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UAV safe separation to be integrated with SESAR air traffic management programme
Work has begun at Eurocontrol on enabling integration of unmanned air vehicles into the air traffic management system as it is now, but also into future advanced systems planned under the Single European Sky SESAR research programme, according to the agency.
Eurocontrol's director of civil/military co-ordination Jean-Robert Cazarré, speaking at a 7-8 May UAV workshop held at the agency's Brussels headquarters, also made it clear that the same rules and equipment standards will apply to military UAVs as to civil ones - military operators will have no privileges if they want their machines to operate in non-segregated airspace, he said.
Eurocontrol's unmanned air systems activity manager Holger Matthiesen said that the agency is working on a two-stream programme for UAV airspace integration: the near-term objective is to enable UAV integration into today's ATM systems, but for the future there must be research into UAV capabilities that will enable the machines to integrate into the Single European Sky's advanced ATM systems beyond 2020.
The most discussed topic at the workshop, reports the agency, was ongoing development work on the sense-and-avoid on-board equipment UAVs will have to embody before they are permitted to operate in non-segregated airspace, and the need to ensure sufficient radio spectrum space to enable control of UAVs and the operation of their avionics and mission equipment.
Cazarré says: "The challenge of UAV integration is global. It will not happen without the relevant national and international organisations, agencies and bodies all cooperating closely with each other, and Eurocontrol has established just such synergies. In addition we need to sustain a strong partnership with industry, operators and airspace users, particularly the general aviation community, to ensure that all concerns are properly addressed."
Air Traffic Controller of the Year announced
MC1 HEATHER W. HINES
Navy Compass Staff
Staff Sgt. Nicholas M. Gogul of Marine Air Control Squadron 1, Detachment Bravo was awarded the 2008 Air Traffic Controller of the Year award, during the 2008 Air Traffic Controller Association Symposium May 11-15.
The award, named in honorof Vice Adm. Robert B. Pirie, is presented for outstanding contributions to operational readiness and safety applied by individual Navy and Marine Corps Air Traffic Controller.
Gogul was amongst eight Navy and Marine Corps finalists He was ultimately was selected for his superior performance as Air Traffic Control Crew Chief while assigned in Iraq. Gogul is credited performing his duties in an exemplary, highly professional manner, as the Operation and Training Chief. Prior to deploying, he ensured all essential pre-deployment training was completed for 71 Marines and Sailors.
He also was responsible for preventing a potential mid-air collision that would have involved a C-130 Hercules. His immediate response and reaction was a key factor in preventing the lost of over 50 lives as well as millions of dollars of aviation assets. ...
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Cruising the skies- Orléans air traffic controller teaches kids to fly
Air traffic controller and Orléans resident Mike Bourget was just two weeks old when he took his first flight in an aircraft.
Growing up on air force bases, the 45-year-old has had an interest in airplanes as far back as he can remember. Now, the do-it-yourself pilot is using his passion for aviation along with his experience coaching young people to give back through a new summer camp, High Flight Adventures.
Born in St. Jean, Que., Bourget grew up as a military child and his love of airplanes grew with him.
“The most inspiring site was in Bagotville, when I was 13 years old and the airplanes were doing their night maneuvers,” he recalled. “My dad would take me to see them at midnight and we’d sit at the end of the runway and see the planes take off with big huge flames coming out of them. It was very exciting.”
After finishing high school in North Bay, he moved to Orléans in December 1980 and has been a resident ever since.
In August 1985, Bourget became a family man, marrying his high school sweetheart, Lyne, and later becoming the father of two; a son named Patrick and a daughter, Julie. ...
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Reservations Update and Deadline for the Technical Symposium at the Trump
Rooms are still available at the $89 rate but can’t be guaranteed to be available after Saturday, May 17th. All reservations now need to be made by phone to get the group rate. The number is 1-800-777-8477 and our meeting code is “ATECH08”. As always, if you have any problems or need any assistance with your reservations you may contact Claire Rusk or Ken Carlisle here at 703-299-2430, or claire.rusk@atca.org, ken.carlisle@atca.org.
Fuel Costs Could Trim Summer Air Travel. A Bit.
