An Industry Proposal for the Italian National Airspace Strategy - 2018 to 2035 Edition one December 2018 - Enav
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An Industry Proposal for the Italian National Airspace Strategy 2018 to 2035 Edition one December 2018
| Document control Version 1.0 Date 05/12/2018 Status Edition one Authors IATA, ENAV, Alitalia and Assaeroporti Reviewed by IATA, ENAV, Alitalia, Assaeroporti and ENAC Next steps Launch to the wider aviation stakeholder community for consultation
Contents Executive summary 2 PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Context 6 1.2 NAS vision and benefits 10 1.3 Airspace and the environment 11 1.4 Progress update 14 PART 2: INITIATIVES 2.1 Modernizing the upper airspace 18 2.2 Modernizing the terminal airspace 21 2.3 Improving the flexible use of airspace 27 2.4 Communications, navigation and surveillance 29 2.5 Air traffic management systems and tools 33 2.6 Resilience and business continuity 36 PART 3: IMPLEMENTATION 3.1 Coordination, oversight and engagement 38 3.2 Conclusion and next steps 41 Page 1 Italian NAS Proposal
Executive summary
The aviation industry’s proposal for As well as enabling growth,
an Italian National Airspace airspace modernization also offers
Strategy (NAS) describes how the opportunities to:
ongoing modernization of Italy’s
airspace will be delivered. • reduce and remove risk factors
from the existing airspace and
The strategy aims to bring all introduce new concepts that
aviation stakeholders together, support the safety critical tasks
including airports, aircraft of pilots and air traffic controllers.
operators, Air Navigation Service
Providers, the Military, Regulator • tackle hotspots of congestion
and Government behind a common within the current airspace
vision, to deliver: network.
“A safe and efficient Italian airspace • improve the resilience of the
that has the capacity to meet airspace network to bad weather
demand, balances the needs of all and other forms of disruption.
users and mitigates the impact of • better manage the environmental
aviation on the environment” impacts of aviation, especially
The demand for aviation in Italy and aircraft emissions and noise per
across Europe is greater than ever flight.
before. In 2017, Italy’s Air The Italian NAS forms a key part of
Navigation Service Provider - ENAV, the wider Single European Sky
managed a total of 1.86m flights (SES) program (which provides the
with peaks of over 6,800 per day. overarching framework to
Italy’s airspace requires ongoing modernize the airspace across
modernization to continue to Europe) and proposes the creation
service the growing demand from of joint Government, Regulator and
commercial air transport, the Industry arrangements to
Military and general aviation and coordinate and support the
new fast-growing user groups such implementation of initiatives at a
as unmanned aerial vehicles. national level.
Italian NAS Proposal Page 2
Executive summary
Airspace modernization involves the The Italian aviation sector is already
implementation of new airspace investing significantly in airspace
structures, operational concepts, modernization initiatives. In recent
technologies and procedures years, many important projects
including: have been implemented, and others
are being developed by the ANSP
• Replacing the fixed route (ENAV), airlines and airports
structure in the upper airspace working in close collaboration.
with the Free Route Airspace
concept, allowing aircraft to Some initiatives are more advanced
follow optimized flight paths compared to the general progress
without restrictions. made across States in the SES ATM
Research (SESAR) Deployment
• Redesigning the busy terminal programme. The NAS will help to
airspace using more precise and share Italian experiences with
flexible routes, based on satellite SESAR partners for the benefit of
navigation standards. the European network.
• Deploying new air traffic Airspace modernization brings
management techniques that significant benefits; reducing flight
sequence traffic to improve delays and operating costs for the
arrival and departure punctuality. industry; and increasing global
• Redesigning airport arrival and connectivity, choice and value for
departure routes so flights can consumers. However, these
climb and descend continuously, benefits come with an
reduce fuel burn, emissions and environmental cost, both at the
better manage the impacts of local and global level.
aircraft noise. As a result, the Italian NAS aims to
• Connecting airports into the provide clear direction for industry
network to provide and receive stakeholders to build on the
accurate information about traffic progress already made and ensure
flows which will better manage that Italy leads the way in exploiting
ground delays and pinch points opportunities to better manage the
across the airspace. environmental impacts of aviation.
Page 3 Italian NAS Proposal
Executive summary The industry’s proposal for an Italian In this context, the authors (ENAV, NAS is based on the recognition IATA, Alitalia and Assaeroporti) that engagement and collaboration commend this first edition of the across all aviation stakeholders is Italian NAS to all those with an essential to implement the strategy interest in the future of the Italian successfully and maximize the aviation market and encourage benefits of continued airspace stakeholders to provide feedback modernization for passengers, and participate in the modernization airspace users, airports, local process as the strategy enters the communities and the wider implementation phase from 2019. economy.
PART 1: INTRODUCTION Context NAS vision and benefits Airspace and the environment Progress update
1.1 Context
This industry proposal for an Italian The aviation industry recognises that the
National Airspace Strategy (NAS) airspace and air transport network are
describes the strategy for the ongoing key parts of the country’s infrastructure
modernization of Italy’s airspace through and that the sector relies greatly on their
to 2035. The proposed strategy is performance to operate efficiently and
intended for all those with an interest in continue to grow.
the Italian aviation sector including the
government, military, passengers, The Italian aviation sector has grown
aircraft operators, airports, air navigation significantly in the last 40 years driven by
service providers (ANSPs), companies globalisation, the growth in real incomes
that rely on air transport to conduct their and a greater desire from the public to
business and communities that may be travel abroad. Demand forecasts predict
affected by the environmental impact of that the total number of flights in Italian
aircraft. airspace will continue to rise significantly
out to 2035 and beyond. Airspace
Aviation keeps people connected with modernization is needed to
one another and provides the accommodate the growth in demand for
international access that the country aviation, while enhancing safety,
needs for business and tourism. Italy is a operational resilience, market
global trading nation and home to one of competitiveness and environmental
the world’s largest economies. The performance.
speed and international reach of aviation
is a key driver of economic growth, for Italy’s airspace is situated in the core of
example: central Europe, one the world’s busiest
air corridors. Its efficient operation is
• The aviation sector contributed crucial for international Air Traffic
€58.3bn to the overall Italian GDP in Management (ATM). As a result, the
2016. implementation of new airspace
structures, operational concepts,
• In monetary terms, 35% of all Italian technologies and procedures described
trade in 2016 was transported by air. in the NAS are closely linked with the
Single European Sky (SES) initiative that
• Air transport is estimated to generate
coordinates airspace modernization
a 4.7% increase in foreign investment
across the continent and ensures
for every 10 per cent increase in the
alignment with global developments.
number flights.
