This October, HERON partners Brussels Airport and skeyes, will take a major step forward in reducing noise pollution for local communities with the upcoming Increased Second Glide Slope (ISGS) trials at Brussels Airport. This activity is part of the Optimised approaches outcome led by EUROCONTROL and aims to optimise arrival procedures by using steeper glidepaths (3.2/3.5 degrees) during nighttime hours.
While steeper approaches offer noise reduction benefits, they also require precise energy management by pilots. To ensure a smooth transition, EUROCONTROL and skeyes joined forces with Brussels Airlines for a flight simulator training session at the Airbus A330 simulator in Frankfurt’s Lufthansa Aviation Training premises.
The session focused on two key objectives:
- Optimising energy management strategies: Building on previous trials with different aircraft types (A321/A330), the session further tailored these strategies specifically for Brussels Airlines’ operations.
- Understanding the impact on air traffic management (ATM): Direct communication between pilots and controllers facilitated a mutual understanding of how these new procedures might affect ATM operations.
This successful collaboration paves the way for similar training sessions with other participating airlines, including TUI, DHL/European Air Transport Leipzig, and Vueling Airlines, which will be held in the coming months.
By optimising arrival procedures and working collaboratively with airlines and air traffic control, HERON is paving the way for a quieter and more sustainable aviation. Stay tuned for updates on the project’s progress!
