Bringing airspace into the 21st century.
Today’s airspace design has largely been in place since the 1950s – when air traffic was just a fraction of the ca. 37 million worldwide flights (cargo and passenger) that took place in 2023. Add to this new airspace users (drones and eVTOL), new technologies (such as datalink and GNSS), and advanced procedures (such as Required Navigation Performance), and it’s clear that the pressure is on to make airspace fit for a busier modern world.
The problem is that changing airspace is complex, costly, and time-consuming. Why so difficult?
- Safety concerns: Ensuring the safety of all flights is paramount. Any modifications to airspace must be thoroughly analysed and tested to avoid increasing the risk of accidents.
- Regulatory compliance: Airspace management involves adherence to a myriad of international and national regulations. Coordinating changes across different regulatory frameworks is a complex and time-consuming process, especially for smaller airspace users.
- Aviation stakeholder coordination: Airlines, airport operators, air traffic controllers, and military authorities are just some of the involved parties. Aligning their interests and needs, as well as those of new entrants, requires extensive negotiation and collaboration.
- Technological integration: Implementing changes often requires updates to existing technology and infrastructure. This can be costly and requires significant planning and coordination to minimise disruption.
- Environmental impact: Changes in lower airspace can affect noise pollution, air quality, and wildlife. Environmental assessments and public consultations are essential to address these impacts, adding another layer of complexity.
- Economic considerations: The economic implications for airlines and airports can be significant. Balancing the potential economic benefits of more efficient routes against the costs of implementing changes is challenging.
- Operational disruptions: Any change can disrupt current operations. Managing these disruptions while transitioning to new procedures without affecting service levels requires meticulous planning, execution (including training and simulations), and post-operations monitoring.
- Public and community stakeholder involvement: Communities affected by changes in flight paths have concerns that must be addressed through engagement and consultation, with the right mechanisms in place to capture and incorporate feedback.
These factors combine to create a challenging environment for both those seeking change and those responsible for authorising it.
Egis draws on unrivalled experience supporting all stakeholders to help regulators and change sponsors map the way ahead and implement positive change. Read on to find out how and scroll down for a selection of our references.
