Air Traffic Controllers led by the President of the Management Board of “M-NAV” GOJSC, at the invitation of SECSI FRA Group of countries and of Albcontrol attended the regional meeting held in Tirana from 18th to 20th of October. The topic of the meeting was the South East Common Sky Initiative Free Route Airspace (SECSI FRA). The regional meeting was attended by representatives from Air Navigation Services Providers from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania.

The above-mentioned meeting was of immense importance for M-NAV because it formalized the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia and of Albania to this Initiative. What gave additional importance to this meeting is that it was a good opportunity to discuss operational issues related to this Initiative which offers airspace users significant benefits along the South East Axis by delivering the shortest route options, and its benefits were subject of discussion at the meeting. Also, it was discussed about the constraining moment in the functioning of our system which does not process FPL, so there are three points for outbound traffic towards Tirana.

Further, at the said meeting, another meeting with Mr. Hantin Bonati, General Manager of Albcontrol, took place with whom it was discussed about reaching final, formal solution for delegating a part of the Airspace over Lake Ohrid for meeting M-NAV`s needs in providing air navigation services by ATC Ohrid, also establishing a direct telecommunication link between ATC Ohrid and Albcontrol was considered.

M-NAV continues to attend regional meetings throughout the region with an aim of efficient implementation of this Initiative.

The aviation industry has been one of the worst hit sectors due to the outbreak of the SARS-CoV 2 virus. Since the beginning of the crisis, all stakeholders are committed to air traffic recovery and return the number of flights and passengers to a pre-crisis level, i.e. to the 2019 level, a year which in these conditions is taken as a reference year.

It is apparent that the vaccination of the population and the relaxed travel restrictions imposed by the States very successfully mitigate the Covid-19 effects which last year significantly hit the aviation sector which suffered enormous financial losses.

Throughout this period, Eurocontrol has been striving to assist with its resources, including preparation of short-term scenarios and long-term forecasts for the expected air traffic levels in order to assist Service Providers optimize their operations and contribute adequately to air traffic recovery. According to its new forecast issued in the month of October 2021 for the period 2021-2027, there are three possible scenarios: the “High” scenario which is optimistic one and envisages its realization with further massive vaccination within Europe and globally, with a coordinated interregional approach, relaxed travel restrictions with most inter-regional flows restarting by the middle of 2022. The “Baseline” scenario is similar but with flows outside Europe recovering rather more slowly and with business travel only recovering to a pre-COVID levels in 2023. According to the most pessimistic “Low” scenario, this is delayed until 2027.

M-NAV is especially proud that during the month of August 2021 it almost reached the “High” scenario and it has seen an air traffic drop of -7.8% when compared to the same month in the year of 2019, followed by a slight decline of the curve and in the month of September it was recorded air traffic drop of -11.9% when compared to the same month in the year of 2019, so that in October, finally after more than а year and a half, M-NAV records an air traffic increase of 1.3% compared to the month October in 2019. Thus, the Republic of North Macedonia for the month of October 2021 is a country with the highest volume of overflights growth when compared to the year of 2019, at level of ECAC Member States.

M-NAV hopes that this trend of increasing air traffic will continue and we remain committed to safe provision of air navigation services to our Clients.

Source: Eurocontrol

On 18.05.2021, the President of the Management Board of M-NAV and ANS Executive Director, Mr. Fahrudin Hamidi and the Executive Director for Financial and Legal Affairs, Development and Investments – Mr. Migjen Salmani, visited the working premises of ANSA in Prishtina, Kosova, where they had a meeting with the members of ANSA`s Management, led by the General Director, Mr. Bahri Nuredini.

During the meeting, the said adjacent Air Navigation Service Providers discussed about the current air traffic situation and the crisis which occurred due to the enormous air traffic drop caused by Covid 19 pandemic, likewise they tackled the issues about the measures and activities undertaken in order to solve the crisis and thus enabling smooth and regular air traffic flow. At the same time, they discussed about the forthcoming strategic views of both ANSPs in the area of providing safe air navigation services aiming optimal use of the existing mutual resources (human, technical and procedural resources), while reducing the costs.

Each safe flight represents a new confirmation that the ATSEP personnel, those specialists who are responsible for the technical systems, aids and equipment required for providing air navigation services, are well trained and perform their duties in compliance with the highest standards. The Aviation Technicians and Engineers who are responsible for installing, maintaining, controlling and monitoring the air traffic control systems and aids, are actually responsible for flight data accuracy, integrity, availability and for continuous and smooth operation of the systems and the instruments without which the aviation could hardly be imagined. Neither the pilots are able to perform their duties nor the Air Traffic Controllers are able to provide clearances, instructions etc. without the data derived from the relevant aids.

