SESAR Air Traffic Management Joint Undertaking Launched
December 10, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
The SESAR Joint Undertaking, a unique public-private partnership in air traffic management (ATM) research, was inaugurated on Dec. 8 in Brussels.
Fifteen companies are ready to join this €2.1 billion program, which is the first of its kind in aviation history.
SESAR is now poised to tackle its vital mission: to develop a modernized air traffic management system for the Europe Union (EU) that will alleviate congestion and reduce the environmental impact of air transport.
SESAR will effect this modernization by coordinating and concentrating all relevant ATM research and development efforts in the European Community.
By 2020, SESAR aims to achieve a three-fold increase in capacity in Europe, while improving safety by a factor of 10.
The program also seeks to reduce by 10% the environmental impact per flight - knowing that aviation is now estimated to account for 2% of the world's CO2 emissions.
Finally, the modernized air traffic management system in Europe should cut ATM-related expenses by half.
"This is one of the most complex research and development programs ever launched by the European Community," said Antonio Tajani, European Commission (EC) vice president and transport commissioner.
Tajani also noted that the positive impact of SESAR's goals on the day-to-day activities of airspace users, passengers, air traffic controllers and citizens will include fewer delays, lower fuel consumption, improved efficiency, time gains and increased airport capacity.
Founded by the European Community and EUROCONTROL, SESAR also benefits from the commitment of 15 public and private entities.
In addition to European aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Alenia Aeronautica, national air navigation service providers (from France's DSNA, Germany's DFS, Italy's ENAV, Northern Europe and Austria's NORACON, Spain's AENA, and the United Kingdom's NATS) and SEAC (a consortium expected to be made of six large European airports), new members include the manufacturing industry, such as Thales, and representatives of the ATC ground equipment sector, such as Frequentis, Indra and SELEX Sistemi Integrati.
These entities will take all the necessary steps to finalize the ongoing discussions in order to set up the appropriate operational framework in a timely fashion.
Moreover, SESAR will follow an international cooperation policy, aimed at creating added value for European society and reciprocity. Honeywell (from the U.S.) and Natmig (fo=rom Norway) are also ready to join SESAR.
Source: European Commission.