“Out of Fragmentation comes Integration” – romance of regional ATM
“Out of fragmentation comes integration. Prolonged union leads to divisions.” These are the opening lines of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a 14th-century historical novel of the Three Kingdoms period by Luo Guanzhong. The seemingly contradictory statements reflect the ebb and flow of human affairs, driven by larger forces that are sometimes unstoppable.
The Three Kingdoms period is well remembered because many historical personalities are celebrated in the classic novel, and some have been popularised into folk legends. At Chengdu, there is a huge temple and museum complex that contains the historical relics of the Three Kingdoms, with a reputation as the holy land of the Three Kingdoms.
Chengdu was the backdrop for the CANSO Asia Pacific Conference 2024 which was held in early July. About 250 people attended the event which included the Operations Work Group, Safety Work Group, Asia Pacific ANSP Committee and the Asia Pacific CANSO CEO Committee as well as two workshops by Indra and Aireon. ATMB, our host was immaculate in making every arrangement work perfectly and the experience memorable. The gala dinner and social programme will certainly be talked about for a long time. Significantly, ATMB has impressed everyone with their positive attitude and strong team spirit.
Like the opening lines I mentioned above, the focus of the Conference was also about fragmentation and integration but of a different kind. The CANSO Asia Pacific study involving regional ANSPs and the industry has resulted in an Asia Pacific ATM White Paper. Continuing from the strategic retreat involving CANSO Asia Pacific members at Bali last year, the Conference in Chengdu was designed to broaden and deepen the conversation on advancing ATM in the region.
The challenges arising from ATM fragmentation in the region are well known. The region’s ATM development is not keeping pace with its aviation growth and global expectations. The White Paper is a search for what more the region can do to improve the status quo. Part of the answer lies in greater collaboration among ANSPs leveraging digitalisation that was not so commonly available previously. Another part of the answer lies in changes on the supply side to make technology more affordable and easier to implement. However, the White Paper is only a catalyst and not a how-to playbook. Conor Mullan, Managing Director of Think, said it best at the Conference, the White Paper is not a “one-punch knockout” but a springboard for change.
The Conference surfaced some fresh insights, and importantly they are actionable. At the panel involving technology companies, Aireon offered virtual ATFM as a service on a free trial to ANSPs. This is a major step considering the way multi-nodal collaborative ATFM is done in the region and the current practice of acquiring or building an ATFM system by individual ANSPs. The other panel involving senior leadership of ANSPs spotlighted the need for a common operational information system for the region. Recognising that individual ANSPs would want their own unique information systems, the idea of an information system of information systems to harmonise the data exchange was mooted.
The fireside chat with Patrick Ky, CEO of International Centre for Aviation Innovation, focused on innovation. Among various ideas, Patrick cited the example of a virtualisation tool known as Regional Collaboration Platform that can be used by regional ANSPs to trial new operational concepts together in a digital environment. Notably, he highlighted the need for regional ANSP leadership to meet regularly and be friends and not just colleagues.
There is growing recognition that digitalisation is producing connected ATM, and this is the future of regional ATM in the region. Is the White Paper or the Conference pivotal to realising digitally connected regional ATM? We often give ourselves too much credit as creator of change when all of us are merely in the flow of an almost preordained trajectory. The White Paper and the Conference are only reflecting the unfolding reality.
While Romance of the Three Kingdoms is filled with colourful characters and heroic acts, the final outcomes may be less dependent on these individuals or what they do. In the long river of history, the flow of change is shaped by larger and invisible forces. What ultimately matters are the mega trend of developments with a confluence of forces at a timing based on readiness of many factors.
We now face a mega wave of digitalisation. It will reshape airspace management in the region, connecting ATM through digitalisation. Digital aviation and connected ATM are unstoppable. This will be a positive change from today. We will do well to ride this wave and flow with it.
To borrow a phrase from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.” Regional ATM as digitally connected ATM is coming. Be ready.
