Investment in the skies: consultation on investment and technology decisions in air traffic management

摘要

This paper examines airline influence on investment in the adoption of new technology in airtraffic management through industry consultation. The issue is assessed through review of theinstitutional, technological and economic characteristics of air traffic management and theexperience with industry consultation in Australia and the UK. Two case studies on decisionsinvolving industry consultation processes in Australia highlight difficulties withaccommodating diverse users of airspace in decisions on air traffic management. A newapproach to industry consultation called ‘constructive engagement’ has been used in theeconomic regulation of air navigation charges in the UK. While this approach appears tohave enabled airlines to have some influence on the level of costs and timing of theimplementation of the business plan, airlines have found that the investment plans are highlyintegrated complex sets of projects. Therefore, combined with Government policy andinternational commitments, it is difficult for airlines to have an influence on the content ofinvestment plans through the consultation process. The limited airline influence on adoptionof new technology and investment services through consultation is not surprising given itsunderlying institutional, technological and economic characteristics of air trafficmanagement. However, as airlines can influence the overall efficiency of the implementationof an investment program, including the timing of investment expenditure and aspects of thetechnology through consultation, it is important for these and other reasons.