HungaroControl Air Traffic Service Ltd's new Control Centre was inaugurated in Budapest on Wednesday, from which air traffic controls will work using Europe's most advanced air traffic control software.
Within the framework of the 13 billion forint so-called ANS III development project, air traffic controllers are moving to a new building on Igló Road and their MATIAS (Magyar Automated and Integrated Air Traffic System) software has also been updated.
At the inaugural ceremony, Minister for National Development Mrs. László Németh stressed that the ANS III project could lay the bedrock for the role of Hungary and HungaroControl within the continent's air travel integration processes. The project raises air navigation services to a new level and the project is a in the regions of both the region and Europe, because Hungary is a hub for air travel passengers, she added.
According to the Minister, the projects develops the travel infrastructure of not just Hungary, but also of the region, and contributes to increasing the competitiveness of air traffic control and the operation of the Central European functional airspace block. She also noted that HungaroControl is one of the most successful state-owned businesses, which shows that the state may also be a good head of business and a state-owned company is also capable of working at a world-class level.
CEO Kornél Szepessy told reporters that European air traffic control is going through dynamic changes, the unified European airspace project is encouraging service providers to become more efficient, and they must also expect a significant increase in traffic. Accordingly, HungaroControl is making its operations more efficient, and conforming them to market demand in the long term; this is the aim of the ANS III project, in addition to encouraging the unification of European airspace.
Mr. Szepessy also noted that the move to the new building is enabling HungaroControl to use its old air traffic control centre as an education centre for European air traffic control, by establishing a training centre and a research and development unit there. The education centre will house the emergency centre, the Entry Point Central Academy, and the regional research and development and simulation centre. The completion of the project enables the company to conform to EU requirements and may also contribute to it retaining its independence in the future.
General Manager of Eurocontrol Frank Brenner also stressed the developments in European air traffic control, stating that both the financial and air traffic situation is very difficult; air traffic fell by 4.4. percent in 2012, but an increase in traffic of 3 percent is expected for 2013. Under such circumstances it is an advantage that HungaroControl is investing and developing, above and beyond the fact that its air traffic indices are otherwise excellent. In addition, the inauguration of the new Control Centre also means that HungaroControl plays a leading roll in the Central European functional airspace block, and is expanding its services beyond the country's natural borders.
Following the press conference, Mrs. László Németh and Kornél Szepessy symbolically switched off the old control centre with the press of a button, before visiting the new building, which air traffic controllers have been working in since December.
(Ministry of National Development)