Italian NAS Proposal Page 6
| Overview of Italian airspace The General Aviation sector that includes
private pilots in light aircraft, gliders,
Flights in Italian airspace can be microlights and a wide range of other
categorised into three types: Commercial operators mainly use uncontrolled
Air Transport carrying fare paying airspace. Airspace modernization is
passengers and cargo, General Aviation expected to improve access to airspace
and the Military. There were 1.8m for General Aviation, by enabling greater
commercial air transport flights in 2016 integration of different airspace user
with peaks of up to 6,575 per day. Flights groups. In this respect the pressing
travelled to / from 45 airports, of these: emerging challenge related to the rapidly
evolving Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• 42% were international flights;
(UAS) market has to be considered as it
• 19% were Italian domestic flights; and is bringing new levels of complexity and
will trigger specific additional needs.
• 39% were overflights en-route to
another final destination. The military is a significant user of both
types of airspace to protect the country’s
Italian airspace can be grouped into two borders and often operates within the
main categories, controlled and confines of dedicated training or danger
uncontrolled. The majority of commercial areas. In addition, Italian airspace is
flights in Italy operate in controlled increasingly required to accommodate
airspace under the monitoring and unmanned aerial vehicles, which can be
direction of ENAV – Italy’s civil air traffic remotely piloted or autonomous. The
control company. ENAV manages over Italian Airforce (ITAF) provides services
750,000km2 of controlled airspace, 60% at airports that are for military purposes
over the sea and 40% overland. The top or open to civilian traffic.
ten airlines operating in Italy are:
Italian airspace is divided into three Flight
Information Regions (FIRs), from the
ground to 19,500 feet and three
corresponding Upper Information
Regions (UIRs) from 19,500 to 66,000
feet. ENAV provides air traffic services to
airspace users across the regions
through 4 Area Control Centres (ACCs)
and 45 Control Towers at airports.
Chart 1 sets out the locations and
boundaries of the Milano FIR/UIR
supported by the Milano and Padova
ACCs; the Roma FIR/UIR, supported by
the Roma ACC; and the Brindisi FIR/UIR,
supported by the Brindisis ACC. The
chart also illustrates the locations of
Italy’s 45 major airports.
Page 7 Italian NAS Proposal
Chart 1: Italian airspace FIR/UIRs and ACCs
Italian NAS Proposal Page 8| There are eight main drivers for the 7. Airport integration: The need to
continuous modernization of Italy’s enhance the performance of Italy’s
airspace core hub airports by sharing
information that aligns operations on
1. Safety: The need to deliver the ground more closely to the flow
continuous improvements in aviation of traffic in the air.
safety by reducing and removing risk
factors from the existing airspace 8. European integration: The need to
and introducing new technologies implement internationally agreed
that support the safety critical tasks requirements set out as part of the
of pilots and air traffic controllers. SES initiative that are designed to
increase the overall safety, capacity
2. Growth: The need to accommodate and efficiency of European airspace.
the growing demand from airspace
users, including commercial air This strategy describes a range of
transport that is a key part of Italy’s airspace modernization initiatives that
transport infrastructure supporting address these drivers, including:
economic growth and new fast-
growing user groups such as drones. • Replacing the fixed route structure in
the upper airspace with the Free
3. Punctuality: The need to tackle Route Airspace (FRA) concept,
hotspots of congestion within the allowing aircraft to follow optimised
current airspace network. flight paths without restrictions.
4. Resilience: The need to continuously • Redesigning the busy terminal
improve the resilience of the airspace airspace using more precise and
network to bad weather and other flexible routes, based on satellite
forms of disruption, including navigation standards.
mitigating the impact of disruptions in
neighbouring European airspace. • Deploying new ATM concepts that
stream traffic using speed controls to
5. Environment: The need to develop improve arrival and departure
new policies and operational punctuality and reduce delays.
approaches to better manage the
environmental impacts of aviation, • Redesigning airport arrival and
especially aircraft emissions and departure routes so flights can climb
noise per flight. and descend continuously, reduce
fuel burn, emissions and better
6. Technology: The need to coordinate manage the impacts of aircraft noise.
the introduction of new technologies
and the operational concepts they • Connecting airports into the network
enable in a synchronised way across to provide and receive accurate
all affected stakeholders. information about traffic flows which
will better manage ground delays and
pinch points across the airspace.
Page 9 Italian NAS Proposal1.2 Vision and benefits
| Vision | Benefits
The Italian NAS aims to align all aviation For passengers, the benefits of the
stakeholders, including airports, aircraft airspace modernization are clear. Fewer
operators, Air Navigation Service flight delays and service disruptions at
Providers (ANSPs), the Military, short-notice are expected to save time
Regulator and the Government behind a and improve the passenger experience.
common vision, to deliver:
For aircraft operators, the airspace
“A safe and efficient Italian structure is a key determinant of costs,
punctuality and environmental
airspace that has the capacity performance. More direct and efficient
to meet demand, balances the flight paths will mean lower costs for
needs of all users and operators because they will save on fuel
and be able to enhance the utilisation of
mitigates the impact of aviation their aircraft.
on the environment”
For airports, the greater integration of
The Italian NAS encourages aviation their ground operations with airborne
stakeholders to contribute to the traffic flows is expected to improve
achievement of the vision through their runway throughput and resilience.
commitment to:
For the economy and consumers, the
• Continue to seek improvements in the capacity to add routes and
airspace structure and route network accommodate new flights will lead to
design to provide the capacity for better value, more choice and enhanced
growth alongside enhancements to global connections that can help drive
environmental performance. the economy forward.
