Edmonton lands latest air traffic control technology in Canada
Article content
Edmonton will be the first in Canada to use a new air traffic control technology that NAV Canada (NavCan) says will change the global aviation industry in the years to come.
“This is far more than just a project. It’s a new era in transatlantic collaboration between Canada and Europe which enables us to join forces and to work as one, learning from each other as we shape the future of air traffic control,” said NavCan president and CEO Mark Cooper.
Recommended Videos
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Edmonton lands latest air traffic control technology in Canada Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
At a news conference on Wednesday, NavCan announced that the next stage of its operational evolution in air traffic control will be starting in Edmonton with the introduction of the iTEC SkyNex system. Alongside municipal and federal leaders, NavCan said the changes coming to its air traffic control system are in conjunction with seven countries in Europe and bring a future of travel that is more economic and environmentally efficient, while also streamlining wait times to help with aviation congestion.
“By enabling more direct, optimized flights, trajectory-based operations will help customers reduce fuel burn and their operating costs, while improving predictability and minimizing delays. The efficiency will benefit both operators and travellers, making air travel more reliable and more sustainable,” Cooper said.
The new system will be rolled out over the next five years and will cost NavCan roughly $1 billion to implement across Canada, starting by adding two additional floors to the NavCan building at Edmonton International Airport. The course to introduce the technology in Canada was charted last year when NavCan joined the iTEC Alliance, which includes air traffic controllers from Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Spain, Poland and Norway, which all started implementing SkyNex.
iTEC SkyNex brings trajectory-based operations into the world of air traffic control, which Cooper likened to upgrading road maps from a traditional map to Google Maps or Waze, which take in information in real time to offer suggestions on routes, timelines, and efficiencies.
“This new system moves us from the tactical to the strategic. And that’s the big shift for us, and that allows us — and our airline partners — to be far more forward-looking in their operation, to figure out how they want to fly each aircraft,” said Cooper.
“What we bring with this is a greater predictability around the operation, so that all parties can interact in a much more seamless fashion.”
Federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland congratulated NavCan on securing the new technology, highlighting its potential to help air passengers travel more efficiently and safely across the country, enabling Canadians to work together.
“At a time when transport networks are facing growing pressures, this decision today, and the hard work that preceded it and will follow it, is a real sign of Canada stepping up,” said Freeland.
Edmonton Centre Liberal MP Eleanor Olszewski highlighted the significance of Edmonton being the first city to get the new technology in the country.
“Edmonton was chosen as the first site in Canada to launch this next generation air traffic control system. That’s not just a win for the aviation sector, it’s a recognition of the expertise, the leadership and the ambition that really defines our great city,” said Olszewski.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.