Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO) opened a new Airport Operations Center (APOC) on November 24, 2021.
The center was designed in 2016 as part of the European SESAR projects on the air traffic management of the Single European Sky. The design of APOC also serves as an example of technological innovation, intended to revolutionise the approach of airport operations, according to the airport’s press statement.
Constructed with a total investment of over $22.4 million ( €20 million), partly financed by the European Union, the APOC occupies an area of approximately 1,900 square metres.
The center is also equipped with the latest technological systems, designed to guarantee operational continuity even in the event of critical issues and any cyber security attacks.
It has 16 control rooms and 112 workstations, making APOC a single work area. The goal of this design is to have the main stakeholders of the airport be able to work side by side and efficiently manage all the actions necessary for efficient airport operations.
The airport also received the “Digital Transformation Award 2021” from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe on October 26, 2021.
Aeroporti di Roma, FCO’s operator, has been focusing on innovation and sustainability, which had been the focus in the new APOC’s digitalization.
“As of today, Fiumicino takes a further step forward in the path towards the airport of the future: the new APOC integrated control centre, equipped with the best technologies, will allow for an even more effective and greater resilience of airport operations,” said CEO of Aeroporti di Roma Marco Troncone in the airport’s statement.
“The technological component will enhance the human factor, as a sign of integration and coordination between all airport operators, which will be able to synergistically manage and monitor all the main processes, from flight operations to the management of passenger and baggage flows.”
Troncone adds: “An important result in the framework of the Aeroporti di Roma strategy based on excellence in the quality and safety of services, sustainability and innovation”.
