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Ministry of infrastructure of Ukraine Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services EnterpriseSafety. Efficiency. Responsibility |
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| Media about us |
| The national air navigation breakthrough |
| ("Uryadovy Kuryer" (Governmental Courier) National Daily Newspaper” 23.12.2005) |
The national system of air navigation services is the locomotive leading Ukraine towards Europe. The air navigation service industry is getting more and more integrated in this strategically crucial direction.
The Ukrainian State Air Traffic Service Enterprise (UkSATSE) is the main air traffic service provider in the country. What achievements and future plans get the enterprise to boast on the eve of its anniversary?
That is the topic of a talk between our correspondent and Yuriy Cherednichenko, the UkSATSE Director General.
– Indeed, the national air navigation system is similar to those in Europe in terms of efficiency of air traffic management, safety level and service provided today. It was achieved through the significant national experience and close international co-operation.
Although integration into European Union and World Trade Organisation is still in prospective for Ukraine, a lot of important steps in this direction have already been made. In May 2004 Ukraine became a Member State of such an authorative organisation as EUROCONTROL (European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation) which currently numbers 36 Member States. Ukrainian specialists participate in the work of all its bodies, teams, sub-groups and task forces.
– Probably, a secret of the industry success and UkSATSE particularly is in attraction of the Ukrainian airspace from the point of view of its geographic location?
– It is a commonly spread myth. Geographically Ukraine is not a crossroad of air routes. In fact, „golden” triangle comprises the UK, France and Germany. Routes connecting these countries with other regions are strategic, and direct connection to the triangle is considered to be a very favourable geographical factor. The majority of the shortest routes (or in professional language – great circle routes) between airports of Europe and the Middle East countries, South-East Asia and Japan are beyond the borders of Ukraine. Only part of them crosses Ukrainian airspace.
Choice of the aircraft route depends on many factors, such as work schedule of airports, safety level, quality of air navigation services, season wind direction and availability of alternate aerodromes with the correspondent service level, etc. Therefore, our task is to allow the airlines to choose the optimal routes and provide them with high-level air navigation services.
The cost of air navigation services also plays an important role. It is identified on the base of reall costs related to scope and quality of services and is strictly controlled by the international community – EUROCONTROL, International Association of Aviation Transport (ІАТА), International Organisation of Civil Aviation (ІCАО) and others. The said funds are to be invested exclusively into development of the Air Navigation System of Ukraine. Besides, our route charges are not the highest in Europe.
– Does economic component of the air traffic management have any adverse effect on protection of national interest and state sovereignty? In terms of the open airspace the state surely should have its secrets…
– I would like to assure you and all readers that this issue is settled. As it is stipulated by the Flexible Use of Airspace concept in case of emergency priority is given to military interests that allows to take due care of sovereignty and protection of state interests. Today this concept is being implemented under the terms of reasonable balancing of interests of all its users, as well as military ones.
In 1999 the Joint Civil-Military System of Air Traffic Management of Ukraine was launched. In this way efficient co-ordination between military and civil services has been achieved. It also makes our airspace more attractive. In the past decade we have had a six time increase of the airways length, and the number of international, domestic flights and over flights has almost doubled. Incomes to the State budget have increased proportionally.
– Air traffic safety depends also upon the state of communication, navigation and surveillance facilities. Can one be sure that this equipment is reliable?
– Depreciation of old Soviet equipment influenced upon the initial stage of air navigation system creation. Today UkSATSE – is a powerful modern European enterprise. Our partners are world wide known manufacturers of air navigation equipment. We are orienting towards best international practices, constantly implementing modern technologies that allow guaranteeing high level of flight safety.
Besides, “UkSATSE” Airline as a part of the enterprise has three specially equipped aircraft-labs for performing flight checks of air navigation equipment. 14 countries order this service that is also a proof of our high technical level.
– The efficient performance of all enterprise’ tasks depends on personnel professionalism. Does Ukraine have enough proper personnel?
– Ukrainian system of ATC staff training and licensing complies with the European one. One of the Regional Branches of the enterprise is Training centre „Ukraerotraining”. Our specialists receive annual refresher training, periodically have simulator training for non standard situations handling procedures and are constantly improving their English language proficiency.
We also collaborate with the leading educational institutions of the world – the EUROCONTROL Institute of Air Navigation Services (IANS) (Luxembourg), the DFS Air Navigation Services Academy (Germany) and others.
– If to concentrate only at achievements, it may seem that there is nothing to work at in the future...
– The dynamic processes of development of air navigation system and ATM as a component of aviation industry are directly connected with comprehensive state development. We act accordingly to the European community integration strategy and in this direction there are still a lot of issues to be solved.
For example, implementation of the Single European Sky principles and creation of Functional Airspace Blocks; introduction of communication, navigation and surveillance systems on the basis of digital technologies, namely satellite systems; permanent development of the airway network etc. Everyone knows, there is always room for improvement, especially if we speak about safety, life and destinies of hundreds of thousands people.
Interviewed by
Zoya Krasnodemska |
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Airport, Boryspil, Kyiv region, Ukraine, 08300, phone: (+38044) 235-21-10, fax: (+38044) 281-84-84
© 2005-2024 Uksatse |
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