• Continue to seek improvements in For the environment, Although there will
ATM operations and technology that be environmental impacts associated
enhances the safety, security and with the growth in traffic levels (see
efficiency of air travel in Italy and section 1.3), important environmental
across its borders. improvements are also expected from
the airspace modernization as aircraft
• Continue to support close cooperation can follow more fuel-efficient routes,
across the sector to implement the climb sooner, descend quieter and
initiatives to an optimised scope, navigate more accurately around
sequence and timeline that maximises populated centres.
the benefits.
Italian NAS Proposal Page 101.3 Airspace and the environment
Aviation brings significant benefits to the The effects of new, more frequent or
economy and society, but these benefits concentrated noise may increase the
come with an environmental cost, both at risks of causing general annoyance,
the local and global level. The sleep disturbance, lower levels of
government and aviation sector have productivity and health impacts.
important roles to play in ensuring that
the results of airspace modernization are Aviation noise performance has
sustainable and enables improvements in improved significantly in recent decades
environmental performance. The driven by the introduction of quieter
government’s role in managing aircraft. However, some communities
environmental impacts includes setting a experience more noise due to the
policy framework which encourages continued growth in traffic levels. The
industry to address key issues, funding government’s policy on aviation noise is
new research and development, shaping to limit and, where possible, reduce the
global agreements, and developing number of people significantly affected.
appropriate regulation where it is
Many in the aviation industry believe that
needed.
noise has contributed more than any
The Italian NAS aims to provide clear other factor to the lack of investment in
direction for industry stakeholders to airspace modernization at low altitudes
build on the progress already made and across Europe in recent years. Where
ensure that Italy leads the way in European airports have introduced new
exploiting opportunities to better manage flight paths to accommodate traffic
environmental impacts. growth and offer new connections, local
protests have become common.
| Aircraft noise
The widespread introduction of routes
One of the most important environmental based on satellite navigation can bring
impacts associated with the airspace at more intense levels of aircraft
lower altitudes concerns the effects of concentration and therefore noise.
aircraft noise. Overall, airspace Satellite navigation also offers the
modernization is expected to see a opportunity to deploy new operational
reduction in the average noise levels per techniques that can improve the
flight, but the redistribution of noise management of aircraft noise, for
impacts between different areas may example by introducing multiple flight
often lead to disruption for communities paths for noise dispersion or respite.
living under flight paths.
Page 11 Italian NAS ProposalThe Italian NAS encourages these Noise respite involves greater planning
techniques to be deployed wherever and predictability of noise impacts. For
feasible, taking into account local example, the planned use of different
circumstances and preferences in runways at different times of day,
determining which options should be providing communities with predictable
explored. Some of the techniques involve relief from the noise impacts of
trade-offs with other NAS objectives such departures from either runway. Another
as increasing airspace capacity and example could be alternating between
saving emissions, which will need to be multiple departure routes to a pre-
factored into the decision-making planned schedule. Respite can be
process through wide spread designed into airspace structures more
consultation with stakeholders (explained easily once arrival and departure routes
in Part 3 of the Strategy). are upgraded to satellite navigation
standards.
There are four main techniques for
improving the management of aircraft The upgrade of arrival and departure
noise as part of the airspace routes at lower altitudes using satellite
modernization process – traffic navigation offers more flexibility than the
dispersion, traffic concentration, noise conventional ground-based alternatives.
respite and noise redistribution. This allows flight paths and the
associated noise impacts to be re-
Traffic dispersion refers to air traffic distributed away from noise sensitive
control instructing departing traffic to areas. Of course, this assumes that there
follow the same general routing but fly a is an adjacent area that is less sensitive
variety of different flight paths when to noise that the flight paths can be
measured over the ground. moved over. The relative noise sensitivity
of areas is difficult to estimate and must
Traffic concentration is the opposite of
be carefully considered where re-
dispersion and is a consequence of the
distribution is the aim.
accuracy of routes designed to satellite-
based navigation standards. Aircraft are
instructed to follow the same routing
consistently and fly very similar flight
paths over the ground. The accuracy
and predictability associated with satellite
navigation means it is possible to make a
more efficient use of airspace and add
capacity by allowing large volumes of
traffic to route through smaller blocks of
airspace potentially avoiding population
centres. The obvious costs of
concentration, however, fall to the
minority of people that are affected by
more intense noise impacts.1.4 Progress update
Key organisations from across the Italian • Developing a more powerful Flight
aviation sector are already investing Data Processing system for air traffic
significantly in airspace modernization controllers, known as Co-Flight,
initiatives to meet the growth in demand working in collaboration with the
for flights, whilst enhancing safety, French ANSP.
resilience and environmental
performance. In recent years, many • Introducing the first set of Remote
significant projects have been ATC Tower solutions at key airports
implemented, and others are being that allow traffic to be managed more
developed by the ANSP, Airlines and efficiently offsite from a dedicated
Airports working in close collaboration. centre.
• Deploying new arrival and departure
| Key ANSP led modernization projects
routes designed using satellite
ENAV have led the implementation of navigation standards known as
several major airspace modernization Performance-based Navigation (PBN)
projects in recent years, including: in the controlled airspace that serves
all major Italian airports.
• Replacing the fixed route network
above c.30,000ft with the Free Route • Deploying Arrival Management
Airspace concept that allows aircraft Solutions to support the Rome and
to follow optimised flight paths. Milan terminal airspace by streaming
inbound traffic flows efficiently using
• Improving Free Route Airspace (FRA) target times over specific planned
through the implementation of a new points and speed controls.
