Due to its continuous innovation activity and the application of the results of its research and development, HungaroControl has an outstanding performance in the fields of improvements in flight safety, increase in capacity, reduction of airline costs and enhanced environmental protection. To this end, the Hungarian ANSP focuses primarily on developments that improve air traffic management efficiency, as well as the introduction of the most up-to-date technologies and the opportunities inherent in international co-operation.

Multiple Cross Border, Remote Operations

One of the prominent achievements of these complex efforts was the re-opening of the upper airspace over Kosovo in April last year, which NATO entrusted HungaroControl with. It is unprecedented in the history of European civil aviation that a country endeavours to control air traffic over a non-adjacent area. According to estimates, some 180,000 flights annually will fly 370,000 less nautical miles, resulting in reduced operating costs of € 18 million, approximately 24,000 tons less fuel burned and CO2 emissions reduced by 75,000 tons. 

Hungarian Free Route

Another recent achievement by HungaroControl is Hungarian Free Route (HUFRA): As of 5 February 2015, HungaroControl cancelled the entire fixed route network, thus enabling airplanes to use the airspace freely, without any restrictions. The significance of the new traffic management concept is that airplanes can travel in Hungary’s airspace along the shortest possible lines between the entry and exit points. With this solution the routes of aircraft flying over Hungary may decrease by a total of almost 1.5 million kilometres a year. As a result, airlines may save nearly million worth of fuel and more than 16 million kilogrammes less carbon dioxide may be emitted into the air.

HungaroControl’s Centre of Research, Development and Simulation & CPDLC

HungaroControl’s Centre of Research, Development and Simulation (CRDS) started operations in Budapest in 2011. Its services are meant to provide the entire Central and Eastern European region with world-class infrastructure in order to meet the challenges posed by European air traffic integration.  The most recent successful international test series of CRDS was related to testing the new Controller-Pilot Data-Link Communications system, the implementation of which will be mandatory in Europe.

Budapest 2.0 project

In addition, air navigation developments closely related to the SESAR research and development programme are being tested and demonstrated with the collaboration of CRDS in the framework of the Budapest 2.0 project. In the Budapest-based SESAR demonstration environment, a six-member international consortium is testing technological innovations and procedures to improve the operation of small- and medium-traffic airports and service providers through simulations and actual flights.

Remote Tower at LHBP

HungaroControl is making intensive efforts towards the implementation of another major project, the remote control tower that aims to enable the ANSP to navigate the airport traffic from its own building as well, with the help of a virtual surface. HungaroControl’s Remote Tower concept has achieved considerable success on the international market: the Dubai airport emergency control centre is being implemented according to the suggestions of a consortium of five companies, including HungaroControl. For more information please download the related brochure from this page.

The related technologies will be presented at the HungaroControl booth at the World ATM Congress

If you want to learn more about HungaroControl, please click here. If you are interested in CRDS, HungaroControl’s research, development and simulation centre, please visit this page. If you are eager to know more about basic training for air traffic controllers, please click here.