Flight Times to Istanbul Airport are Extended… Turkish Airlines Costs Increased; French air traffic system in the experimental stage "Merge Point" has sold to Turkey. The system would shorten flight times. The desired efficiency could not be obtained when the targeted air traffic at Istanbul Airport remained at 3 thousand per day at 200. The duration of all flights is extended. All operating costs of THY, which consumed 10-15 minutes of extra fuel, were doubled.
SözcüAccording to the report of Yusuf Demir; Turkish Airlines increased the planned time for Ankara flights, which takes 45 minutes at Atatürk Airport, to 1 hour and 35 minutes at Istanbul Airport. This change, which is more than twice as much as before, is also clearly visible on THY's website, flight information screens and tickets. When it is examined, it is seen that the time is extended not only in Ankara flights but also in all landings and departures related to Istanbul Airport.
It turned out that the delay was caused by the air traffic control system called "Merge Point", which was bought from the French with great dreams, as well as the problems caused by the location and physical conditions of the new airport. The system, which has been tried in small airports, mostly in Asia and Africa, and in small airports in Seoul and Norway, has been implemented for the first time at an airport of this size and 3 airports (Istanbul, Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen).
At the first stage, when the aircraft traffic, which is targeted to increase to 2 thousand and then to 3 thousand per day, remains in the 200s, the desired efficiency could not be obtained from the system at Istanbul Airport. Aviation experts who gave information to SÖZCÜ noted that the system, which was taken with the aim of preventing delays in the air and on the ground and establishing flight safety, had the opposite results in practice. an expert not want to share his name, "a new system theoretically correct system but did comply with Turkey. It is very clear that flight times are not shortened, especially at Istanbul Airport. ”
THERE IS NO COMING BACK
Civil Aviation Deputy General Manager Oktay Erdağı said, “If such a system is purchased, it is expected that the flight time will be shortened, flight security will increase and traffic will increase. No such thing. Why so much money was spent at that time. Every day, all airlines, especially THY, are hurting. This is a project that Eurocontrol markets. They chose us as guinea pigs. It turns out that it is not suitable for us. But maAlesef has no turning back. ”
After the system was purchased, air traffic controllers from the State Airports Authority were trained in France for about a year. a large number of meetings were held where all parties participate in Turkey. No objection or amendment proposal was received from THY or other airline companies in this process. The system became operational on the day of Istanbul Airport opening. A change was made in the airspace. New routes, new approach procedures, new runway approach procedures have started to be implemented.
LIKE AIRLINE MAZE
The system developed by the French is similar to the labyrinth system in the halls where passport control is performed. In order to reach the police, you have to line up in the maze and draw "s" with the people in front of you and move forward. In other words, an airplane that leaves from Ankara and completes the landing in 45 minutes loses at least 10-15 minutes in this maze. It consumes more fuel, personnel resources are used inefficiently, and operating costs are increased.
PILOTS WANT “SHORT CUT”
This system was providing a major contribution in ensuring compliance with Turkey's busy airports, air traffic flow pattern. Airlines' operating costs, particularly fuel, rose and turned into a burden. Pilots approaching Ataturk Airport from the sea and landing directly cannot understand why they have to approach the new port, which is only 16-17 kilometers away. Pilots approaching Istanbul often want a short cut. In other words, he says, “If there is nobody in front of me, do not defraud me, let me go directly”, but if traffic is not empty, this is not possible most of the time.
THE HEAVY INVOICE TO THY
The increase in flight time, using it as a base to use Turkey's airspace percent and 65 percent Turkish Airlines Istanbul Airport influences. THY is the heaviest victim of the system, which delays 10-15 minutes even on the shortest flights, so it consumes more fuel and therefore all operating costs are increased. It is among the sensations that THY, which is trying to find a solution to bring the damage down, is in contact with DHMI to draw a shorter route, especially by partially flexing the system on departures.
Be the first to comment