Expecting long flight delays this summer? Not to worry--America's airports have got your back.
Brian Wingfield
While they can't promise to get you off the ground any faster, they can promise more fun while you wait. Stuck on the banks of the Potomac at Reagan National? Why not wile away the hours in a rocking chair? Stranded in Miami? Rent a DVD. Fluffy sick of standby? Put her up at the pet hotel at Jacksonville International Airport. If you're delayed for a really long time, make an appointment with the dental clinic at O'Hare International in Chicago. (No word on which insurance they take.)
"It used to be at an airport you could get anything you wanted--as long as it's a hot dog or a piece of cold pizza," jokes Greg Principato, president of the North American Region of the Airports Council International. "That's changing."
Good thing. On Thursday, the Air Transport Association, the industry group for commercial airlines, predicted a meager 1% decline in the number of passengers expected to fly in the U.S. this summer, compared with June-August 2007. That translates into a 1.9% drop in domestic air traffic. ...
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FAA Still Working on VLJ Air Taxi Regs
The FAA is slowly progressing towards publishing the notice of proposed rulemaking that would establish operational regulations for Very Light Jets in air taxi operations. The NPRM stems from the recommendations of the Part 135/125 Aviation Rulemaking Committee - more than two years ago -- and is expected to cover crew, equipment, training and dispatch requirements. The FAA originally had hoped to have an NPRM ready for Department of Transportation review by the end of 2006. The NPRM is now expected to go to the DOT in July and be ready for publication and public comment in November.
Aviation Week
A ‘Virtual’ Training Company-Raytheon Pools Resources To Create New Unit
By ANTONIE BOESSENKOOL
Raytheon Technical Services helps train NASA astronauts and Army soldiers, but it also has trained nearly
every General Motors technician in North America. After thinking about the number of its contracts that involve training, the Raytheon unit refined its focus by setting up a “virtual” unit called Global Training Services.
“When we started looking at our strategy again … we said, you know, we’re really a training company,” said
Steve Teel, senior vice president for Raytheon Technical Services. “The idea was to take the best practices
from the commercial world, from our defense … and combine the people resources to go after the
world market.”
Raytheon Technical Services is part of Raytheon, Waltham, Mass., one of the world’s largest defense contractors, with 2007 sales totaling $21.3 billion. The technical services unit aims to lead the market in outsourced training to the U.S. government and the commercial sector.
Global Training Services doesn’t record a profit or a loss, but is what Raytheon calls a “virtual” unit. ...
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Medical copter lacked two safety upgrades
Madison - The company that operated the medical helicopter that crashed near La Crosse is updating its fleet with the latest safety equipment but had not retrofitted that aircraft, officials said Monday.
The Med Flight helicopter from the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics crashed into a bluff minutes after takeoff Saturday night from La Crosse, killing all three crew members aboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that air medical helicopters be equipped with night vision goggles and terrain avoidance systems. Air Methods Corp., the Colorado company that leased the UW Hospital's two American Eurocopter EC135 helicopters, said the company had embraced the technology, but only about 40% of its 330 aircraft had received the equipment updates. ...
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FAA Funding Back Off Track
Key senators last week renewed talks on a bill that would extend current aviation excise taxes and the Federal Aviation Administration's authorization for 15 more months after the Senate Tuesday failed to act on comprehensive, longer-term FAA authorization legislation.
There had been hopes at the end of April for passage of a long-term reauthorization package. But the bill brought up for consideration this month contained a number of new provisions - some of which had little or nothing to do with aviation. Inclusion of the nongermane provisions drew vehement protests from Senate Republicans and a veto threat from the White House (BA, May 5/201). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) scheduled a "cloture" vote to cut off debate and clear the reauthorization bill for a vote. But only 49 Senators voted in favor of cloture Tuesday, far shy of the 60 votes necessary for passage.
Sen. ...
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Problems Making Your Room Reservations for Atlantic City?
There are still rooms available for the $89 rate. However the Trump Marina has been having problems with their reservation system. If you can’t get the rooms you want please call Claire Rusk or Ken Carlisle at 703-299-2430 or email us at Ken.Carlisle@atca.org. We will be happy to help you make your arrangements.
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