Macedonian Air Traffic Technical Electronics Association is responsible for professional development of ATSEP personnel. MATTA has been representing the State in International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (IFATSEA) for 25 years and it cooperates with ICAO, regarding the standards and recommended practices for the work of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel. MATTA has actively participated in the preparation of the ATSEP Training Manual which is ICAO`s official document. Being a State the ATSEP personnel of which attends mandatory trainings and makes competence checks, we significantly have contributed to launching ATSEP training rules acceptable worldwide.

We are pleased to say that as a result of our many years of hard work and commitment, ATSEP personnel will soon become a world-class licensed staff, and will be included in ICAO Annex 1.

So far, as an Association, we have organized a meeting of IFATSEA Board of Directors, a General Assembly with delegates from around the world, an Assembly of the European group of IFATSEA, as well as a meeting of our member with the President of ICAO at ICAO headquarters. The association regularly has presentations at the annual assemblies of IFATSEA and we continue to be active and involved in the new projects of the international association.

At the invitation of the regional Director of Asia-Pacific Region and the Project Leader, Mr. Senthivvel Balasubramanian, the MATTA Association takes an active part in all phases of the preparation and research of the study “Human Factor Study of ATSEP”. The study and analysis has been conducted in stages and lasts one year, through research, webinars and intensive work. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 pandemics, the Annual Assembly 2020 was postponed and it is well known that the outcomes of important projects are sublimated at the said Assembly.

However, the Study was completed and it is classified as ICAO official document. The results of the Study are clearly defined factors, final consolidated measures and proposals for improving the condition in this area, having an aim of improving the safety culture and the professional engagement of ATSEP. The Study should help in work planning and organization and in understanding the description of work in reference to this profession. This is of great significance not only for the ATSEP personnel, but also for various international institutions, aeronautical authorities, air traffic control and for all other interested civil aeronautical institutions.

MATTA continues with the activities for enforcing the professionalism of the ATSEP, improving the training conditions, upgrading the knowledge as well as improving the working conditions. All this is a trigger for us that empowers us and encourages us for greater engagement, because only then we can achieve the core priority – maintaining a high level of air traffic safety.

Link to the study
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Mr. Fahrudin Hamidi , the president of the Management Board welcomed Croatia Control representatives , Mr. Vlado Bagarić – Director General and Mr. Tomislav Mihetec Deputy Director of ATM, at M-NAV premises on 29th April 2021.

During this meeting both ANSP`s representatives, discussed on the current situation imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and its negative impact that it has been having in the major drop in air traffic, causing deep financial crisis in the aviation industry.

M-NAV presented its measures and activities taken in order to prevent the Covid-19 spread among its operational staff as more critical and crucial in the continuation of normal air traffic operation and other measures to reduce most of the costs in order to maintain the company’s liquidity.

Among the topics of discussion was the preparation of a draft MOU which would include cooperation in the field of safety, training and airspace management.

Croatia Control representatives offered their help and support in the implementation of SECSI FRA, EU regulation 2017/373, assistance in the PBN implementation in TMA, the preparation of some working procedures in the safety, quality and security domain.

They gave a brief presentation of the functionalities of their AMC portal which is a valuable airspace management tool especially designed for drones and any other unmanned aircrafts.

Likewise they presented their new Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) Training Centre and the Tower (TWR) simulator which is located in Split. The TWR simulator is being used for in house ATCO training purposes and they invited M-NAV to visit their premises where they would closely present all their innovations and training centers both in Zagreb and Split.

M-NAV remains prepared and willing to strengthen its cooperation and good relations with all regional ANSPs in order to improve its services and maintain its primary task to keep our skies safe.

Every year, World Meteorological Day is celebrated in accordance with the convention of the World Meteorological Organization which entered into force on March 23, 1950.

World Meteorological Day 2021 is dedicated to the theme “Ocean, our climate and weather”. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) celebrates its focus in connecting the ocean, climate and weather within the Earth System.

Climate change is warming the ocean, and this has a profound effect on our weather. The WMO’s annual report on the condition of the global climate shows that 2020 was one of the three warmest years ever recorded, despite the cooling of La Nina in the Pacific Ocean. The past decade from 2011-2020 was the warmest ever. The warm ocean temperature is at a record level, and it`s rise continues. The sea ice is melting. The rate of sea level rise is speeding up. Over the past year, we have seen prolonged droughts that have extended fire seasons around the world. Devastating fires in Australia, for example, have been linked to ocean temperatures affecting a drier seasonal climate pattern. Warm ocean temperatures have helped trigger a record season of hurricanes in the Atlantic and unusually intense tropical cyclones in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans. Storm damage in these areas has demonstrated the power of the ocean and its devastating impact on coastal communities

For more information on the link https://youtu.be/F7dUKEurZnI