21/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas met the members of the Aviation Platform for the first time on Wednesday 20 October. The creation of this platform was announced in the wake of the volcanic ash cloud crisis in mid-April (EUROPE 1027). The Aviation Platform has been set up to give strategic aviation advice to the commissioner given the growing need noted “thanks to the crisis” for coordination of air traffic control in Europe. The platform is currently composed of 15 representatives from the aviation sector in Europe. They will meet twice a year to discuss the strategic challenges facing the European aviation sector. Conclusions adopted after this first-ever meeting of the platform confirm the need for complete implementation of the SESAR and Single Sky programmes, the establishment of a high level group for aviation research, and the definition of an effective funding and management structure for SESAR, as well as the extension of the Single Sky principles beyond EU borders. (A.By./transl.jl)