Airbus ProSky, OFNAC (Office National de L’Aviation Civile), IATA, and operators including American Airlines, Air France and Jet Blue met last month in Miami to validate the new airspace design for Cap-Haïtien International Airport and Port-au-Prince International Airport.
The RNP procedures, which will be published in April 2015, are a significant step towards improving the efficiency of the Haitian airspace.
Airbus ProSky supported the design of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures, which will result in the implementation of RNP 1 STARs, SIDs and RNAV GNSS approaches to both airports. RNP AR on Runway 05 of Cap-Haïtien airport was also designed to provide shorter trajectory options for the operators RNP-AR capable, resulting in significant track mile savings and a corresponding CO2 emissions reduction.
By implementing PBN concept of operations, OFNAC is able to deliver higher airspace efficiency both from air traffic control and airlines operations standpoint. Many operators were seeking to secure their operations continuity to both airports and were requesting more efficient procedures. With the commitment of IATA and Airbus ProSky, OFNAC is now able to deliver on those expectations.
Jacques Boursiquot, OFNAC Air Navigation Services Director, said: "OFNAC is really happy with the outcome of the two projects since collaborating with Airbus ProSky and IATA has been very efficient and useful.
"Our controllers also feel very confident with the new airspace design, which is the implementation’s key success factor. Our commitment was to deliver an improved airspace to our Airlines’ end users, and we therefore invited them to be part of the project to ensure that the result fulfilled their expectations."
"We are proud to have contributed to this positive outcome and believe both Haiti and the airlines that operate in the country will benefit from a safer and more efficient airspace thanks to the work of IATA and the other partners on this important initiative," Peter Cerda, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Americas said.
Rafael Alonso-Nivez, Regional Director Latin America & Caribbean, Airbus ProSky stated: "We are pleased with the outcome of both projects. The collaboration among all parties was reliant on constant operational exchanges between airline pilots and OFNAC controllers, resulting in designs that will increase efficiency and enhance safety within the Haitian airspace.
"All of the stakeholders should be applauded for their ability to work together in a manner which will benefit each of them."