ATM System allowing greater
flexibility, enlarging the scope of FRA • Implementing more efficient forms of
in terms of regional application and airborne holding, known as
the evaluation of a possible lowering Trombones or Point Merge, to support
of the level of FRA application. Rome Fiumicino, Milan and Bergamo
airports.
• Introducing new airspace structures
and re-classifying others to enhance • Upgrading aeronautical information
safety by simplifying the overall systems used by ANSPs, airports and
airspace design. aircraft operators to share important
data, like flight plans and airspace
• Deploying a more advanced restrictions, with greater accuracy,
communications solution for air traffic efficiency and reliability.
controllers and pilots, known as
Controller-Pilot Data Link, which
reduces voice communications by
sharing standard messages in text.
Italian NAS Proposal Page 14| Key airport led modernization projects The development and growth of low-cost
carrier traffic in Italy and the need for
Italy has recently invested in building a
legacy carriers to open up new markets
completely new airport hub at Milan
has contributed to significant traffic
Malpensa Airport that has increased
growth at other Italian airports such as
capacity and improved services in a
Bergamo, Venice, Naples, Catania and
previously constrained region. New
Palermo, thus bringing the need of
infrastructures and systems together with
systems integration and modernization
the plans to further expand Malpensa
operating plans to these airports as well.
and the country’s other main hub, Rome
Fiumicino, aim to capitalise on Italy’s
| Key airline led modernization projects
strategic position for global air travel in
the central Mediterranean and to better Alitalia, the largest Italian airline operator,
serve other domestic hubs with has been involved in airspace
integrated ground transport. modernization projects, through its Fuel
Management Department, to improve
Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) and Società
flight efficiency and lower aircraft
Esercizi Aeroportuali (SEA) that operate
emissions. The projects focus on
Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa and
reducing onboard weight, improving
Linate respectively have invested in new
engine efficiency, aerodynamic
concepts and technologies like:
improvements to airframes, reducing
• Airport Collaborative Decision Making auxiliary engine consumption and flight
(ACDM) that integrates the key planning improvements. The airline is
systems used to support airport also progressing a fleet renewal
operations into one easily accessible programme to modernize its fleet,
and reality updated platform; and enhancing the aircraft’s ability to benefits
from improvements to the airspace and
• Integrated Airport Operations Plans ATM network.
(iAOPs) that establish a single,
common and collaboratively agreed
rolling plan available to all airport
stakeholders and the European
Network Management, and whose
purpose is to provide common
situational awareness that forms the
basis upon which stakeholder
decisions relating to the optimisation
of airport operating plans can be
made.
Page 15 Italian NAS ProposalPART 2: INITIATIVES Modernizing the upper airspace Modernizing the terminal airspace Improving the flexible use of airspace Communications, navigation & surveillance Air traffic management systems and tools Resilience and business continuity
This section sets out the main initiatives planned to further support the modernization of the Italian airspace and describes the expected performance improvements. Important technical concepts, systems and standards that enable the modernization initiatives are also described in this section. Some initiatives are more advanced compared to the general progress made by States in the SES ATM Research (SESAR) Demonstration and Deployment initiatives. An appropriate interface will be maintained to ensure the Italian experiences are shared with the central SESAR programme and other States for the benefits of the wider SES initiative. Page 17 Italian NAS Proposal
2.1 Modernizing the upper airspace
The Free Route Airspace concept has The goal of Free Route Airspace is to
been developed in close collaboration remove the fixed structure of way points
with ENAV, the airline community and in the en-route portion of Italian airspace,
their Flight Plan System Providers. The enabling aircraft to fly as close to their
FRA concept describes how Free Route preferred trajectory as possible. Aircraft
Airspace has been introduced into the will use satellite navigation to route
Italian airspace and will be progressively directly between the most efficient
refined in the line with SESAR combination of Free Route Airspace
Deployment projects to better integrate entry and exit points. Traffic can plan and
traffic in the en-route phase of flight re-plan routes through large volumes of
using the upper airspace across Europe. airspace without the restrictions that
come with following the established
| The Free Route Airspace concept structure. Flights in Free Route Airspace
remain subject to the monitoring and
Aircraft often fly further than necessary in
direction of air traffic control.
the en-route phase of flight, following
routes that are determined by a fixed
| Benefits of Free Route Airspace
structure of way points, rather than the
shortest, most direct track to their Free Route Airspace provides aircraft
destination. Most of the way points are with the flexibility to flight plan and fly the
based on the position of ground shortest, quickest, most efficient routes
navigation beacons. A range of factors during the en-route phase of flight. Air
determine the sequence of way points traffic controllers can manage larger
that aircraft follow, including weather volumes of traffic by removing the
conditions and the location of segregated restrictions created by a limited number
areas reserved for military activities. of fixed way points. Introducing a large
array of potential flight paths through the
The capacity and resilience of the upper
en-route also increases the options
airspace is largely determined by the
available to traffic that must route around
ability of air traffic controllers to safely
poor weather or segregated airspace.
manage the flow of traffic through the
These improvements are expected to
fixed way points in each sector. Flow
generate the following benefits:
restrictions are applied to sectors when
the volume of traffic exceeds a level that • Additional Airspace Capacity: Created
the controllers can manage safely. The by removing fixed way points and
restrictions can create bottlenecks which enabling controllers to manage more
cause aircraft to be delayed or re-routed flights through the same sectors.
onto longer flight paths.
