EC Reports Progress on Single European Sky Modernisation Project

March 15, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

SESAR adds a new dimension to the Single European Sky initiative by providing it with modern technologies and new working methods. It will ensure more efficient flight safety management, while minimising the environmental impact of aviation.

"The SESAR project is progressing on schedule, which shows the strong commitment of all the parties involved to modernising air transport infrastructure," said Jacques Barrot, EC vice president with special responsibility for transport. "We must make use of all the advantages at our disposal in order to seize this opportunity, which is perhaps a unique one, and make SESAR one of the great European technological and industrial success stories."

The SESAR project is organised in three phases:

• The definition phase was launched in 2005 and sets out the road map - the technologies to be deployed and the organisational methods. It is being co-financed by the European Community and the Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation in Europe (EUROCONTROL), while being under the responsibility of an industrial consortium of 30 companies representative of the entire European aviation community.
• The development phase (2007-2013), will be used to design the systems and put in place the critical components. During this phase, the project will be managed by a pan-European public-private joint undertaking.
• During the deployment phase (2014-2020), the system will be funded by industry and installed on a wide scale in Europe and in other partner countries. Major job opportunities are expected, since initial estimates indicate that some 200,000 highly skilled jobs will be created in Europe as a result of the project.

On Feb. 27, the European Council adopted a regulation on the establishment of a joint undertaking that will be responsible for managing the development phase. A dozen or so industrial investors have already expressed an interest in participating in this joint undertaking and have indicated to the EC the areas in which they are willing to make a significant contribution.

For example, according to Eric Kroese, the chairman of CANSO-Europe (the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation), "A number of our members are willing to invest substantially and become partners in the SESAR joint undertaking. More generally, the community of air navigation service providers is supporting SESAR and is committed to making it a success."

In the words of Charles Edelstenne, the chairman of the European Aerospace and Defence Industries Association, "As a result of efficient partnership between the public and private sectors, the SESAR initiative will enable European industry to innovate and become more competitive. In addition, SESAR is essential if the objectives of the strategic research agenda for 2020 are to be met."

The definition phase will see an unprecedented mobilisation of the aeronautical industry, not only in Europe but also in other regions of the world. The EC has already signed a major cooperation agreement with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on this subject.

SESAR offers a major opportunity for ensuring that air traffic control technologies can be developed in a coordinated fashion. Aircraft movements will be more efficient, and this will result in savings in terms of time and money. Most importantly, it will result in environmental improvements, thanks to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Source: European Commission.