CANSO director-general cites need for consensus on air traffic management in the Asia-Pacific

Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) director general Simon Hocquard pointed out an urgent need for consensus regarding air traffic management (ATM) in the Asia-Pacific.

Hocquard made his remarks at the recently-held second Asia Pacific Civil Aviation Ministerial Conference in New Delhi, India. In his speech, he cast the spotlight on the disparity between investment in airport infrastructure and ATM capacity, warning that this could lead to a capacity crunch if not addressed.

He said: “We are fast approaching a critical juncture. Air navigation service providers (ANSPs) have to invest in key elements such as replacing out of date equipment, innovative new systems to enable ANSPs to contend with future air traffic growth, and resources.”

A potential capacity crunch

Hocquard warned industry professionals that if they do not invest enough into air traffic management infrastructure, the region could face a significant capacity crunch in the near future. 

In a recent survey of regional ANSPs, 75 percent reported that they face challenges with resources, both financial and manpower. The cost of a lack of capacity is much greater than the cost of the necessary investment.”

Furthermore, there is a need for cross-industry collaboration and coherent policy alignment with which to address the issue. 

Hocquard said: “Coherency between ATM operations, technology and policy will lead to greater effectiveness. CANSO is optimistic that the APAC region’s whole can be greater than the sum of its parts, [which is] the very essence of regional ATM.”

Supporting industry needs

To support this, CANSO and ATM consultancy, Think Research, have produced a white paper aimed at modernising the region’s ATM. 

The content for this paper was developed with the industry, and included a brainstorming retreat of senior leaders in the CANSO Asia Pacific Conference 2024. The paper also presents strategic recommendations, including digitalisation, virtualisation, and improved regional coordination, to ensure sustainable growth and efficiency in air traffic management.

Hocquard ended his talk by saying: “CANSO reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Asia Pacific region in achieving a robust and efficient ATM system that will enable the continued growth and success of the aviation industry.”