Air is highly effective and less time-consuming as a means of transportation, and is currently experiencing a huge momentum. In 2018, almost 4,233 billion people worldwide preferred air as the means of transportation compared to the previous year, according to figures from the World Bank.
The steadily increasing volume and accessibility of air transport have contributed to a significant increase in air transport amongst the burgeoning world population. This is expected to include control of air traffic to ensure safe and sound air transits. In light of the risks that inaccurate management can lead to, the definition has now become more relevant than ever.
The deadliest crash in 1985 by Japanese airlines can be an example of how a loophole in management could yield catastrophic results. The main reason was that there were almost 505 passengers and roughly 15 crew members surviving on the miscommunication between aircrew and air traffic controllers.
After this tragic accident, numerous aviation boards and governments have revised their policies and laws to take account of smooth global air transits. One of the biggest breakthroughs in this region, the construction of Greenfield airports by the Indian Government, is reiterations of the need for aviation management. In addition, NATS contributed substantially to SESAR, the global national apprenticeship training scheme, which works closely on the principles to ensure safe, sustainable and manageable air travel.
Management of air traffic is the central feature of a service designed to support safe, organized and speedy air traffic flow. The effect of ongoing technical improvements on the ground also affects air traffic management.
In Heathrow Airport, Great Britain, for example, the introduction of time-based separation (TBS) in 2016 is obviously a major step towards technological progress in air traffic control. The technology enables air transport controllers, depending on the current wind conditions, to automatically monitor distances between arrived aircraft. In October 2018, NASA introduced to the Federal Aviation Administration the new technology in air traffic control–Flight Deck Interval Control.
It system is intended to assist in efficient time and safety management between aircraft landing on runway by air traffic controllers and drivers. The conglomerates of industry have put their best footing on the advancement of technologies and systems to promote aviation safety. To this end, Honeywell International has launched NAVITAS, an IoT platform that supports aviation management. In order to provide the eye view through aerial traffic control, the NAVITAS collects and organizes real time information for the exchange of insights among the airport authorities.
Asia Pacific also displays impressive signs of changes in the control of air traffic. This is due to the growing flight of passengers and air traffic in the area. Several studies have shown that the area has seen unprecedented aviation development, which would enable APAC to advance in air travel. In reality, by the end of 2030, it could be aligned with Europe and North America, and pave the way for air traffic control and management growth.
While the management of air traffic is referred to as a some-stop solution to all air travel problems, there are some obstacles that impair the smooth management of air traffic somehow. One of these is the dramatic change in the weather.
Changing climate conditions could increase demand and pose a challenge to infrastructure and daily operations and to airport network capacity. Nevertheless, various industry players make efforts to develop systems that can assist airport authorities with traffic control and aircraft management in compliance with stringent government laws on aviation.
The technology being used for the hour could prove a milestone for the air traffic management industry in the future with the implementation of remote air traffic control techniques. If the data networks were to be used digitally to transmit images and data, remote ATCs will change the industry dramatically in the next few years. Therefore, a revolution in air traffic control would possibly also be put into practice with major technical deployments.
