Saab – beyond innovation in air traffic management

The Asia-Pacific region has over a number of years experienced an over 10 per cent strong annual air traffic growth. In fact, Asia Pacific is already the world’s largest aviation market. saab_air_control

Saab offers a wide range of solutions designed to support air transportation players in optimizing and securing the different sectors of air transportation covering traffic management, airport support, security and solutions providing net centric capabilities.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates that air traffic in the Asia Pacific region will triple by 2030. With this anticipated growth in air traffic, the aviation industry faces many challenges.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) published its first 20-year passenger growth forecast in October 2014, projecting that passenger numbers are expected to reach 7.3 billion by 2034. For the full year 2012 IATA reported 2.98 billion passengers.

Many key airports in the Asia Pacific region are already operating at near full capacity with airlines having to manage a lack of timely information for long-haul flights and interacting with an air traffic control community where capabilities vary widely.

In the complex and demanding environment of an airport a number of players cooperate in order to make the flow of aircraft, people and goods run securely and efficiently. Even small disturbances or disruptions can cause severe damage in terms of delays and costs.

You must have heard of unmanned vehicles and unmanned planes. Now it is time for unmanned air traffic control systems. With the advent of the new technology developed by Saab, known as Remote Tower, traditional air traffic management could go through a sea of changes in future. Remote Tower can place human air traffic controllers miles away from the airfield to consolidate operations and would be able to assist traffic management in Asia Pacific region.

“Two Senior Thai Delegations visited Sweden recently to witness Saab’s Remote Tower in action and to evaluate the potential of bringing this technology to Thailand for use in several Low traffic volume Airports currently manned by Air Traffic Controllers. Their strategy is to integrate several remote Towers at these Airports and perform the Air Traffic Control from a Central Location such as Bangkok or Hat Yai”, says Mike Wakefield, Regional Business Development Director for Air Traffic Systems, Saab Asia Pacific.

Saab’s innovative solutions support the transformation of operational capabilities from reactive to proactive, from tactical to strategic work. We look forward to present some of our solutions during Thai Swedish Chamber of Commerce 25 year’s anniversary exhibition at Central World 24-26 October 2014.

Visit Saab Air Traffic Management website: www.saabgroup.com/en/civil-security/air-transportation-and-airport-security/

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