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| ATM conference stresses technology to compensate for rising air traffic in Asia-Pacific. Photo: Boeing |
[Avionics Today 09-29-2014] Air Traffic Management (ATM) professionals from North and South America, Europe, Russia, Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific and China met in Beijing at the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Global Exhibition and Conference last week. The event was organized with full backing from China’s Air Navigation Service provider (ATMB) and China’s Aviation Regulator (CAAC).
The exhibition reported more than 3,500 attendees, including Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) and Eurocontrol officials and senior members of the Chinese military. Products showcased on the floor include Rohde & Schwarz’s R&S VCS-4G IP-based voice communications system and Exelis’ global aviation expansion program and global surveillance solutions portfolio. Airbus provided briefings on their global market forecast for air transport, air traffic flow management initiatives in China, the widespread use of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) in the region and cockpit design plans for new Air Traffic Management (ATM) technology.
“Passenger numbers are expected to triple to over 2.2 billion; cargo volumes to rise at a rate of 6.3 percent per annum. Aviation’s direct contribution to [Gross Domestic Product] GDP will increase by 6.1 percent per annum in real terms. An additional 1.3 million jobs will be created across the region by 2030,” said Ken Mclean regional director of safety and flight operations for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), referring to aviation growth in China and throughout Asia Pacific, which makes streamlining ATM a particularly hot button issue.