In February of 2016, NTT DATA Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “NTT DATA”) was contracted by Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “CATS”), a Cambodian air traffic control service provider, to carry out the installation and subsequent support of the flight path design system “PANADES^®”.

In this project, NTT DATA will transfer one license from the “PANADES” that was installed in Vietnam to Cambodia, accompanying the conclusion of the “Project for the Capacity Development for Transition to the New CNS/ATM Systems in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam”, a Technical Cooperation Project¹ with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (hereinafter referred to as “JICA”).

This marks the sixth overseas introduction of “PANADES”, following introductions in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.

Background and Overview

In recent years, aiming to improve the efficiency and safety of airplane operations and expand airspace capacity centered on Southeast Asian countries such as three of the countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), JICA has been carrying out activities such as development support for capabilities related to the establishment of flight rules for performance-based navigation (PBN) and preparation support for next-generation airport security system training programs aimed at air traffic controllers and control technicians.

In 2011, NTT DATA’s “PANADES” was adopted as a system to develop capabilities concerning the design of flight rules for performance-based navigation (PBN) in the “Project for the Capacity Development for Transition to the New CNS/ATM Systems in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam”. “PANADES” has come to be jointly utilized in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.²

Meanwhile, in Cambodia, there was an average growth of 11% in the number of airplanes between 2011 and 2015, and it is predicted that the flow of transportation will continue to increase in the future.

Given this situation, on this occasion, accompanying the conclusion of JICA’s “Project for the Capacity Development for Transition to the New CNS/ATM Systems in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam”, it was decided that one of the “PANADES” licenses installed in Vietnam would be transferred to Cambodia. NTT DATA has been contracted by CATS, a Cambodian air traffic control service provider, to carry out the installation and subsequent support for “PANADES” on the occasion of the transfer.

Current Situation

In Cambodia, 67 flight rule designs have been completed to this point, and operations have actually begun at the airports listed below.

Regarding PANADES

“PANADES” is a system with the purpose of designing the routes flown by airplanes based upon international standards. In the design of flight paths, upon considering factors such as airplanes’ capabilities and the terrain, manmade obstacles, and climate conditions for each location to be designed, it is necessary to accurately carry out minute calculations, such as various parameter calculations and complex geometrical calculations in line with airplanes’ characteristics. PANADES is outfitted with the functionality to automatically process many of the complex calculations in such flight path design operations, and it has the merit of making it possible to automatically create flight zones with the input of as few parameters as possible. Due to this feature of PANADES, it is possible to aim for the shortening of the working time for the design of flight paths, the securing of the quality and reliability of design results, and the improvement of flight path safety.

Regarding the Future

In the future, NTT DATA plans to cooperate with its group companies and aim to expand the sales of “PANADES” to companies and organizations that perform flight design operations in various countries.

Photograph: A scene of PANADES being installed

Notes