The foehn over Sofia Airport increased the work of air traffic controllers

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The foehn over Sofia Airport increased the work of air traffic controllers

Photo: BULATSA

The strong winds led to problems for aviation on 17 and 18 March, because of the high speed, gusts and lateral direction to the runway of Sofia Airport. The maximum wind speed reached 22 m/s or 80 km/h. The crews reported wind shear throughout the night while BULATSA’s air traffic controllers proved exceptional professionalism in servicing the airspace.
The phenomenon is called foehn and occurs in the cold half of the year. A cyclone influenced the weather as warm air from the Mediterranean flew at high velocity over the ground, streaming above the Mountain of Vitosha and accelerated during its descend over the valley of Sofia. This raised the temperatures above the normal for the season.
The turbulence and wind shear (change of wind speed and/or direction from one point in space to another) caused discomfort for passengers and increased the workload of air crews and air traffic controllers.
The workload of BULATSA’s meteorologists was also increased as they were required to provide the most accurate forecast for the wind speed, direction and the duration of the phenomenon. These issues reflect on both the professionals and the flying public, so the information needs to be provided in a timely manner. A good coordination was in place and no incidents occurred in these critical periods.
A standard procedure for the aircraft to ‘Go Around’ is in place for such situations where the safe landing is a paramount.
The chart below shows the average speed (blue) and the wind gusts (red). Data source: Aerodrome Weather Observation System.

BULATSA participated in the World ATM Congress in Madrid

BULATSA Director General Georgi Peev took part in the annual Strategic Conference of the executive officers of ANSPs members of the Civil aviation services organization (CANSO) during the week of the World ATM Congress in Madrid.
Within the congress BULATSA and ROMATSA experts presented projects related to SESAR – „Advantages and applications of the New pan-European Network Services (NewPens), Project for implementation of the South Eastern European Night Free Route Airspace (SEEN FRA), “Traffic Complexity Assessment Tool” in BULATSA, “Pilot platform for access services to OPMET (ECAC) data, (METAR, TAF, SIGMET) in WXXM format in ROMATSA”, and a project for initial SWIM implementation – Creating local operational security center in BULATSA.
BULATSA representatives discussed the experience and the practical solutions of DANUBE FAB in the InterFAB panel “Impact of the traffic volatility in air traffic management”.
BULATSA air traffic controllers together with AIRBUS Aircraft and AIRBUS Defence and Space engineers made a demonstration of the integration of two prototypes of SESAR 2020, developed within SESAR PJ.10 Solution 10.02a – Tactical Encounter Solver Assistant (TESLA) by AIRBUS Defence and Space and BULATSA, and within SESAR PJ.18 Solution 18.04 – PAS@ATM by AIRBUS Aircraft.

DANUBE FAB showcased its experience at InterFAB Panel on Volatility in ATM

Mr. Veselin Stoyanov, Director European Programmes, Projects and Strategy at BULATSA, presented DANUBE FAB experience and know-how at the InterFAB Panel – Volatility in ATM: Cases, Challenges, Solutions at the FABEC OPS Theatre in the framework of the World ATM Congress 2018. Together with other functional airspace blocks representatives and the Performance Review Unit, participants discussed how different kinds of volatility (political conflicts, weather, low fare carrier behavior, ANS fees) impact the operational management of day-to-day business and how predictability should be improved in the given framework.

DANUBE FAB is part of the SESAR Walking Tour at the World ATM Congress in Madrid 2018

DANUBE FAB partnered SESAR in delivering transformation in air traffic management. The series of walking tours at the World ATM Congress in Madrid displayed solutions delivered and deployed across Europe for the benefit of the European Air Traffic Management.
BULATSA and ROMATSA experts showcased various SESAR related projects within the SESAR walking tour at the WATMC 2018. The projects represent deliverables in various ATM deployment areas such as Advancing ATM systems to support advanced concepts, Advanced air traffic services, Connect, communicate, share: enabling technologies in ATM, delivering tomorrow’s ATM platform and Building a user-centric network.
At WATMC 2018 DANUBE FAB presented the implementation of the following SESAR solutions related projects: 2015_174_AF5 “Advantages and applications of New pan-European network services (NewPens)”, the South Eastern European Night Free Route Airspace (SEEN FRA) project, the 2015_217_AF4 Traffic complexity assessment Tool (tCAT) BULATSA project, the 2014-EU-TM-0136-M Pilot platform for access services to OPMET (worldwide/ECAC) data (METAR, TAF, SIGMET) in WXXM format in ROMATSA and the 2016_062_AF5 initial SWIM Implementation – creating local security operation centre in BULATSA. All projects except SEEN FRA are funded by EC under various CEF Calls.
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BULATSA Innovative ATM system presented at the World ATM Congress 2018 in Madrid

Mr. Ivan Hassamski, Single European Sky expert at BULATSA and active ATCO, was invited to outline BULATSA’s innovative ATM system at Leonardo stand at the annual World ATM Congress in Madrid. He highlighted the Dynamic Sectors Management applied to enhance the provision of ATC. To optimize usage of airspace and improve flight efficiency within the airspace of DANUBE FAB, BULATSA together with its partner ROMATSA, implemented cross-border sectorization which includes the delegation of airspace from Bucharest to Sofia and vice versa. Leonardo system currently used by BULATSA for the provision of ATC allows to dynamically move “on-the-fly” ATC sectors from the Area of Interest (AOI) to the Area Of Responsibility (AOR). This capability enables the application of the Airspace Delegation concept within the DANUBE FAB framework.

