitation of their ideas and cutting edge research. However, in the event that the Programme does not go ahead, the UK ATM industry will undoubtedly lose out to competition from Europe and the USA. The AeIGT has already recognised that the UK aerospace industry is threatened by well-supported and funded foreign competitors.
Benefits
The Programme also has a broad range of benefits which will be received by many other stakeholder groups. Airline operators will benefit by seeing higher profitability through a lower cost base as a result of more efficient operations, while airport operators and air navigation service providers will both see increased revenues as a direct result of an increase in capacity. Local communities will experience greater inward investment and job creation as a result of increased flights to local airports, and the travelling public will experience better 'on time' performance and the potential of a fully integrated, multi-modal transport network.
Partners
In order to ensure the success of the Programme, the main ATM industrial organisations within the UK (BAE Systems, Flight Refuelling Ltd, QinetiQ, Raytheon, SELEX SI and Thales) will participate. Collectively, these organisations represent strong leadership in ground and airborne ATM systems, and ATM Research and Development. Key universities and specialist SMEs will also be engaged throughout the Programme.
Support and funding for the Programme will come from a combination of industry and nonindustrial sources. Non-industrial sources will include the DTI (principally through biannual Technology Programme calls), the EPSRC (to directly support universities) and Regional Development Agencies. Over each of the first five years of the Programme, the total estimated value is £12 million per year.
Status
The programme is currently in the planning phase. With research programmes expected to commence from 2006 (funded from the DTI Nov 04 call).