This is marketing research on the Air Traffic Control industry and can include information on the background, market structure, definitions, competitors, trends and developments of Air Traffic Control and is related to other topics such as guidance, navigation, airports, flights and flying.

Table of Contents

[edit] Background

Air Traffic Control (ATC) is automated or human-assisted guidance given to aircraft for preventing collisions and for the management of efficient air traffic flow. It involves monitoring movements of all aircraft both in the air and on the ground.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the objectives of Air Traffic Control include the following:

• Preventing in-flight collisions
• Preventing collisions at airport
• Accelerating and maintaining the orderly flow of air traffic
• Providing advice and information for safe and efficient coordination of flights
• Notifying and assisting appropriate authorities to search, rescue and aid troubled aircraft

Air traffic was recognized as needed soon after aircraft began flying. In 1919, the first commercial flights were made between the U.S. and Canada. Shortly thereafter, the need for some type of regulation of aircraft and their movements was recognized and in the same year, the International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN) was established. It was quickly apparent that the then current regulations were insufficient to prevent possible collisions or accidents. Some airport operators began rudimentary air traffic control by using visual signals such as waving flags or pennants. Radio-equipped airport traffic control towers soon began to emerge. With the growing number of flights, it was felt that control was needed to extend these services beyond the airport areas as well as into the airways above. In December 1935, the first Airway Traffic Control Center was established at Newark, New Jersey. In July 1936, air traffic control became a federal responsibility. The invention of radar after the Second World War revolutionized the Air Traffic Control industry. Much more airspace could be tracked in virtually any type of weather or lighting conditions. By 1947, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of the United Nations has been established.

There are three major categories of procedures in Air Traffic Control –

• Departure procedures for leaving terminal areas and airports
• Arrival procedures for entering terminal areas and airports
• In-flight procedures

Air Traffic Control can technically be divided into –

Airport control

Ground control

Air control

Clearance delivery

Approach & terminal control

In-flight control

Ancillary to the service of Air Traffic Control is industry specific equipment and technologies which have become indispensable to the industry. These systems form virtual separate industries and can be broadly divided into the following groups:

• Air Traffic Control Communications
• Air Traffic Control Navigation
• Air Traffic Control Surveillance

Air traffic control can be generally grouped into three general elements. First are the basic set of flying rules pilots adhere to when flying. Second is the multiple set of electronic navigation systems and instruments that pilots use to remain on course. Finally, there are air traffic controller personnel and the computer systems the controllers use to track aircraft during takeoff, flight, and landing.

[edit] Market Structure

In most countries, the service of Air Traffic Control is provided by the Air Navigation Service providers (ANSPs) and Air Traffic Service Providers (ATSPs). Both private and public ANSPs and ATSPs exist. They work essentially under the regulatory framework and supervision of the local country as well as internationally recognized rules.

In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration - or FAA - acts as the ANSP and ATSP. In Canada, Air Traffic Control is provided by NAV CANADA, a private enterprise that operates Canada's civil air navigation services. Other countries provide their own air traffic control systems and these differ widely in technology and sophistication.

Being a member of the IACO, almost every nation has agreed to provide air traffic control services to aircraft operating within its borders. Its standards include use of English as the common language and use of VOR and satellite systems as primary navigation tools.

[edit] Industry Definitions

• Air traffic - any ground or air movement of aircraft.
• Aviation - all aspects pertaining to aircraft and their use.
• Airplanes - Aircraft which are fixed wing, i.e. they do not move wings to attain lift.
• Air Navigation Service Providers - an authority who is directly responsible for providing both visual and non-visual aids for navigation within a specific airspace. Its services have to comply with the restrictions set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules and other international, multi-national and national policies, agreements or regulations.
• Air Traffic Service Providers - An Air Traffic Service Provider is an authority appointed by the State and it is responsible for providing air traffic services in the airspace concerned.

[edit] Market Metrics

A few countries provide most of the systems and equipment for global Air Traffic Control. A sample list is as follows:

	Country	      No. of Companies	  Market Share %

	  U.S.	           15	              26.32
	  UK	           11	              19.30
	  Canada	   11	              19.30
	  Israel	    5	               8.77
	  Australia	    3	               5.26
	  Sweden	    3	               5.26
	  Czech Republic    2	               3.51
	  France	    1	               1.75
	  Italy	            1	               1.75
	  Germany	    1	               1.75

In 2003, it was estimated the U.S. had fourteen major Air Traffic Control equipment manufacturers with 135 establishments. In 1995, the world market forecast for Air Traffic Control modernization for next 10 years would be US $92 billion.

