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April 2008SESAR, the Single European Sky (SES) Air Traffic Management (ATM) Research Programme, launched in March 2006, is to define, develop and implement a more capable Europe-wide ATM. To come to fruition, SES has some ambitious targets. The highlights are: to design goals of three times current traffic levels; improve safety by a factor of 10 and reduce the environmental effects by 10%. The 2020 targets are to improve capacity by 73%, improve safety by a factor of three, and reduce costs to the users by 50%. The solution will be trajectory based in four dimensions. Flights will be handled as a gate-to-gate continuum, including turnarounds. Airports will be integrated into the ATM system. Enhanced automation will assist the human who will remain central in the system as a manager and decision maker. There will be reduced Radio Telephony through the use of data-link. Instrument Meteorological Conditions Rating The UK IMC Rating, as many of you will be aware, is under severe threat after the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Flight Crew Licensing working committee (FCL001) voted 9 to 3 against having such a rating. Opposition came from the professional pilots, who view the rating as a watered down Instrument Rating, and from the other EU States who do not have such a rating. There will be a period of at least four years during which the rating may still be used and new ratings awarded. EASA and the Civil Aviation Authority are consulting to find a way forward, so all may not be lost. The question of how military aviators may obtain a civil licence may also be under threat and clarification is being sought from EASA. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) jamming and spoofing A Global Navigation Satellite Systems Vulnerability working group has been established under the chairmanship of Captain Alex Fisher to investigate the matter. Pilot Handling of Highly Automated Aircraft The report of this working group, under the chairmanship of Captain Gil Gray, has been sent to interested parties and several highly complimentary letters of thanks have been received. It may be found on the Guild website www.gapan.org under the Guild Study Papers section. Raptor the world’s most advanced jet fighter will make its UK debut at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, this summer. The F-22A Raptor from the US Air Combat Command, represents a new generation of fighter aircraft incorporating state of the art stealth technology, sophisticated weaponry and vectored thrust, giving it an unrivalled combination of secrecy, power and manoeuvrability. The Air Tattoo takes place on 12-13 July. Further details from www.airtattoo.com
Chris
Hodgkinson |
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Updated
16-Mai-2008 |