Italian NAS Proposal Page 18• Greater Flight Efficiency: Created by All aircraft within Italian airspace above
the flexibility to flight plan and fly more Flight Level 305 (c.30,000ft) can follow a
direct routes at more efficient altitudes user defined, optimised flight path
and speeds than available when without having to refer to fixed way
following fixed way points. points. Free Route operations are
available for overflights as well as for
• Safety Enhancements: Generated by arriving and departing traffic.
the additional airspace capacity that
reduces the risk factors associated Free Route Airspace has been
with traffic congestion and peaks in implemented simultaneously in Italian
controller workloads around pinch and Maltese airspaces as part of a joint
points in the fixed structure. cross-border initiative known as the
BLUE MED Function Airspace Block
• Greater Resilience: Created by the (FAB). This achievement was made
flexibility to plan and re-plan flight possible through the continuous
paths in response to poor weather, coordination with the European Network
disruption in other State’s airspace Manager in EUROCONTROL to share
and segregated areas. and validate the new Free Route concept
of operations.
• Cost savings: Created by optimised
airline flight plans resulting in aircraft Airspace users are working closely with
carrying and burning less fuel and their Flight Plan System Providers and
greater engine efficiency. ENAV to ensure that the benefits of Free
Route Airspace are maximised, and any
• Environmental Improvements: implementation issues are managed.
Created by the reduction in Green Detailed progress of the Free Route
House Gas emissions linked to the Airspace implementation activities is
fuel burn savings. reported through the SESAR Deployment
Manager (DM) and consultation
| Free Route Airspace Implementation performed through the SESAR DM
Free Route Airspace in Italy has been Stakeholder Consultation Platform.
deployed in line with the Implementing
Rule set out in the SESAR Pilot Common | Free Route Airspace Enhancements
Project (PCP), which instructs all The plans to further enhance Free Route
European States to remove fixed way operations in Italian airspace are aligned
points in the en-route before 1st January to the SESAR Deployment Programme
2022. Italy is the first European State to and summarised in the points below:
implement Free Route Airspace – the
• Free Route operations are expected
result of a two-year programme led by
to improve with the implementation of
ENAV, working in close collaboration
a new ATM toolset known as ‘4Flight’
with airspace users, including Alitalia.
that helps controllers to maximise free
route performance at a regional level.
Page 19 Italian NAS Proposal• The vertical limit of Free Route they are not being used following the
Airspace in Italy, initially set above implementation of military areas with
FL335 in December 2016, has been high flexible use.
lowered to FL305 from May 2018,
increasing the volume of airspace in • Further network optimization
which users can realise benefits. It is measures based on traffic demand
expected that the 4-FLIGHT ATM information and harmonization with
system will enable the evaluation of a the new Route Availability Document
further lowering of the vertical limit (RAD) implementation.
(see section 2.5).
• Re-Classification of military areas
• ENAV is working closely with above FL305 in the Airspace
neighbouring ANSPs to fully integrate Management Cell (AMC) and
Free Route Airspace across State application of Airspace Use Plan
boundaries. Integration is coordinated (AUP) and Updated Use Plan (UUP)
through the BLUE MED FAB initiative process for Airspace Management.
with Malta, Greece and Cyprus and
through trans-FAB coordination with
Switzerland, Germany and France.
• A review of Conditional Direct Route
(CDR) classifications that allow civil
traffic to fly directly through
segregated areas of airspace when
Italian NAS Proposal Page 202.2 Modernizing the terminal airspace
The plans to modernize the busy terminal Terminal airspace modernization is
airspace that supports Italy’s larger hub based on the widespread adoption of
airports have been developed in close new PBN routes designed to satellite
collaboration with the ANSP, key airport navigation standards that remove the
operators and airspace users. The reliance on ground-based navigation aids
modernization of terminal airspace is and allows the route network to be
based on the widespread adoption of fundamentally upgraded with greater
PBN arrival and departure routes precision and flexibility.
designed to satellite navigation standards
and the implementation of Arrival | Arrival Management concept
Management solutions that together aim
Flights inbound to busy areas of terminal
to systemise the route network and
airspace are often subject to congestion
generate significant safety, capacity,
that results in queuing and delays. In
efficiency, resilience and environmental
today’s airspace, arrival queues are
performance benefits.
managed on a ‘first come, first served’
basis using airborne holding patterns.
| Terminal modernization concept
The use of holding patterns to manage
The terminal airspace from around arrival queues, limits the capacity of
25,000ft and below is designed to terminal airspace, burns extra fuel, and
manage high volumes of traffic climbing can increase noise disturbance.
and descending between individual Departures can be kept at lower altitudes
airports and the en-route phase of flight. to avoid arrival traffic in holding patterns
and in doing so fly longer and potentially
The frequency and complexity of the noisier routes.
interactions between traffic flows in the
terminal airspace can lead to some users The main objective of Arrival
flying longer tracks and interrupt Management (AMAN) is to absorb delays
continuous climbs and descents. The both in the en-route and in the initial
workload placed on controllers to descent phases of flight using speed
manage high numbers of crossing traffic controls and target times to overfly
can also become a limitation on the specific points, removing the need for
capacity and efficiency of the terminal holding in the terminal airspace. ENAV
airspace and the resilience of operations plans to deploy the AMAN solution to
to disruption. support some of Italy’s busiest airports,
as well as the nation’s four area control
centres located in Rome, Milan, Padua
and Brindisi.
Page 21 Italian NAS Proposal| Terminal modernization implementation | Terminal modernization benefits
ENAV has been working closely with the Additional Airspace Capacity: by
airports and airspace users to enhance implementing more closely spaced arrival
the performance of the terminal airspace and departure routes to individual
in Italy following a continuous process of airports that are separated by design and
review and improvement. no longer require controllers to intervene
tactically to manage interactions.
