AVINOR, ORO NAVIGACIJA and PANSA express intention to join European iTEC Alliance

The three air navigation service providers signed Letters of Intent, setting out their plan to join the air navigation service providers of Spain (ENAIRE), Germany (DFS), the UK (NATS) and the Netherlands (LVNL) – alongside systems provider Indra – as part of Europe’s largest ATM system collaboration. 

AVINOR will join the alliance through a Systems Group Agreement with NATS, while PANSA and Oro Navigacija intend to join through a Systems Group Agreement with DFS. 

The joint creation of a common flight data processing system for use in different European countries is a major step towards the creation of a single, efficiently structured European airspace. iTEC enables 4D trajectory-based operations, featuring conflict detection, flight path monitoring and stripless operation, fully aligned with SESAR principles. 

The existing Members of iTEC already account for more than a third of Europe’s air traffic. The addition of AVINOR, PANSA and Oro Navigacija will extend the benefits of iTEC to even more users of European airspace. 

Robert Schickling, COO of DFS and Chairman of the iTEC Board, said: “The goal of the collaboration is to develop a high-end air traffic management system scalable up to very busy and complex airspace that meets SESAR requirements and enables significant steps forward in productivity. iTEC’s achievements provide a platform for synergies and thus cost reductions, helping to realise the vision of a Single European Sky (SES) with greater efficiencies and service standards for Europe’s airspace users. The intention of Avinor, Oro Navigacija and Pansa to join the alliance is a success and clearly shows that iTEC is on the right way.” 

AVINOR Managing Director of Air Navigation Services, Anders Kirsebom, said: “For us, it is vital to transition to an upgraded and interoperable system which enables us to build on the results of SESAR in order to achieve the goals of the Single European Sky programme, at a lowest possible cost, risk and complexity. Entering the iTEC alliance in close cooperation with NATS will enable us to provide the best possible services to our customers while maintaining our attractive unit rate” 

Algimantas Raščius, Director General of Oro Navigacija, said: “The iTEC collaboration approach that seeks economies of scale and realistic projects by developing state-of-the-art ATM technology is well known. The decision to join the iTEC alliance was part of the Baltic FAB strategy. We believe that entering the iTEC alliance through the DFS System Group is the most effective way to enhance Oro Navigacija's efficiency and bring benefits to our customers." 

PANSA Acting President, Magdalena Jaworska said: “For PANSA, the application to the iTEC collaboration has always been a natural evolution. We are glad to take steps that reinforce our development through the multi-ANSP collaboration, bringing our own contribution to the common solutions.” 

New members of the iTEC alliance gain several benefits through collaboration, including reduced operational expenditure through common software and shared development costs; methods developed on common system that can easily be shared; increased safety through shared methods and processes; increased interoperability through common flight data processing and open interfaces; a common working position allowing easier communication among controllers; and reduction of risks through shared development, all of which ultimately help ANSPs to deliver the objectives of the Single European Sky. 

Today’s signings by AVINOR, Oro Navigacija and PANSA demonstrate the strength of the iTEC collaboration and the benefits of joint collaboration for the future development of ATM systems.