ATM at the service of global health
COVID-19 disease is spreading internationally and this epidemic is growing rapidly in part due to the international movement of people through civil aviation. To date, countries around the world have imposed travel restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus by restricting flights and closing borders. International air traffic users are therefore heavily involved in these measures and are working at all levels to mitigate this human epidemic.
Strong measures deployed by ICAO
On a global scale, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has been working for many years to put in place appropriate air transport measures to deal with this type of pandemic. The organization has the necessary regulations and framework, which are currently helping Member States to deal with this situation.
COVID-19 and the impact on CCS development
The first quarter of 2020 was important for CCS development and the start of the first step in operation. Indeed, it was planned that the first service would be put into operation in March at WAC in Madrid. The exhibition did not take place because it was very important to preserve everyone’s safety. However, the commissioning of this first step is simply deferred to when the situation will allow to complete this launch safely and effectively.
In this context, European project leaders are keenly aware of the extent of the epidemic and are making everyone’s health a priority. The French and Italian governments have taken the appropriate measures to protect their citizens. The Franco-Italian ANSP team thus have taken responsibility by guaranteeing the safety of all members involved in the project. Thanks to a new work plan and their agile approach the teams have adapted their working methods to enable teleworking, more frequent exchanges, and optimal flexibility in order to meet the set deadlines. To date, no delay is anticipated due to the current context.