LFV Annual Report 2019 1
L F V 2019 DIRE C T OR S ’ REPOR T AN EVENTFUL YE
AR PROVISION OF AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE The year 2019 began with an increased number of overall traffic movements for domestic, international and transiting traffic. However, the traffic growth subsided over time and eventually decreased for the year in comparison with 2018. The number of movements for domestic and international traffic has a lower outcome for every month of 2019 in comparison with the preceding year. The transiting traffic has continued to increase during the year with the exception of November, but has levelled off. LFV's air traffic control en route has delivered according to the capacity goals that against which LFV's performance is measured by the EU. However, during 2019 LFV has faced a continued challenge of delivering the required capacity in the remaining airspace. The main reasons for this are the increases in recent years and the continued increase of the transiting traffic during 2019 in combination with diminishing access to resources with respect to air traffic controllers. This has entailed fewer restrictions in some parts of the airspace during shorter periods. Good planning and committed employees, which are required particularly during the summer period, and that the traffic has decreased, have been contributing factors to LFV's ability to meet the high demands. Provision of air traffic service to the state-owned airports (Swedavia), the Swedish Armed Forces and private and municipal airports has taken place in accordance with signed agreements without significant disruptions. Globally, there is a lack of air traffic controllers and such is also the case in Europe and in Sweden. LFV balances its operations with a small deficit that will presumably increase in the coming years due to retiring staff. The deficit in staff with respect to air traffic controllers has been a fact for a long time, even if it can be compensated to a certain extent with the addition of newly trained air traffic controllers, which is expected at the beginning of 2020. LFV is working to continue to recruit and train new air traffic controllers. However, it is challenging when faced with the cost-effectiveness goals within the scope of the performance plan that requires cost savings, and it takes time. Modern and stable ATM system LFV continues to be one of the more efficient and reliable parties within en route in Europe. A major contributing factor is that LFV, together with its partners in COOPANS, has access to a modern and stable air traffic control system. The recently modernised and enhanced technical infrastructure makes it possible for LFV to provide services almost entirely free from serious disturbances. The delays suffered by air traffic during 2019 were due primarily to weather and airport work. 20 Airspace collaboration with Denmark, other Scandinavian and Baltic states in the form of “Free Route Airspace” in the remaining airspace is very successful and contributes to the Swedish and global environ mental goals by offering short, efficient and sustainable flight routes over Scandinavia. Strong cooperation with Swedavia During 2019, the cooperation with Swedavia has been strengthened in terms of both technology and the daily provision of local air traffic control. LFV contributes to the development of airports and Swedavia's goals by providing air traffic service, ATS, in accordance with the production agreements that are concluded. Moreover, LFV participates in projects and new forms of cooperation. For example, remote air traffic control is planned to be commissioned successively in the coming years. LFV and Swedavia meet continuously on a strategic, tactical and operative level in order to develop and follow up on deliveries and develop and strengthen the collaboration. LFV also participates in several projects for the purpose, among others, of minimising the environmental impact (especially noise and emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide), and to develop long-term sustainability of the airspace around Stockholm. A new service has been developed in 2019 where LFV supports airports by reporting information that is associated with the airports' environmental status. The report contains, among other things, information about flight routes, noise and emissions. THE SWEDISH ARMED FORCES LFV is the supplier of air traffic services to the Swedish Armed Forces in all situations of preparedness. The initiative for a stronger defense and increased military capability is a major challenge to meet and demands more resources for the air traffic service, ATS, and the aeronautic services, AIS. However, LFV has succeeded in providing the agreed services this year. In the spring of 2019, the Swedish Defense Preparation Committee drafted a final report, “Alignment of security policy and formation of the military defense 2021–2025”. It mentions, among other things, that “the air force's capability to change bases and deploy should be improved” and that “air force bases should have the capability of maintaining an air force base and several subsidiary bases”. If air force bases should be able to operated on several different bases simultaneously, it can entail a change in LFV's task from the Swedish Armed Forces. Flexible and effective Since 1978, the military and civil airspace have been