Kent, WA USA -- With air traffic growth in the Latin America region projected to grow up to 6.9% annually through 2030 , aviation stakeholders must work collaboratively to harmonize the region's airspace operations. That was the consensus at GE Aviation's Latin America Performance-based Navigation (PBN) Forum last week in Lima, Peru, where government and private organizations from nine countries gathered to discuss the benefits and challenges of PBN implementation.
The Minister of Transportation and Communications of Peru, Sr. Carlos Paredes Rodriguez, opened the Forum referring to the historical flight that occurred a day earlier using GE technology, the world's first RNP to ILS with autoland flight completed under the Green Skies of Peru project. Presentations followed from regional ICAO, ALTA, IATA and CANSO representatives, all emphasizing the need to collaboratively implement PBN to improve safety, efficiency and harmonization in the Latin America skies, while minimizing the environmental impact. A key conclusion from the Forum was that any stakeholder can take the first step in implementing PBN, as long as all the essential organizations are involved from the beginning.
"PBN is the solution to solving airspace challenges we have in the Latin America region," said Peter Cerda, regional director of safety, operations and infrastructure for IATA. "However, global PBN implementation is not going as quickly as it should. We need to change the culture and think collaboratively."
GE Aviation Technical Fellow Steve Fulton emphasized PBN's ability to bring efficiency, predictability and increased capacity to airspace. "The Green Skies of Peru project shows real progress and advancement of the technology available today," he said. "This project is a model of what we should be working toward and PBN is the first step in air traffic management modernization efforts."
Regional airlines LATAM and GOL presented at the Forum, agreeing that collaboration is the key to success to ensure PBN benefits are conceivable by all stakeholders.
LAN Peru, who has implemented PBN paths at 11 Peruvian airports, stated the importance of having support from the ANSP and regulator. "We didn't imagine the benefits that could exist; we are very satisfied with the results of the technology," said Carlos Schacht central manager, operations and maintenance for LAN Peru.
"We must put stakeholders on the same page and bring expertise to the system," said Pedro Scorza, operations director for GOL. "We need to understand the impact on the airspace, regulations and operational issues and learn lessons so we don't repeat the same mistakes." GOL, in collaboration with GE and Brazil's air navigation service provider DECEA, recently began flying RNP at Rio de Janeiro's Santos Dumont airport. Scorza reported a 4.5 track miles savings of the RNP paths versus the conventional procedure at the airport, yielding potential savings of $3MM annually in fuel and other cost savings.
Embracing new technology to upgrade the region's infrastructure was a main call to action that was highlighted throughout the two day Forum. "We must work with the technology available today and utilize it to obtain the immense economic and environmental benefits," said Sergio Zuquim, Latin America PBN director for GE Aviation. "GE is committed to continuing these conversations and keeping the momentum moving toward inclusive and successful PBN implementation in the region."
PBN technology allows aircraft to fly precisely-defined flight paths without relying on ground-based radio-navigation signals. Required navigation performance (RNP) procedures can be designed to shorten the distance an aircraft has to fly en-route, and to reduce fuel burn, exhaust emissions and noise pollution in communities near airports. Because of RNP's precision and reliability, the technology can help air traffic controllers reduce flight delays and alleviate air traffic congestion.
GE Aviation's PBN Services is a world leader in the design and deployment of PBN and is working with aircraft operators and air traffic management providers in China, South and Central America, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe to implement PBN solutions. Its RNP Services is an ecomagination qualified product. Learn more about GE's PBN Services by clicking here.
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