Three-way deal to optimise flight operations

The partners will test solutions developed by Thales as part of its "Thales Orchestrator for Eco-Friendly Trajectories", enabling airspace users to implement optimised trajectories “in a simple, fast and efficient way”.

The new air traffic control – airlines collaborative systems will help them to follow more direct routes, adjusting their flight profiles in real time, using digital tools to enable better collaboration between airspace users and air navigation service providers (ANSPs).

This is fundamental as optimising flight operations is one of the main ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from individual flights and in turn, decarbonise the commercial air transport sector.

According to Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of the GCAA, this initiative aligns with the UAE's ongoing dedication to sustainability as well as with the theme of 2024 year, sustainability.

“It underscores the GCAA’s pledge to national priorities and the government's methodology, while also fulfilling our international commitments within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), particularly the recent announcement in Dubai of the global framework for aviation fuel, which sets an ambitious goal of reducing global aviation emissions by five per cent by 2030.”

The air transport sector in the UAE, which has soared since its inception, emerging as a global leader in air connectivity, is committed to reducing its carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

“This showcases a collective commitment to mitigating the climate impact of aviation, aligning perfectly with the UAE's visionary 2031 agenda. Etihad takes immense pride in contributing to this initiative, leveraging innovative avionics and advanced flight operations to propel the aviation industry towards a more sustainable future”, says Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief operating officer at Etihad Airways.

Collaboration is the cornerstone on the road to achieving net zero emissions. As Christian Rivierre, Thales VP airspace mobility solutions, said: “Our innovations in terms of avionics and flight operations are very much driven by our desire to make aviation ever more sustainable, reducing the climate impact of civil air transport.”