Category: Media center

The Director Generals of BULATSA and ARMATS signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the purpose of expanding the interactions between the two ANSPs.

On 4 January 2023 Mr. Georgi Peev met with Mr. Artur Gasparyan, Director General of ARMATS CJSC, and his team in order to present the activities of Bulatsa and discuss topics of mutual interest. The team of Bulatsa presented the achievements of the enterprise focusing on the results achieved over the last decade, with factual data on the serviced flights with no ATS related delays, in the context of geopolitical and economic dynamics, increasing traffic and Covid-19 related crises, proximity to zones of military conflicts, etc. BULATSA’s operational and technological innovations such as SEE FRA, XMAN in relation to the traffic from/to Istanbul Airport, SESAR projects, etc. were also noted.

The representatives of ARMATS asked a number of questions and received specific information about the activities of BULATSA regarding: the provision of radar surveillance, processes in the introduction of ATS functionalities, safety aspects, organizational structure of the enterprise, etc. ARMATS representatives expressed their particular interest in two topics: the implemented work processes for flight procedure design, as well as the established practices for maintaining the professional competence of the operational and the air traffic safety electronics personnel in BULATSA and the provision of training for external customers. BULATSA provided detailed information about the service for the design, documentation and validation of flight procedures and the training opportunities at the Training Centre (offered courses, duration, scope, etc.) and the associated advantages.  

The guests from ARMATS visited the operations room and the Training Centre, where they were acquainted with the practical aspects of BULATSA’ operations and the opportunities for ATCO training.

Friday9^thDecember 2022, the management teams of BULATSA and ROMATSA met in Bucharest for their nineteenthDANUBE FAB ANSP Board meeting, maintaining the important role in shaping the strategic direction and priorities for the FAB. 

The Board members reviewed the activities highlighted under the meeting agenda, based on presentations regarding the FAB Strategic Programme 2023-2027, Annual Plan 2023 and 2022 Annual Report, budget planning for next year, the DANUBE FAB High Priorities such as South East Europe Free Route Airspace (SEE FRA), the recent Single European Sky developments as well asregarding the joint participation in the newest Digital European Sky Industrial Research Call for proposals.

During this meeting, the FAB representatives were updated on projects that have recently been completed and significantly progressed within the FAB. Most notable was the continued expansion of South East Europe Free Route Airspace (SEE FRA). In February 2022, the airspace of the Republic of Moldova has been integrated in SEE FRA, while in February 2023 SEE FRA will expand even further with the inclusion of FRACZECH.

Regarding the InterFAB domain, DANUBE FAB continued to play an important role by strengthening the cooperation arrangements with other FABs and aviation stakeholders. As such, a research workshop on “Single European Sky and Resilience in ATM “ was organised by DANUBE FAB and FABEC on 15^th-16^thSeptember 2022 in Sofia. The conference was held in partnership with the German Aviation Research society (G.A.R.S.). Bringing together academics and practitioners, the research workshop provided a forum for mutual exchange and an opportunity to share ideas for resilient air traffic services.

Having regard to the requirements of the DANUBE FAB State Agreement which foresee that the meetings of the Governing Council shall be organised twice a year, the Council members held their nineteenth meetingin an online format on 16^thDecember 2022, a week after the ANSP Board, thus ensuring the bridge between the relevant strategic and planning bodies of the FAB and the Governing Council.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Transport, Civil and Military Aviation Authorities, National Supervisory Authorities and ANSPs from both States.In accordance with DANUBE FAB Observer Policy, representatives from DG MOVE were also welcomedon behalf of the European Commission.

The Council representatives reviewed the activities carried out in 2022, with a specific focus on the on-going high priority projects: Free Route Airspace, InterFAB Cooperation and Enlargement of DANUBE FAB. Members were also informed on other activities, such as budget planning for next year and the development of the FAB strategic documents, Strategic Programme 2023-2027, respectively the Annual Plan 2023.

Regarding the recent EU developments, specific updates and discussions took place such asthe accession of BULATSA and ROMATSA to the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking, their joint participation in the Digital European Sky Industrial Research Call for proposals, the new SESAR Deployment Manager Partnership and possible ways to find common grounds for a future collaboration.

As DANUBE FAB is following closely the potential impact of the reform of the SES legislative framework on ATM in the region as well as on FABs in general, the members of the Council took note of the complexity of the SES2+ recast dossier andthe recent developments in the trilogue process. The participantsreiterated the importance of the SES reform to enable the response to current challenges such as lack of capacity and reduction of aviation emissions in a dynamic EU regulatory environment. After 10 years of working together in the DANUBE FAB framework the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania have proven their ability to rapidly adapt, adjust, implement and apply new regulations while taking the necessary measures to have performant air navigation infrastructures and services in order to conduct safe air operations.

The next round of DANUBE FAB Governing Bodies meetings are planned forSpring2023.

BULATSA – Flight Information Portal is the new free flight information portal that has no analogue worldwide. It gathers all the necessary aeronautical information in one place and every user can find what they need quickly, easily and interactively.

The Portal was developed in the context of the plan to increase the safety of general aviation in Bulgaria and provides extremely rich aeronautical information in real time. The aim of BULATSA is to always provide a quality and reliable service to its users, because for the enterprise, safety comes first. The new service was developed in close cooperation with the enterprise’s customers – Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), airlines, airports, aviation organizations, etc.