Terminal airspace modernization
programmes are being implemented to Greater Flight Efficiency: by designing
serve flights to and from the Rome and routes with greater precision and
Milan areas, including routes that serve flexibility, reducing track miles and
Fiumicino, Ciampino, Malpensa, Linate increasing the potential for continuous
and Bergamo airports. The programmes climbs and descents.
will redesign the airspace structure,
including PBN Standard Instrument Safety Enhancements: by reducing
Departures (SIDs) and Standard and/or removing risk factors from the
Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs). A more terminal operation, for example by
advanced route structure designed to designing out traffic pinch-points and
satellite navigation standards will be unnecessary route interactions.
deployed to improve the linkages
Greater Resilience: Additional capacity
between northern and southern Italy, the
and the introduction of dedicated routes
Mediterranean islands, Northern Europe,
for each airport will strengthen the
North America, the Middle East and Asia.
resilience of the operation to poor
Parts of the Rome terminal airspace weather and other forms of disruption.
programme were delivered into operation
Environmental Improvements: The
in May 2017, focusing on the
precision and flexibility of PBN routes
introduction of a linear hold (or
creates opportunities to reduce
trombones procedure), with further plans
emissions and better manage noise
to ensure benefits are fully realised. The
impacts, for example by designing flight
Milan terminal airspace programme is
paths that avoid population centres and
planning to deliver a similar concept from
deploying multiple route options to be
March 2019. These programmes
used at different times there by enabling
represent the most significant
some dispersion of traffic flows. These
opportunity to introduce additional
opportunities must be balanced against
airspace capacity and improve the
the challenges created by more precise
performance of the Italian airspace, as
routes that concentrate aircraft noise into
described in the benefits statements set
narrower contours, which often have a
out opposite.
more intense impact on those areas that
are affected.
Italian NAS Proposal Page 22| Airport engagement The At lower altitudes, the impact of
aviation on those on the ground takes
The airports are responsible for greater precedence. Some airports may
managing the effects of terminal airspace choose to replicate their existing arrival
modernization on their local and departure routes with satellite-based
communities. Chart 2 highlights 10 of upgrades to minimise any changes in the
Italy’s largest airports that have been established patterns of aircraft noise.
identified by the government as core to However, the track keeping precision of
the Trans-European Transport Network satellite navigation typically concentrates
(known as TEN-T). These airports are aircraft noise into narrower contours,
also listed by size, in terms of 2017 which often have a more intense impact
annual passenger numbers below: on the areas affected.
Airport # pax (m) Other airports may choose to go beyond
simply replicating flight paths and use the
Rome Fiumicino 40.9
precision and flexibility of satellite
Milan Malpensa 22.1 navigation to offer more noise abatement
Milan Bergamo 12.3 and respite options to local communities,
or deploy multiple departure routes that
Venice Marco Polo 10.3 can increase runway throughput during
Milan Linate 9.5 peak times.
Naples 8.5 The flight paths being integrated through
the terminal airspace modernization
Bologna 8.1
programmes are being considered based
Palermo 5.7 on the best balance of airborne, airport
infrastructure and navigation
Turin 4.1
technologies, adapting to the traffic
Genoa 1.2 throughput demands in the context of the
national transport network.
The ten core airports are expected to
have the most engagement in terminal
airspace modernization programmes. A
further 22 airports that form part of the
wider or ‘Comprehensive’ Italian
Transport network are also included in
Chart 2 and are expected to engage in
airspace modernization initiatives to
support their individual master plans and
mitigate external environmental impacts.
Page 23 Italian NAS ProposalChart 2: Core (TEN-T) Italian Airports and the Comprehensive Network
Italian NAS Proposal Page 24| Airport infrastructure development Fuel savings (and therefore CO2
emissions and costs) per flight are also
A Master Plan has been defined,
realised through reduction of auxiliary
outlining the foundations of long-term
engine consumption. Alitalia has
development of Rome Fiumicino airport.
implemented changes to reduce auxiliary
The first phase includes the completion
engine consumption on the ground by
of the airside and terminal infrastructures
using alternative lower consumption
inside the current boundary and a first
power generators.
expansion to the north area through new
land acquisition to realize a new runway At Venice airport important investments
(the fourth runway), supporting the are underway both on the terminal and
increase in capacity by over 50 million land side expansions to cope with double
passengers a year by 2023. digit traffic growth, and runway
optimization and re-paving with new
The second phase of expansion to the
improved RET and taxiways to maximize
north will include further aircraft aprons,
movements per hour.
the fifth runway, diversion from local
obstacles, new system of taxiways to
ensure smooth and efficient air traffic
flow, and extended terminals. Upon
completion of the Master Plan, the
overall capacity is expected up to 100
million passengers per year. The
objective is to provide the Mediterranean
with a modernized and competitive
European hub, whilst enabling solutions
to improve the local environment and
efficiencies to the airspace users.
Milan Malpensa Airport is also
progressing with runway and terminal
expansion to enable optimisation with the
projected movements and improve the
passenger experience. This will serve the
local Lombardy region as well as
integrate with the country’s capacity
enhancements, whilst integrating with
the concentrated European production
and consumption area between London,
Ile de France, Baden Baden-
Wurtemberg, Rhone Alpes, Catalunia
and the Milan region.
Page 25 Italian NAS Proposal2.3 Improving the flexible use of airspace
This section describes how new A-FUA relies on the deployment of new
processes and information management airspace management (ASM) tools that
tools are being deployed to continue to communicate changes in the status of
improve the integration of segregated segregated areas across operational
volumes of airspace that are managed stakeholders more dynamically. Civil and
flexibly for Military and Civil use. military ANSPs follow new processes to
manage the booking and release of
| The Flexible Use Airspace Concept segregated areas using the more
accurate information provided by ASM
Some areas of Italian airspace are
tools. A-FUA information is also shared
segregated for essential military activities
with civil and military airspace users and
like training and weapons testing. The
the Network Manager so that they can
military reserve the airspace temporarily
optimise their plans accordingly.
and hand it back for civil use when it is
not required. The process of temporarily ENAV, the Italian Ministry of Defence, the
booking and handing back segregated Italian Air Force and ENAC are working
areas that are shared between civil and together to further strengthen the
military users is known as Flexible Use technology and processes used for
Airspace (FUA). reserving and dynamically releasing
segregated areas. Tools to support the
The concept of modernizing the systems
digital reservation and release of
and processes used to manage FUA is
segregated airspace have been
known as Advanced FUA (A-FUA).
implemented along with a roadmap for
Similar to the Free Route Airspace
their further development. The roadmap
concept, the goal of A-FUA is to enable
includes:
airspace users to fly as closely to their
preferred or optimised flight path as • The development and implementation
possible without being restricted by of civil ATC systems that display
areas that can be temporarily activation and de-activation
segregated. A-FUA also allows Military information for all segregated airspace
users to book and release segregated reservations and continuously assess
areas efficiently to best meet their the impacts on the wider network.
training and mission requirements.
