Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the domestic and national Electronic Flight Strip and Digital Air Traffic Controller Takeoff Permission System, which digitizes air traffic control, have been expanded throughout the country. Minister Uraloğlu noted that with the system, planes receive takeoff permission in a digital environment instead of voice commands, and said, “We have saved 2022 million Euros since 2,5 with the system we produced with domestic aviation technology.”
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the local and national Electronic Flight Strip and Digital Air Traffic Controller Takeoff Clearance (EFS/DCL) System, which digitizes air traffic control, was developed in cooperation with the State Airports Authority and TÜBİTAK. Uraloğlu said, “The system, which was implemented within the scope of the National Air Traffic Control (ATC) R&D Project, provides great convenience in air traffic control services and digitizes the processes.”
Electronic Strip Replaces Paper Strip
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the EFS/DCL System allows air traffic controllers to manage flights electronically. In this way, instead of paper strips, electronic data is used, the margin of error is reduced, processes are accelerated and flights become safer, Uraloğlu said in his statement:
“With EFS, the system replaces paper strips and enables the electronic tracking and recording of flight information, allowing for inter-sectoral transfer. It also brings along a lot of automation, reducing the workload of air traffic controllers and increasing the safety of operations by minimizing human error. Full control is also provided in the processing of information about flights under visual flight conditions, which is only available in this system in the world. In this way, operational efficiency is also increased to a higher level.”
Take-Off Permit Moved to Digital Environment
Minister Uraloğlu stated that both time is saved and a safer operation is carried out, and added, “The DCL function reduces radio traffic between the pilots and the tower, making communication faster and safer. Thanks to the system, aircraft with the necessary technical infrastructure can receive controller permission digitally instead of via voice command. Thus, the need for radio use is reduced, communication errors are prevented and flight operations become safer.”
Actively Used in 29 Airports
Uraloğlu stated that the system has been expanded to 2022 airports since it was put into service in 29, and said, “The system provides great convenience especially in airports with heavy traffic such as Antalya, Milas Bodrum, Muğla Dalaman, Ankara Esenboğa and İzmir Adnan Menderes. The system, which speeds up processes in air traffic management, reduces the workload of controllers and contributes to the more regular operation of flights. It helps Air Traffic Controllers break new flight records. We will expand it to our other airports in the coming period.”
Savings of 2,5 Million Euros
Minister Uraloğlu, emphasizing that the EFS/DCL System was produced with national resources, said, “In addition to increasing operational efficiency, we have saved 2022 million Euros since 2,5 with the system we produced with domestic aviation technology.” Minister Uraloğlu stated that the system has reached a level where it can compete not only in Turkey but also in the international aviation sector, and that economic gains will be achieved by exporting it to different countries in the coming period.
