Ortberg discusses international airspace management challenges

Rockwell Collins CEO and President Kelly Ortberg told those attending the recent Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi that companies like Rockwell Collins have provided much of the core technology needed for the region’s evolving airspace.

But the ability to operate more efficiently and avoid gridlock in the sky and at airports will only be successful if the entire aviation infrastructure – policies, procedures, air traffic management, dispatch ability, training and aircraft – are all addressed as vital elements of the entire system.

One of four aerospace executives invited to participate in an April 7 panel discussion about the challenges of airspace management facing the aviation industry internationally, Ortberg said airlines and operators in the Middle East have done an “outstanding job” of preparing for the future.

But, despite the fact that the aircraft being delivered in this region are the most modern aircraft in the world – and the most capable ever produced – their advanced, state-of-the-art avionics and aircraft systems can only be implemented to the standards and policies that are in place.

Another reason for congestion, said Ortberg, is that military aircraft currently don’t have the equipment needed to fly efficiently in commercial airspace. The solution, he added, is to equip those aircraft with civil certified avionics.

In addition to providing innovation solutions to support the evolving airspace, Rockwell Collins’ acquisition of ARINC and the creation of its Information Management Services (IMS) business have accelerated the company’s vision of becoming a leader in the fast-growing aviation information management space, according to Ortberg.