• Upgrades in Military operations
The current and future deployment of A- centres to deploy new electronic tools
FUA in Italy is aligned to the SESAR that share airspace usage information
programme. with operational stakeholders.
Page 27 Italian NAS Proposal| Benefits of improving FUA • Greater Flight Efficiency: by the
flexibility for civil users to flight plan
Improvements to the processes and tools and fly more direct routes through
that support FUA are expected to segregated areas when they are not
generate the following benefits in the being used, reducing flight times and
Italian airspace: track miles.
• Additional Airspace Capacity: by • Greater Resilience: by the flexibility to
maximising the opportunities for civil plan and re-plan flights through
users to flight plan and fly through segregated airspace that are not
segregated areas when they are not being used to avoid poor weather and
being used, allowing air traffic at times of disruption.
controllers to manage more flights
through the same sectors. • Environmental Improvements: by the
reduction in Green House Gas
• Safety Enhancements: by adding emissions linked to the fuel burn
airspace capacity that reduces the savings.
risk factors associated with traffic
congestion and peaks in controller
workloads and by better information
about airspace usage that reduces
infringements by civil users into
segregated areas.
Italian NAS Proposal Page 282.4 Communications, navigation & surveillance
The Italian communications, navigation Airspace modernization is increasing the
and surveillance (CNS) strategy focuses volumes of data that are regularly
on the transition from primary radars, transferred between aircraft and air
radios and ground navigation beacons to traffic services, placing greater pressure
satellite-based and datalink technologies. on the radio frequency spectrum that is
to communicate most data. A cross
The transition from predominantly industry plan for the efficient use of
ground-based CNS infrastructure to spectrum is therefore required to ensure
satellite-based capabilities is a key aviation needs are understood and
enabler for other airspace modernization reflect a real-time requirement for the
initiatives – especially in the upper safe operation of air operations that can
airspace and terminal areas. In the near contribute to the ambition of an
term some ground-based infrastructure integrated airspace.
will need to be retained for defence,
security and resilience purposes. This The introduction of datalink services in
infrastructure is managed by ENAV to Italy as from March 2018, follows the
provide comprehensive oversight of European and International ambition that
assets. In the longer term the expansion aims to drive the reduction in voice
of satellite-based services will help communications and support a more
mitigate the risk of single-source failures consistent, reliable and less workload
associated with the transition to satellite- intensive exchange of information.
based technologies and enable a further Initially datalink solutions are being used
rationalisation of ground assets. to replace standard air traffic message
exchanges, with more complex
| Communications interactions developing as experience is
gained.
New technology is expected to change
the method of communication to allow
| Navigation
greater volumes of information to be
shared faster and more consistently via The avionics capability of the aircraft fleet
datalink transfer, with less reliance on has advanced significantly in the past
voice exchanges over radio. two decades, allowing a shift from the
reliance on ground-based navigation
Radio-frequency spectrum is an asset in beacons to autonomous aircraft
high demand, mainly due to the growing operations dependent on a satellite-
usage from the mobile telecoms industry. based navigation source.
Page 29 Italian NAS ProposalThe adoption of EU reg. 2018/1048 (the ENAC, ENAV and Alitalia have
PBN Implementing Rule) in July 2018 established a task force to deliver new
has defined the European objectives and Performance-based Navigation routes,
strategy to migrate towards a PBN supported by GNSS into Italian airspace.
airspace based on GNSS as the main The task force aims to ensure that all non
navigation infrastructure. The regulation precision approaches to Italian runways
foresees the implementation of RNP are replaced with Approaches with
APCH 3D approaches for all Instrument Vertical Guidance as a priority.
Runway Ends in two stages (by 2020 and
2024), RNAV 1 in the terminal airspace In alignment with the increasing
in two stages (by 2024 and 2030) and introduction of PBN routes in Italy, a
RNAV 5 for the enroute airspace (by progressive rationalization of existing
2020 and 2024). The Italian NAS is ground navaids is expected to take
aligned to the European objectives and place. ENAV has already established a
at times aims to deliver changes in plan for NDB removal, allowing their
advance of the dates fixed by the withdrawal while maintaining VOR/DME
regulation. and DME/DME as a back-up for GNSS
based routes.
The PBN IR requires a complete PBN
network developed by 2030, reliance on
GNSS and the elimination of
conventional navigation procedures. The
related rationalization of ground-based
assets and the transition to a satellite
based navigation infrastructure is
expected to provide:
• an affordable airspace modernization
approach for smaller aerodromes that
have less air traffic control technology
and equipment.
• an alternative to non-precision
approaches (NPA) that are safer and
more efficient.
• a back-up to current precision landing
systems to enhance resilience.
ENAV has started different initiatives
supporting GNSS use, including the
development of GNSS performance
assessment systems and the
implementation of rotorcraft routes for
HEMS based on GNSS.
