Airport News
A new operating procedure to increase flight punctuality, reduce taxi times, lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions was launched today at Rome Fiumicino Airport.
After a year of experimentation, operator Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) and ENAV with support of airline AliItalia, the airport has officially adopted use of the A-CDM (airport collaborative decision making) platform.
The platform allows Rome Fiumicino to send information on the status of all departing flights to the Eurocontrol Network Management Operations Centre, which distributes them to other linked airports, thereby optimising operational times.
The testing phase of the A-CDM began at the airport in October 2012, and saved airlines on average 800 minutes of taxiing a day, equivalent to 9,600 kg less fuel and €3.1 million in fuel.
A-CDM allows all phases of a flight, from the flight plan to airport operations, from take-off to the flight path and subsequent landing, with its turn-around, which are all considered a ‘single process’ – to connect the departing flight with the arriving one.
It also allows optimisation of air traffic management and all assistance operations, with the constant exchange of information, updated in real time, between the operators involved.
The platform increases efficiency and punctuality by improving the flow of air traffic and the management of airport capacity, minimising delays, improving the predictability of events and optimising the use of resources.
Lorenzo Lo Presti, CEO of ADP, states: "I am satisfied with the result achieved in synergy with ENAV and Alitalia. Rome Fiumicino Airport is the first Italian airport and one of the first airports in Europe to have implemented this platform, ahead of major international hubs.
“The launch of the A-CDM confirms the prominent position of the Roman airport at a national and European level, and our wish as a management company is to be in line with international best practices.
“The benefits that will derive from the use of the new system, including the reduction of emissions and fuel consumption, as well as improving the efficiency of all airport services, will contribute to the achievement of our goals, namely to provide quality services, always with a view to environmental sustainability.”
The A-CDM concept has become an integral part of the SESAR project (Single European Sky ATM Research) and will be adopted in Europe as an official work method in accordance with Eurocontrol standards.
