ACADIA – Implementation of SWIM aeronautical information exchange services

State Joint Stock Company “Latvijas gaisa satiksme” (LGS) has been working on introducing the services envisioned by the System Wide Information Management (SWIM) initiative since 2023.

The SWIM aeronautical information exchange services are being introduced in the framework of the CLEAN ATM (CP1 Deployment – Synchronised Modernisation of ATM) project, under the section Acceleration of Aeronautical Digital Information Availability (ACADIA). The implementation of ACADIA is being coordinated by the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) with more than 20 partners from 17 countries involved in the project.

The aim for the introduction of SWIM is to digitise information exchange throughout the European air traffic management system ensuring delivery and exchange of quality assured information between aeronautical information service providers, air traffic control services and airports regardless of their geographic location, civilian or military nature, their role in the provision of air navigation services, the systems they use or the manufacturers thereof.

Real-time sharing of aeronautical data and information will promote flight efficiency as the information received will help optimise flight trajectories, thus indirectly also impacting air space capacity and flight execution, it will also help reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact.

The CLEAN ATM project is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and according to the agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environmental Executive Agency, the ACADIA section of the CLEAN ATM project is to be completed by 31 December 2025.

The project is implemented with the support of the European Union.

REACT (Riga Enhanced ATM Infrastructure Development) is a SJSC “Latvijas gaisa satiksme” long-term air traffic control infrastructure modernisation project for the construction of a new air traffic control tower at Riga International Airport, improving the air traffic control infrastructure and adapting it for dual use, i.e., for both civil and military purposes.

The existing air traffic control infrastructure – the air traffic control tower was built in 1973, and its further development is currently significantly limited by the engineering and design solutions of the 1970s. Thus, the existing tower cannot fulfil all of the needs of the airport and is limiting the introduction of modern and innovative technologies.

In turn, the new air traffic control tower is a prerequisite for the successful development of Riga International Airport, in order for it to continue to ensure the safest and most cost-effective flight management at the busiest airport in the Baltics. The air traffic control infrastructure modernisation project will ensure harmonised airport and business infrastructure development, integration of civilian and military air traffic by strengthening civilian-military mobility. The technological features of the tower will provide the opportunity to optimise arrival and departure interaction, as well as the layout of vertical and horizontal lines, thus reducing fuel consumption, emissions and noise levels, and ensuring, as far as possible, flight continuity, therefore contributing to the achievement of the European Green Deal objectives.

The project is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and the contract with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency envisions the project to be completed by 31 December 2026. 

In the framework of the project, various security and efficiency improvements have been made in the Latvian air space by introducing new datalink communications between pilots and controllers. Instead of voice communications, which were used until now, CPDLC allows air traffic controllers and pilots flying appropriately equipped aircraft to communicate via text messages using datalink communications.

CPDLC is a two-way data transmission system providing controllers an alternative way to send messages to aircraft. CPDLC messages appear on the cockpit display and correspond to voice communication phraseology which controllers use in routine air traffic control operations. This new system employs standardised text messages that cover routine communication. For example, the pilot can send a request to change altitude or the route, and the controller can use these messages to confirm the route or allocate a frequency. It must be noted that in urgent situations, voice communications will still be given priority.

The new application provides an independent and secure additional channel, thus reducing the overburdening of voice communication frequencies. Use of the CPDLC system not only increases capacity and safety, but also improves the efficiency of the routine work of controllers and pilots.

CPDLC provides greater security and efficiency in voice communications transmissions, because text messages provide better clarity and reduce the possibility of misunderstandings, which can arise in voice communications due to pronunciation and accent. Therefore, introduction of CPDLC functionality will ensure clearer communications.

The implementation of the project has been completed, and as of 7 November 2019 JSC “Latvijas gaisa satiksme” has placed into commission the datalink communication system, fulfilling the requirements established under Commission Regulation (EC) No. 29/2009 laying down requirements on data link services for the single European sky.

The project was implemented with the support of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

The 1st phase of the project saw the introduction of a free route airspace in four member states of the North European Functional Airspace Block (NEFAB) – Estonia, Latvia, Norway and Finland as of 12 November 2015. In Estonia, Latvia and Finland the free route airspace is available from flight level 95 (FL95, which is 9,500 feet or 2.9 km), while in Norway it is available from flight level 135. For airspace users in NEFAB countries, the introduction of free route airspace allows them to plan flight routes according to their wishes by being able to choose the shortest and/or economically most viable trajectories.

Continuing the development of the initiative, in the 2nd phase of the project an interface was introduced as of 23 June 2016 linking the Estonian, Latvian and Finnish free route airspace above flight level 285 with Denmark and Sweden, thus establishing a single free route airspace in five countries. In this airspace there is no need to stay on specific airways even when crossing the borders of national airspaces. The single free route airspace continued to be expanded with Norway joining in May 2017, and interfaces with the free route airspaces of the UK, Ireland and Iceland being introduced by the end of 2021.

Introduction of free routing in such a broad airspace allows airlines to significantly reduce flight times, as well as fuel consumption, thus also greatly reducing costs. The implementation of these ambitious goals is a step towards the creation of a Single European Sky.

For more information about the Borealis Free Route Airspace scheme, visit the Borealis Alliance webpage.

The project received co-funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in the framework of a transport project competition.

The development of procedures was started to solve the capacity problems of Riga Airport when the intensity of flights reached its highest point in 2019. The advantages of PBN compared to traditional instrument flight procedures are more efficient use of airspace by optimizing arrival and departure interactions, fuel consumption efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and reduced noise levels.

PBN route structures are designed to improve flight safety and efficiency by optimizing arrival-departure interaction, horizontal and vertical runway alignment, reducing fuel consumption and noise levels, minimizing radio communication between the air traffic control center and the aircrew, and where possible ensure flight continuity.

PBN offers several benefits compared to the traditional instrumental flights’ procedures and routes based on certain stationary navigation equipment. PBN allows to use air space more effectively (creation of routes, fuel consumption efficiency, reduction of noise level etc.) as well as reduces total investment amount by updating the sensors according to technological development.

The national airline of Latvia “Air Baltic” and other airlines flying to and from the airport “Riga” have been able to use PBN procedures since August 12, 2021.

The main goal of the project was to increase capacity of Riga International airport and to improve co-ordination of processes among all the parties involved in flight operations. CDM procedures will ensure more effective decision making, based on more precise and timely information exchange and common understanding of the current situation among all the involved parties.

As a result of the implementation of the project, the quality and safety of services for both airspace users and passengers was significantly improved by:

– more precisely planning the take-off time of aircraft, reducing the waiting time both at the terminal and on the runway, especially during peak hours,

– reducing resource and fuel consumption costs for airlines related to waiting time before take-off and preparing aircraft for flight,

– reducing environmental pollution (noise, CO2 and Nox).

The implementation of the project was completed on April 6, 2021, and since October 15, 2021, Riga International Airport has been a CDM procedure certified airport.

The project has been implemented with the support of the Connecting Europe Facility or CEF.