Press Releases
Metron Aviation Selected for SESAR ATM Research and Development
Dulles, VA, March 15, 2011— Metron Aviation announced today that it has been selected by Thales to perform advanced research and development work on the Single European Sky ATM Research program (SESAR)*. SESAR is the European program for air traffic management infrastructure modernization which aims to develop the Europe’s next generation air traffic control system. As announced last year, Metron Aviation was selected as the FAA’s prime contractor on the SE-2020 Research and Mission Analysis Set-Aside. SE-2020 is the FAA’s strategic program for implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), and the ten-year contract awarded to Metron Aviation has a value of $ 1.15 billion.
Metron Aviation will be working on the development phase of SESAR, carried out by the SESAR Joint Undertaking, which will produce the new generation of technological systems and components as defined in the European ATM Master Plan. Metron Aviation will carry out research and development activities that support the European ATM Master Plan for safe, cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable air transportation.
“Working on both SESAR and NextGen programs is immensely rewarding since our mission revolves around the science of harmonizing air traffic around the globe,” said Dave Ellison, President and Chief Executive Officer, Metron Aviation. “Our organization is fully committed to the success of SESAR and NextGen in delivering unprecedented levels of benefits to all aviation stakeholders and the flying public.”
Metron Aviation provides advanced and collaborative ATM products and services for the global aviation industry, including Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM), concept engineering, advanced research, software development, surface operations management, airspace design and environmental analysis. Metron Harmony, the company’s commercial ATFM and CDM product, is being adopted globally by industry-leading Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP’s) including Airservices Australia and ATNS South Africa, and by U.S and international airlines seeking to optimize efficiency, maximize throughput, improve predictability, lower operating costs, decrease fuel burn and reduce emissions.
Thales and Metron successfully deployed the ATNS central Airspace Management Unit (CAMU) which provides a system-wide view for managing the entire region, approximately ten percent of the global airspace. Thales and Metron are cooperating on the System Engineering 2020 (SE-2020) Research and Mission Analysis Set-Aside.
About Metron Aviation
Founded in 1995, Metron Aviation pioneered the advancement of Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM), working with the FAA to develop the industry’s first Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) platform for optimizing system-wide traffic flow. Metron Aviation provides concept engineering, advanced research, software development, traffic flow management, 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 next-generation operational capabilities. Metron Harmony, Metron Aviation’s commercial product, provides integrated ATFM and CDM capabilities for the world’s leading Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), airlines and airports. Metron Aviation 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 Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2010, the company generated revenues of €13.1 billion with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 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 Thales Air Traffic Management
Thales is world leader in ATM systems and civil radars, and has a 70% market share in the navigation aids market. Thales offers integrated gate-to-gate solutions, from pre-flight to landing, ensuring airport safety, efficient traffic handling operations, data sharing on aircraft and seamless handover operations between territories. There are more than 260 Eurocat centres, totalling some 4,000 controller positions in service throughout the world. Thales is involved in the key Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) program in Europe, in which it is the largest industrial contributor, as well as the NextGen program in the USA.
About SESAR Programme and the SESAR Joint Undertaking
The SESAR programme is the operational and technological answer to the major challenges of European air traffic growth. The aim of the SESAR Joint Undertaking is to ensure the modernisation of the European air traffic management system by coordinating and concentrating all relevant research and development efforts in the Community. Partnership, sustainability and user-drive are key concepts of the SESAR Joint Undertaking approach. Founded by the European Commission and by EUROCONTROL, fifteen companies are members of the SJU: AENA, Airbus, Alenia Aeronautica, the DFS, the DSNA, ENAV, Frequentis, Honeywell, INDRA, NATMIG, NATS (En Route) Limited, NORACON, SEAC, SELEX Sistemi Integrati and Thales.
*Sole responsibility for this communication lies with Metron Aviation. The SESAR Joint Undertaking and its Founding Members are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
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Contact:
Mike GundlingMetron Aviation, Inc.
703.234.0852
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