[edit] Industry Players

A sample of global manufacturers of Air Traffic Control equipment include the following:

• Adacel Inc. (Canada)
• ADI Limited (Australia)
• Advanced Navigation & Positioning Corporation (USA)
• Aeronav Group (Canada)
• AIT Recorders Ltd. (UK)
• ALES Sro (Czech Republic)
• Alifabs Group Ltd. (UK)
• Almos Systems Pvt. Ltd. (Australia)
• Amazontech Co. (USA)
• Audiosoft Limited (UK)
• Audor Communications Inc. (Canada)
• Azdec Limited (UK)
• BAE Systems PLC (UK)
• Becker Avionics Inc. (USA)
• Belfortex Ltd. (Belarus)
• Belgian Advanced Technology Systems (Belgium)
• Boeing Co. (USA)
• C.N.S. Systems AB (Sweden)
• CGP Associates Ltd. (UK)
• Chapman Avionics (Australia)
• Comsoft GmbH (Germany)
• Datcom Sp.zoo (Poland)
• Elta Systems Group (Israel)
• Fernau Avionics Ltd. (UK)
• Finmeccanica SpA (Italy)
• Frequentis Nachrichtentechnik GmbH (Austria)
• Gallium Software Inc. (Canada)
• Griffon Corporation (USA)
• Harris Corporation (USA)
• Honeywell International Inc. (USA)
• Indra Sistemas (Spain)
• Integrated System Technologies (UK)
• Intelcan Technosystems Inc. (Canada)
• Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. (Israel)
• Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (Norway)
• L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (USA)
• Lockheed Martin Corporation (USA)
• Marconi Corporation PLC (UK)
• Military Aircraft Group (Israel)
• MITRE Corporation (USA)
• Muirhead Aerospace Ltd. (UK)
• NAV Canada (Canada)
• Navigation Aeronav International Inc. (NAI) (Canada)
• Ness Technologies Inc. (Israel)
• Northrop Grumman Corporation (USA)
• NovAtel Inc. (Canada)
• Optelecom-NKF Inc. (USA)
• Pelorus Navigation Systems Inc. (Canada)
• Qinetiq Group PLC (UK)
• Radas Sro (Czech Republic)
• Raytheon Company (USA)
• Sectra AB (Sweden)
• SI ATM (Sweden)
• Sierra Nevada Corporation (USA)
• SITA Inc. (USA)
• Solacom Technologies Inc. (Canada)
• Thales ATM SA (France)

The following state-sanctioned authorities provide Air Traffic Control services in the respective countries as follows:

Austria - Austro Control

Australia - Airservices Australia (State Owned Corporation) and the Royal Australian Air Force.

Belgium - Belgocontrol

Brazil - Department of Air Space Control (Military Authority) and the National Agency of Civil Aviation

Bulgaria - Air Traffic Services Authority

Canada - NAV CANADA

Croatia - Hrvatska kontrola zračne plovidbe (Croatia Control Ltd.)

Czech republic - Řízení letového provozu ČR

Denmark - Naviair (Danish ATC)

Europe - Eurocontrol - (European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation)

Finland - Finavia

France - DGAC (Government body)

Germany - Deutsche Flugsicherung (German ATC)

Greece - Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (Hellenic ATC)

Hong Kong - Civil Aviation Department

Ireland - IAA (Irish Aviation Authority)

India - Airports Authority of India (AAI) (under Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India)

Italy - ENAV (Italian ATC)

Mexico - Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano

Netherlands - LVNL (Dutch ATC)

New Zealand - Airways Corporation (State Owned Enterprise)

Norway - Avinor (State-owned private company)

Pakistan - Civil Aviation Authority (State department)

Poland - PATA - Polish Air Traffic Agency (Part of 'Polish Airports' State Owned Enterprise)

Singapore - CAAS (Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore)

South Africa - Air Traffic and Navigation Services

Spain - AENA (Spanish ATC and Airports)

Sweden - The LFV Group (Swedish ATC)

Switzerland - Skyguide

United Kingdom - National Air Traffic Services (49% State Owned Public-Private Partnership)

United States - Federal Aviation Administration (Government Body)

Ukraine - Ukrainian State Air Traffic Service Enterprise (UkSATSE)

Venezuela - INAC (Instituto Nacional de Aviación Civil)

[edit] Recent Trends and Developments

The FAA and other air traffic control agencies in the U.S. are planning to modernize air traffic control systems with satellite tracking. New satellite systems, such as GPS (Global Positioning Systems), will improve safety by enhancing the tracking ability of air traffic controllers. ITT corporation was awarded a contract in 2007 for $1.8 billion to improve the U.S. air traffic system. The new system will incorporate many GPS based navigational aids and is expected to begin limited deployments as soon as 2010.

Other improvements are ongoing. In August 2007, the FAA proposed new multiple – instead of single - “flight lanes” for inbound and outbound traffic through airspaces around New York City and Philadelphia. This is forecast to save up to 20% of the waiting time aircraft currently spent “queued up” on runways at major areas airports such as Kennedy and LaGuardia. The air controllers union, however, still feel that they are working with antiquated equipment and they feel the system may be at a crisis state regarding their current ability to effectively track air traffic.

[edit] Sources

Wikipedia

Answers.com (Business & Finance)

US Census Bureau

US Government Accountability Office

International Air transport Association

The Free Library by Farlex

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