AENA, DFS and NATS, the Air Navigation Service providers in Spain, Germany and the UK, today achieved a major milestone, entering a formal agreement to start the implementation phase of iTEC, the next-generation of European flight data processing (eFDP) system.

The three companies have already completed a successful joint specification phase for iTEC. This next phase of the collaboration aims to replace the flight data processing systems that currently exist in Spain, Germany and the UK with a common, future-oriented shared system.

The iTEC system uses leading edge technology, designed to meet the future capacity needs of the three countries which operate some of the busiest and most complex airspace in the world. It will support both civil and military air traffic control operations, and sets the scene for harmonised and interoperable ATC operations in line with European objectives to achieve a Single European Sky (SES).

The agreement was signed by Francisco Quereda, Chief Executive of AENA; Dieter Kaden, Chief Executive of DFS; and Lawrence Hoskins, Managing Director of NATS. Contracts are in place with systems supplier Indra Sistemas, with more to follow.

"We are committed to using common system components wherever it makes operational and commercial sense in the development of our future technology,” said Lawrence Hoskins. “We see this as key to delivering an integrated and efficient service at reasonable cost to our customers.”

“Close operational and technical collaboration whilst respecting individual responsibilities will be key to the success of this important initiative. It is a major contribution to SES and thus enabling SESAR in the future” said Dieter Kaden.

“The high cost of such a development, and the push for European interoperability and harmonisation, lead the iTEC Parties to invite other European Air Navigation Service Provider to participate in this development,” said Francisco Quereda.

The three companies have been working closely together to define requirements and specifications for a common flight data processing system. The resulting iTEC solution builds upon the previous Eurocontrol eFDP project, the strengths of the parties’ own air traffic management systems (e.g. SACTA and VAFORIT), and new systems developments (e.g. continuous 4D-Trajectory tools).

To expedite development and reduce maintenance cost iTEC will use object-oriented architecture in compliance with relevant standards. The advantage of adopting a joint and incremental approach includes reduced risk with a controlled level of change at each step.
iTEC will be developed to be compliant with SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research Programme) concept of operations; all three partners are already contributing to developing the concept.

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Notes to Editors

AENA is a Public Business Entity entrusted with the planning, development, building, installation, operation and managing of the 47 Spanish civil airports, 1 Heliport and the air navigation system for all airspace under Spanish responsibility, with 5 Area Control Centres Madrid-Torrejón, Sevilla, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca y Las Palmas) covering 3 Flight Information Regions (FIR/UIR). Aena also manages 16 airports in Central and South America, 12 in Mexico, 1 in Cuba and 3 in Colombia plus 3 in USA, 3 in UK and 1 in Sweden. Aena employs 11,340 staff, of whom about 3,200 are working in air navigation services. In 2006, Aena handled nearly 200 million passengers, 2.3 million air movements and 600,000 tons of freight being the investment for the year 1,8 billion euro. From 2000 to 2007, Aena will have been investing over 12.5 billion euro in infrastructure and technology, for both airports and traffic systems. As for the provision of air navigation Aena organises, manages, operates, maintains, and administrates the aeronautical telecommunications system and networks, the navigation aids network, and air traffic control service. It is also in charge of the design, execution, direction, and control of investments in infrastructure and facilities.

DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH is a State-owned company under private law and has 5200 employees. DFS ensures the safe and punctual handling of flights. Staff coordinate around 9,000 aircraft movements in German airspace every day, and almost 3 million movements every year. DFS operates control centres in Langen, Bremen, Karlsruhe and Munich. In addition, DFS is represented in the Eurocontrol Centre in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and in the control towers of the 17 international German airports. DFS has the following business units: Control Centre, Tower and Aeronautical Solutions.

NATS is the UK’s major provider of air traffic services; it handled almost 2.4 million flights in 2006 and carried more than 235 million passengers safely through some of the busiest and most complex airspace in the world. NATS operates Area Control Centres at Swanwick, West Drayton, Manchester and Prestwick, and provides the ATC service at 15 of the UK’s major airports and at Gibraltar. It also markets a wide range of business solutions to the industry. NATS operates through a Private Public Partnership (PPP) and is owned 49% by the UK Government, 42% by the Airline Group, 4% by BAA and 5% by the NATS Employee Sharetrust.