Saab joins European development programme for air traffic management
Saab has signed a contract within the European public-private partnership programme SESAR to be part of the development of the future of European air traffic.
The SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) programme was established in 2005 to address the need for modernized air traffic management systems, ensuring the safety and fluidity of the European airspace – among the busiest in the world – over the next 30 years. Ambitious goals for efficiency and environmental performance have been set for the programme. With a target date in 2020, these include: • enabling a threefold increase in capacity • improving safety by a factor of 10 • reducing the environmental impact per flight by 10 percent • cutting the air traffic management costs by 50 percent. Saab’s contribution to SESAR will mainly focus on two areas, of which one is further development of the Remotely Operated Tower (ROT) concept that Saab launched earlier this year. The ROT system allows for traffic management at small and medium sized airports to be remotely controlled from a central site, thus reducing costs while at the same time enhancing security. Saab will also develop systems for queue management, as well as new airport control tower systems, and management systems to support the aircraft turnaround process at gate. “Being part of SESAR is important as it provides Saab with the opportunity to be involved in the development of the future European air traffic management systems,“ says Ann Kullberg, Business Developer within Saab’s air traffic management department, and responsible for Saab’s participation in SESAR. “With our expertise we will contribute to an air traffic situation that is more environmentally friendly, safer, more efficient and economical.” The Stockholm-Brussels example The benefits of an updated air traffic management infrastructure can be illustrated using a flight between Stockholm and Brussels. A successful implementation of SESAR will produce: • Time savings of 12 to 20 minutes • Fuel savings of 435 to 725 kilograms • Reduction of CO2 emission of 1370 to 2283 kilograms The projects Saab will run are valued at €8.3 million, of which Saab invests 50 percent over eight years. The total budget for the SESAR programme is €2.1 billion, and all projects are co-financed by the 16 industry members and the SESAR Joint Undertaking. Saab has entered the SESAR programme through NATMIG, the North European ATM Industry Group, which also consists of Airtel ATN of Ireland, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems and SINTEF of Norway. The total value of the projects NATMIG will run is €36 million. For further information, please contact: Saab Press Centre, +46 734 180 018 www.saabgroup.com Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