Cyber security in ATM workshop took place at DANUBE FAB stand

DANUBE FAB partner ANSPs BULATSA and ROMATSA hosted a debate on cyber security addressing the current and future challenges within the ATM cyber security domain.
Participants discussed the latest developments in the European legislation related to Cyber Security and necessity for implementation of new technologies to reflect the new requirements in the light of Directive (EU) 2016/1148 and Security in terms of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/373 of 1 March 2017 laying down common requirements.The implementation of a Cyber Security Operational Centre (SOC) was also presented along with its concept, platform (software, hardware), roles, responsibilities and future developments.
Participants highlighted the exchange of information for cyber incidents between local SOCs, within DANUBE FAB, with EATM-CERT, EU-CERT and other stakeholders. Exercises and training on cyber security at European level (Cyber 2018) were also discussed.

WAC Madrid 2018 – BULATSA joint participation with AIRBUS Defence and Space and AIRBUS Aircraft in SESAR Project PJ.10

Air traffic controllers from BULATSA together with engineers from AIRBUS Aircraft and AIRBUS Defence and Space take part in a three days’ joint demonstration of the integration of two SESAR 2020 prototypes during the World ATM Congress 2018 which takes place in Madrid, 06 – 08th March.
These prototypes are developed under SESAR PJ.10 Solution 10.02a – Tactical Encounter Solver Assistant (TESLA) by AIRBUS Defence and Space and BULATSA and under SESAR PJ.18 Solution 18.04 – PAS@ATM by AIRBUS Aircraft.
The TESLA prototype is being developed with the objective is to assist the ATCOs in resolving potential conflicts in medium and high-density terminal areas. The prototype assesses and presents to the ATCOs various options for preventing potential conflicts by analyzing aircraft trajectories and suggesting resolution actions for each specific situation.
The PAS@ATM prototype is an emulator of aircraft derived data, a 4D FMS trajectory data downlinked from the aircraft via DataLink. This enhanced 4D trajectory is being used for a first time in a ground-based ATM application with a specific purpose – tactical separation management.

CANSO CEO Strategy summit 2018

Photo: BULATSA

BULATSA DG took part in the the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) CEO Strategy Summit which kick started the activities related to the Annual World ATM Congress,
the world’s largest international air traffic management eventthat is operated by CANSO in partnership with the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA).
The CANSO CEO Strategy Summit was held on March 5th, 2018 and covered important and timely strategic discussionson the future of the ATM industry and hence on the future of CANSO, and how it can best create maximum value on behalfof its Members.
This highly interactive event featured strategic topics for the ATM industry and an open dialogue at CEO level. The Summit granted a brief, high-level update on the ATM developments and, most importantly, what remains to be done. It provided a platform to meet and engage with more than 200 key decision-makers from across the globe, and to contribute to discussions that will be used to shape the evolution of CANSO and the ATM industry.

BULATSA and IATA to Develop an Airspace Strategy for Bulgaria

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and BULATSA, the Bulgarian Air Navigation Service Provider, have agreed to develop and implement a Bulgarian National Airspace Strategy.
BULATSA and IATA will strengthen their existing cooperation for this initiative, which is aimed at delivering benefits to the travelling public, while supporting national economic growth and the competitiveness of the Bulgarian aviation sector.
Passenger demand for air transport in Bulgaria is set to double over the next two decades. Servicing this demand, while ensuring safety, and managing costs, CO2 emissions and delays, requires Bulgaria to further modernize its airspace and Air Traffic Management (ATM) network. Successful airspace modernization is expected to create significant benefits, generating an extra €628 million in annual GDP and 11,300 jobs annually by 2035.
BULATSA and IATA have committed to work together and with all aviation stakeholders to deliver and implement the National Airspace Strategy in support of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative. The main aspects of the strategy cover leadership and a collaborative stakeholder approach, airspace management, and technical modernization of the ATM system.
Georgi Peev, Director General of BULATSA, explained: “I welcome this initiative, which will support the ongoing evolution of our technology and operations. The development of a national airspace strategy would further enhance the good cooperation with our customers and partners and would contribute to achieving the SES high level goals. The implementation of BULATSA’s key projects related to airspace reorganization and to capabilities to meet high traffic levels combined with increased complexity of operations are expanding the foundation for the delivery of BULATSA’s ambitious targets.”
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, said earlier: “Bulgaria will occupy an ever-more important position in European airspace as East-West traffic increases in the coming years. And Bulgaria itself is a fast-growing economy which will see a significant passenger surge. Ensuring that the airspace is optimized to cope with increased traffic will benefit not only Bulgaria but the wider European traveling public. As Bulgaria takes up its Presidency of the European Union, this commitment to building a National Airspace Strategy is a concrete sign of the nation fulfilling a strategic leadership role. We congratulate BULATSA for its vision, and look forward to working with them to make airspace modernization a success.”
The Bulgarian National Airspace Strategy will include:

  • Enhancement of coordination for more efficient flightpaths;
  • Airspace optimization at regional level as well as between regions;
  • Increased capacity while ensuring safety levels;
  • Improved punctuality of flights;
  • Better sharing of information across the European air transport network.

The 63-th meeting of the CANSO CEO Committee (EC3) was held

BULATSA Director General Georgi Peev and the Director of European Programmes, Projects and Strategies Veselin Stoyanov participated in the 63-th meeting of the European Committee of the CEOs of the Air Traffic Service Providers (ANSPs) members of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO). The meeting was held on 21 February 2018 in Brussels and Mr Eamonn Brennan, the newly appointed EUROCONTROL DG, and Dr Regula Dettling-Ott, Chair of the Performance Review Body (PRB) joined the discussions as external guests.
The main areas of discussion were related to the position of the European ANSPs on key topics – the changes in the Performance Scheme within the third Reference Period (RP3), the improved stakeholder relations with EUROCONTROL and the future of the Network Manager.
Other topics of current interest included also the communications activities of CANSO to influence the aviation community as well as updates on relevant EASA activities and European Commission’s initiatives.