Press Releases

South Africa’s Air Traffic Flow Management System Named Winner of Jane’s ATC Global Enabling Technology Award

Over the last decade, tourism and travel in South Africa has steadily increased by approximately 7% each year. With the increase in aircraft, passengers and total air traffic movements, South Africa felt they needed to more efficiently manage airspace while enhancing safety. When South Africa was awarded the FIFA 2010 World Cup™, airspace optimization and management became an even larger challenge.

"This ATFM system helps us optimize capacity and redefines the way we work with airlines," said Patrick Dlamini, CEO of ATNS. "The Central Airspace Management Unit can now predict the traffic flow well in advance which will help us to put proactive measures to efficiently and safely control traffic."

"Thales is proud to provide ATNS with an innovative solution that will provide timely and accurate information on any event affecting the flow of air traffic and capacity of the airspace," said Remi Gille, Managing Director for Thales’ air traffic management business. "Thales and Metron Aviation’s flow management solution demonstrates our commitment to maximizing and reducing fuel consumption, which will inevitably improve air traffic safety and continue to move us toward a greener sky."

"ATNS has identified traffic flow management as a strategic capability for not only reducing delays, but enabling new levels of cooperation that benefit both ATM service providers and airlines," said Dave Ellison, CEO of Metron Aviation. "Metron Aviation is grateful for the opportunity to support ATNS together with Thales and advance collaborative traffic flow management around the world, a capability which holds so much promise for seamlessly harmonizing global air traffic."

The ATFM system gives ATNS advanced tools for strategic planning, as well as pre-tactical and tactical management of traffic flows within the available capacity of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system. The system provides the comprehensive ATFM capabilities to model and implement all traffic flow initiatives for both aerodrome/airport and airspace volumes in South Africa. Traffic flow initiatives are used to dynamically balance air traffic demand with capacity to keep traffic flowing as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

ABOUT THALES

Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace and Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of 12.9 billion euros with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com.

ABOUT METRON AVIATION

Founded in 1995, Metron Aviation provides concept engineering, advanced research, software development, Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM), Collaborative Decision Making (CDM), surface operations management, airspace design, and environmental analysis solutions to the global aviation industry. Metron Aviation fuses advanced science and mathematics with unparalleled subject-matter expertise to turn groundbreaking Air Traffic Management (ATM) research concepts into operational capabilities. Customers include the FAA, NAV CANADA, NASA, ATNS, FedEx, Air Canada, Memphis International Airport, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Airservices Australia and many more. For more information, please visit www.metronaviation.com.

ABOUT ATNS

ATNS is the sole commercial provider of air traffic, navigation and associated services in South Africa providing a service to 20 aerodromes around the country including Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban International Airports.

Together over 685 000 aircraft arrival and departure movements are handled at the ATNS services aerodromes every year. Standing strong with over 900 employees ATNS strives to continuously provide safe and orderly management of air traffic navigational and associated services.

ATNS is also responsible for the provision of aeronautical information used for flight planning purposes as well as amongst other search and rescue activities and the maintenance of a reliable navigation infrastructure.

Contact:

Katie Fitzgerald
Thales
+1 571 243 6593
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Mike Gundling
Metron Aviation, Inc.
703.234.0852
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Anna Sanfilippo
Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) South Africa
+27 11 961 0313
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