Birmingham Airport has chosen ADB SAFEGATE, to install its Integrated Tower Solution to enable A-CDM and improve real-time information shared between airport stakeholders ─ airlines, ground handlers and air traffic control. Greater predictability is only one of the expected outcomes.

Birmingham Airport, with 11 million passengers annually, is home to several airline operators, and is the United Kingdom’s seventh busiest airport. The airport has chosen AviBit, now a part of ADB SAFEGATE, to install its Integrated Tower Solution to enable A-CDM and improve real-time information shared between airport stakeholders ─ airlines, ground handlers and air traffic control. The expected outcomes? Greater predictability of aircraft movement, resource optimization and capacity enhancement, leading to safer and superior airport performance, increased efficiency and lower costs

The project is co-financed by the European Union – as part of its larger Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA). The investment will contribute to the implementation of the Single European Sky (SES), and in particular, the deployment of SES’ technological arm, the SES Air Traffic Management Research (SESAR) programme. SES is a priority project of the European Commission, is aligned with the EU Europe 2020 Strategy and aims to modernize European Air Traffic Management.

“As the fastest growing airport in the UK outside London, we see significant benefits in joining the A-CDM programme, and enhanced performance is just one of these,” said Nick James, Head of Air Navigation Services, Birmingham Airport. “We’re excited about the other outcomes ─ better efficiency and safety, greater time and cost savings ─ that we and our airport ecosystem partners will achieve through Airport Collaborative Decision Making.”

ADB SAFEGATE’s Integrated Tower Solution** comprises ACEMAX Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System , DIFLIS Electronic Flight Strips, DECLOS Digital Pre-Departure Clearance System and OPTAMOS Departure Management System, as well as third party radar systems for surface movement, aircraft and vehicle surveillance. All of these are critical elements in the airport’s A-CDM programme.

The ADB SAFEGATE solution systemizes the operational process and takes on non-critical tasks to reduce the air traffic controller workload and improve safety. This allows the controller to concentrate on a safe and more efficient traffic flow. For congested airports, this frees up unused capacity where traffic expansion may not otherwise be possible.

ADB SAFEGATE will also be responsible for decommissioning some of the existing systems and civil works. The project will be deployed in two phases, the first of which is scheduled for completion by April 2017.

“A-CDM is catching on as more and more airports realize its benefits. A recent Eurocontrol survey estimates airlines at several CDM airports made tactical delay cost savings of close to €1 million in 2015,” said Christian Onselaere, CEO, ADB SAFEGATE. “Our Air Traffic Management Solution paves the way for A-CDM, and helps Birmingham, one of UK’s best performing airports, manage its growth efficiently.”

Media Enquiries

 ADB SAFEGATE

Jean Luc Devisscher
Media Relations
Phone: +32 473 788 055
E-mail: jeanluc.devisscher@adbsafegate.com

Lotta Jacobsson
Media Relations
Phone: +46 70 508 80 05
E-mail : lotta.jacobsson@adbsafegate.com

Notes:

 Airport Collaborative Decision Making aims to improve airport operational efficiency by enabling greater real-time information sharing within the airport ecosystem – airport operators, Air Traffic Control and Network Operations. The A-CDM project is a joint initiative between ACI EUROPE, EUROCONTROL, International Air Transport Assocation (IATA) and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO). A key outcome is more accurate Target Take Off Times which can be used to improve en-route and sector planning of the European ATM Network.

How it works: Network Managers at CDM airports receive a Departure Planning Information notification before a flight takes off. With access to real-time data, the Network Manager has a more accurate view of air traffic, and therefore safer, more efficient operations.

**Benefits of ADB Safegate’s Integrated Tower Solution: 

• ACEMAX Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System not only supports high traffic capacity, it significantly increases the safety level under all weather conditions
• DIFLIS Electronic Flight Strips provide an Air Traffic Controller with a workflow based support logic that dramatically reduces the time necessary to handle data input and strip handling. At Birmingham, this will fulfil EC guidelines for data interchange with OPTAMOS Departure Management System and Eurocontrols Network Manager Operation Centre (NMOC) to support departure flow management.
• DECLOS Digital Pre-Departure Clearance System provides ATC and airlines with the option of retrieving a Pre Departure clearance using the on-board Data link equipment. This helps reduce frequency congestion and frees up Air Traffic Controllers’ workload
• OPTAMOS Departure Management System supports accurate planning of Arrival and/or Departure streams. It optimizes departure flow planning with airport operations centre (AOC) and airlines in support of Birmingham’s A-CDM program

ADB Safegate is a leading provider of intelligent solutions that deliver superior airport performance from approach to departure. The company partners with airports and airlines to analyze their current setup and operations, identify bottlenecks, and jointly solve them using a consultative approach that enables airports to improve efficiency, enhance safety and environmental sustainability, and reduce operational costs. Our integrated portfolio includes solutions and services that harmonize airport performance, tackling every aspect of traffic handling and guidance, from approach, runway and taxiway lighting, to tower-based traffic control systems, and intelligent gate and docking automation. ADB Safegate has more than 900 employees in more than 20 countries and operates in more than 175 countries, serving more than 2,000 airports.