The new Portal gathers in one place information about:

• Air traffic in real time;

• Detailed information about a specific flight;

• Meteorological information (incl. METAR, TAF, AWOS, ATIS, RCR/SNOWTAM, AIRMET, SIGMET, GAMET, VOLMET, satellite data, weather radar, cumulonimbus forecasts, icing, turbulence and wind by flight levels, lightnings, graphic SIGMET) ;

• NOTAM messages in text and graphic format;

• Airspace use plan;

• Active structures in the airspace;

• Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP);

• Information about VFR flights;

• Interactive airspace map;

• Aeronautical map 1:500,000;

• Information about airports, aircraft, airlines and flights;

• Documents (European and national normative documents);

• Lots of other information aimed at the aviation community.

The new service was developed by using the so-called responsive design, which allows identical use regardless of the device – phone, tablet or computer.

Currently in the Portal are defined two plans, whereby the Basic one is provided to all users, while the Extended one – to airlines, airport and aviation operators, aviation organizations and aviation personnel, holding the respective licenses.

In the following year BULATSA will continue to work to satisfy the user needs, as well as to add new functionalities and information to the Portal.

“This is one of the most significant projects implemented by BULATSA this year, with which we want to improve the communication with our users and strengthen our efforts to maintain safety in the air traffic services,” said the Director General of BULATSA, Georgi Peev.

You can find more information on the BULATSA website, https://b-flip.bulatsa.com/.

A forum “Inclusion and Equity in Air Traffic Management” was held in Amsterdam on 16-17 November, hosted by LVNL (ANSP of the Netherlands), EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and EUROCONTROL.

The event brought together experts from the European aviation community, who exchanged ideas, experiences, and good practices in the field of implementing policies to promote equality at different levels in the organizations.

The Director Generals of LVNL, Skyguide (ANSP of Switzerland) and the managed by EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC), opened the meeting with motivational personal examples. They presented business arguments to support the actions they have taken to strengthen the inclusion and equality in the organizations they manage.

Participants discussed safety and diversity, introducing a new term – psychological safety. The perspective of international organizations such as the association representing the ATM industry – CANSO, the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and EASA was also discussed. The professional organizations – the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) shared their experience and implemented activities in the field of inclusion.

Industry representatives united and defined goals, specific actions, and means to implement equality and inclusion policies. BULATSA presented the activities, which were accomplished so far and the possible future undertakings at national and international level.

An Open Day to demonstrate the capabilities of the conflict detection and resolution system TESLA (Tactical Encounter SoLver Assistant) was held at BULATSA. The event is part of the finalization of project PJ.18 Improved Ground Trajectory Predictions Enabling Future Automation Tools, under SESAR 2020 programme, Wave 2. The development of TESLA started in 2016 with close partnership and cooperation between Airbus Defense&Space and BULATSA.

TESLA aims to improve air traffic services through a high-level automation and compliance monitoring in a pre-tactical and tactical time horizon. The system assists air traffic controllers in managing separation and providing optimal conflict-free routes and climb and descent profiles for departing, arriving, and overflying aircraft.

On the Open Day, BULATSA and Airbus DS demonstrated the project developments, presented technological and operational details, and discussed the results of the conducted TESLA validation.

Representatives of the air navigation service providers of Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, guests from EUROCONTROL, SESAR JU and the industry, including Airbus DS, Airbus Aircraft and Leonardo, got acquainted with the progress of the system in an interactive format. They observed a session demonstrating the TESLA performance through simulation of a real airspace environment and real air traffic. The Bulgarian air traffic controllers performed an exercise in which they demonstrated the resolution of numerous conflict situations in the area of Sofia Approach and Sofia Control with the help of the system. Conflict management was assisted by a combination of system trajectories and data received from the aircraft (EPP information via ADS-C). Participants had the opportunity to try out for themselves the TESLA functionalities at an additional working position. 

TESLA has a beneficial effect on the air traffic controllers’ situational awareness, workload and performance, the airspace capacity, safety and the environment.

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SESAR 2020 is a European Union programme focused on the development and validation of technological solutions in the field of air traffic management. It is funded by the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

BULATSA Director General, Georgi Peev, and Mariagrazia La Piscopia, CEO of SDM, held an official meeting.

The visit is part of the SDM initiative to conduct a series of familiarization visits to ANS providers in Central and East Europe and to promote their achievements in the implementation of technological solutions under SESAR.

A presentation entitled, “Presentation of the achievements of BULATSA”, focusing on the achieved results of the enterprise in the last decade, was made by Veselin Stoyanov, Director of European Programmes, Projects and Strategies Directorate, and Ivan Iliev, Head of Planning and Strategies Department.

On the meeting were presented specific data on the provision of effective and safe service, without delays due to ANS, in the conditions of geopolitical and economic dynamics, increasing traffic and crises related to Covid-19, proximity to zones of military conflicts, etc.

Operational and technological innovations such as SEE FRA, XMAN in connection with the traffic from/to Istanbul Airport, as well as already implemented SESAR projects such as Traffic Complexity Assessment Tool (tCAT) and the EATM-CERT platform, were noted.

Mariagrazia La Piscopia noted the achievements of BULATSA as an example of effective resource management and pragmatic investment in new technologies and training of qualified personnel, and highly appreciated the productivity of the enterprise, in the conditions of permanently maintained financial efficiency of service and strong traffic growth. She emphasized that these results must be communicated among the international aviation community, because the data presented by BULATSA confirm the thesis that ANS providers are part of the solutions and the future of the Single European Sky.

Consultations with the operational partners in decision making and project implementation are at the centre of SDM management processes, and its ambitions are to expand the partnerships with new participants. SDM representatives committed to contribute to the good positioning of BULATSA by promoting its achievements among the aviation community.

The meeting was concluded with visits to the operations room, Security Operations Center and BULATSA Innovation Grid, where SDM representatives got acquainted with the work of  BULATSA on relevant projects under the SESAR 2020 programme.