DFS
Aviation Services will redesign the Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) of
Athens and develop Performance Based Navigation (PBN) flight procedures
for Athens International Airport.
DFS Aviation Services
(DAS), subsidiary of the German air navigation service provider DFS
Deutsche Flugsicherung, has been selected through an open international
tender to provide its consulting services for the development of
Performance Based Navigation (PBN) instrument flight procedures and the
redesign of Athinai Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) for the provision of
air traffic services by the Greek ANSP (Hellenic Aviation Service
Provider - HASP).
A large team of air traffic management experts
from DAS and DFS will work closely with HASP and Athens International
Airport (AIA) to accomplish this assignment. To execute specific aspects
of the project, Dutch subcontractors to70 and NLR will contribute their
specialized knowledge. The work will last until summer 2027 for the
full scope deliverable.
In the initial phase, overlay PBN
procedures for Athens Airport (LGAV) are already designed and put into
operation within the existing TMA. Next phase covers a full airspace
redesign, validation, and implementation of a new concept for Athinai
TMA. Further, a safety assessment and an on-the-job familiarisation
training on Flight Procedure Design is included.
The objective is
to optimize the TMA airspace and the Airport operations in favour of
safety, enhanced capacity, reduced environmental footprint, notably less
workload for ATC and cost efficiency, with tangible benefits by
mid-2026 onwards.
Mr. Alexandros Aravanis, Chief Operations
Officer at AIA is fully on-board with this assignment: “The
collaboration between HASP, AIA and DAS will ensure and accelerate the
PBN implementation in Athens, under the frame of a greater airspace
re-design, in partnership and with the active engagement of all involved
stakeholders. It is expected that the operational improvements deriving
from the PBN procedures and the new airspace concepts, will optimize
flight operations, will improve on time performance, at reduced
environmental impact thus, contributing significantly to the ultimate
task for sustainable flight operations.”
Mr George Saounatsos, Governor of HASP is delighted with this project kicking-off with DAS: “Together,
working as one team, we can unleash the full potential of Athens
International Airport and we are looking forward to having an
experienced partner on board.”.
“It’s phantastic to have the
opportunity executing this important project for AIA and HASP. We have a
great team working on it and we're confident that it’ll be a big
success for the Greek society.", says Andreas Pötzsch, Managing Director
of DAS.