ENAV - SACBO to improve performance at the Bergamo Airport

SACBO, the Bergamo-Orio al Serio airport manager, and ENAV, the Italian air navigation service provider, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to begin the A-CDM (Airport Collaborative Decision Making) Programme aiming at improving traffic-flow management in the Bergamo airport and optimising processes associated with the use of the airport infrastructure and resources.

The SACBO-ENAV Memorandum was signed by Emilio Bellingardi, SACBO’s General Manager and Massimo Bellizzi, ENAV’s General Manager and is intended for the earliest possible implementation of the Collaborative Decision Making project – to be completed in the context of the achievement of the Single European Sky initiative based on the indications given by EUROCONTROL to the European Commission and meant for all air navigation service providers (ANSPs).

The A-CDM Programme for the Bergamo Orio al Serio airport is expected to be implemented by the end of the second quarter of 2019.

A-CDM will bring about various benefits for the airport manager as well as for airlines, the ATM service provider, the ground handling service provider and the user community.

In this Programme, all phases of flight, from departure to landing, are considered a single process, with the ultimate aim of optimising air traffic management and operations through a constant exchange of up-to-date information between the parties concerned.

More in detail, A-CDM is an integrated platform for real time transmission to EUROCONTROL’s Network Management Operations Centre of information on the current state of all outgoing flights, while EUROCONTROL sorts that information to the other connected airports.

This helps optimise air traffic flows, airport capacity management and the use of airport infrastructure and human resources, in addition to increasing the punctuality of flights and reducing fuel consumption (with a consequently lower environmental impact).

The Bergamo Orio al Serio airport manager has voluntarily signed on to the European project. Bergamo will be the sixth Italian airport to join EUROCONTROL’s Network Manager after Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Malpensa, Venice-Tessera and Milan-Linate, now in their operational phase, and Naples-Capodichino, now in its implementation phase.

In Europe, A-CDM has entered into operation in the above Italian airports as well as in Barcelona, Berlin Schönefeld, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Helsinki, London Heathrow, Madrid, Munich, Paris CDG, Paris Orly, Oslo, Prague, Stuttgart and Zurich.

ENAV’s General Manager Massimo Bellizzi declared: “Today’s achievement confirms again that the synergetic ENAV – SACBO  approach is a trump card for a gradual, sustainable development of the Bergamo Airport. A-CDM will help optimise operational processes for the benefit of airlines and passengers. ENAV is constantly using its technology and skills to make air transport more efficient and sustainable.”

SACBO’s General Manager Emilio Bellingardi declared: “The early phase of the A-CDM development is intended to introduce procedures that will be routinely applied in one-and-a half years’ time, with a number of efficiency improvement processes in operational terms and through a reduced impact on the environment from lower fuel consumption and lower emissions of pollutants (chiefly CO2). Based on our estimates, the implemented actions will result in an annual saving of 700 tons of jet fuel, or 2,300 tons of CO2 not released into the atmosphere every year. This is a further significant achievement in the long-standing collaboration between SACBO and ENAV, which will bring the Bergamo airport into line with the standards of other European airports having adopted the A-CDM system.”