Italian NAS Proposal Page 30| Surveillance | Surveillance and safety enhancements
The application of space-based One of the areas of greatest concern in
navigation and improved communication uncontrolled airspace is the risk of mid-
links will allow users to transmit precise air collision where military, General
positional information to ATC, increasing Aviation and a small volume of
both ground and airborne situational commercial traffic are operating in a ‘see
awareness. It is recognised that a and avoid’ environment with limited air
primary surveillance capability (i.e. traffic services and surveillance
radars) will be required for the coverage. Each operator has
foreseeable future, at a minimum to responsibility for maintaining its own
support defence and security objectives. visibility and keeping a lookout for aircraft
However airspace modernization offers in order to avoid them.
the opportunities to enhance surveillance
capabilities in the air and on the ground The widespread adoption of electronic
by: surveillance solutions that make all
aircraft more visible is needed to
• Increasing the uptake of aircraft maintain high safety standards in
broadcast position information and uncontrolled airspace, especially around
availability of portable technology, smaller aerodromes that have no
allowing an affordable option for all surveillance capability themselves and in
aircraft operators (Civil, Military and areas with a high density of airspace
General Aviation) to share electronic users that may be harder to see with the
surveillance information with one naked eye, such as light aircraft, gliders,
another; and hang-gliders and drones.
• Developing and deploying new
An additional mid-air collision risk arises
technologies and equipment for
from airspace infringements – where an
ANSPs to gather, process and display
aircraft flying in uncontrolled airspace
aircraft position information from
inadvertently enters controlled airspace
multiple sources.
and comes into conflict with, say, a
ENAV is part of the Aireon joint venture, commercial flight. Such infringements
which is providing technology that will highlight the limitations and potential
expand air traffic surveillance through safety implications of the current
satellite based ADS-B rather than ground airspace design. A simple navigational
receiver antennas. Iridium error or loss of situational awareness in a
Communications, NAV CANADA, the complex system, combined with a lack of
Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) Naviair, and uniform electronic surveillance, creates a
NATS are also part of the Aireon project. safety concern.
Page 31 Italian NAS Proposal2.5 Air traffic management systems and tools
The air traffic management (ATM) COFLIGHT is a new generation FDPS
systems and tools section of the Strategy designed to meet SES objectives and
has been developed in line with the align with key SESAR functionalities. It
SESAR programme working close will provide advanced functions like 4D
collaboration with ENAV, the government trajectory predictions, interoperability
and the regulator. It describes how the with other systems and datalink
modernization of Italy’s airspace is capabilities and support current and
enabled by investments in new ATM future operational concepts like cross-
systems and tools and integrates with border free route operations. COFLIGHT
other related ATM investments like will optimise airspace usage and
Remote Towers. therefore reduce the environmental
impact of aviation and improve flight cost
The continued modernization of ATM efficiency.
systems and tools used by ENAV will
ensure airspace management decisions A Tactical Controller Tools (TCT) have
are informed by accurate data about already been implemented to ENAV’s
when aircraft plan to depart, when they existing systems to support the
do depart or when they are expected to introduction of Free Route Airspace
arrive in a sector of airspace. The operations. Enhancements to the Free
benefits of many of the concepts Route Airspace concept are supported
described in sections 2.1 to 2.4 are by the upcoming introduction of a
enabled by the modernization of ATM Medium-Term Conflict Detection
systems and tools. (MTCD) tool, known as ERATO, which is
being developed and deployed in Italy
ENAV has already deployed a series of and France. The MTCD tool provides the
improvements to the Human Machine en-route air traffic controller with
Interface (HMI) used by their Air Traffic information on conflict resolution to help
Controllers. A new flight data processing with aircraft trajectory decision-making.
system (FDPS), known as COFLIGHT, is Development of the tool has been based
currently being developed in cooperation on live trials in France and real-time
with French ANSP DSNA to further simulations in Italy. Developed by the
enhance the HMI and introduce new French ANSP (DSNA) and ENAV,
advanced functions like 4D trajectory ERATO will be implemented in ENAV
predictions. legacy systems and work with
COFLIGHT, the new FDPS, in readiness
for 4D trajectory predictions.
Page 33 Italian NAS ProposalSystem Wide Information Management The use of advanced ground systems
(SWIM) supports information exchanges and new ANS infrastructure to optimize
through an internet protocol (IP)-based air traffic flows requires synchronization
network. The synchronisation of data with aircrafts’ avionics equipment. A
involves ENAV, Ministry of Defence, large-scale deployment of ground
airspace users (operations centres), systems and new SESAR deliveries must
airport operators, Meteorological service be closely coordinated with aircraft
providers and the European Network avionics upgrades.
Manager. Initial iSWIM services will
enable Arrival Management solutions | Remote Towers
explained in section 2.2. to connect with
the new FDPS and share trajectory The remote tower concept enables air
information between ATS units. traffic control services (ATS) and
aerodrome flight information services
Advanced data exchange and sharing (AFIS) to be provided at aerodromes
services are required to communicate where such services are either currently
aeronautical information (flight, weather, unavailable, or where it is difficult or too
aerodrome, obstacles, etc) to the expensive to implement and staff a
operational activities on the ground and conventional manned facility. The
in the air. The Aeronautical Information concept allows for the remote provision
Exchange Model (AIXM) is a of ATC services and AFIS for one
specification that enables the encoding aerodrome handling low to medium
and distribution in digital format of the traffic volumes or two low-density
aeronautical information. The aerodromes.
aeronautical information management
(AIM) concept is being delivered via the The basic configuration, which does not
SESAR programme to provide more include augmentation features, is
accurate and efficient digital aeronautical considered suitable for ATC and AFIS
information to airspace users, navigation provision at low density airfields.
providers and airport operators. An However, the level and flexibility of
ENAV programme is transitioning the service provision can be enhanced
existing AIS to the European AIS through the use of augmentation
Database (EAD), which is a European technology, such as an ATC surveillance
central repository of quality assured data display, surveillance and visual tracking,
which enables the participating States to infra-red cameras etc. There is also the
co-ordinate their aeronautical information possibility to apply the remote tower
updates and to produce and distribute concept as a contingency solution,
their Aeronautical Information Publication known as a Remote Contingency Tower
(AIP) charts and Notice to Airmen (RCT).
(NOTAM) messages.
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