Brussels, 21/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - With the Paris International Air Show getting under way in Le Bourget today, Tuesday 21 June, the Aerospace & Defence Association of Europe (ASD) has highlighted the importance and urgency of adequate funding for SESAR, the air traffic control modernisation programme in Europe, jointly funded by the European Commission and Eurocontrol. It is the deployment phase which is becoming urgent if the benefits it can bring, through better air traffic management, are to be enjoyed: fuel savings (10% per flight), reduction in CO2 emissions (16 million tonnes per year), fewer delays, creation of jobs, and continued air safety against a background of exponential growth in flights. ASD Secretary General Michael Von Gizycki said that the European Commission should start the deployment of the air traffic management technologies which are being developed as part of the SESAR programme.
The first indications on EU funding of the SESAR deployment phase are expected by the end of this month, with the presentation of a European Commission communication, and the unveiling of Commission proposals on the multi-annual financial framework for the 2014-2020 period. Final decisions will be made jointly by the Council and the European Parliament by the end of this year. The total cost of development of a modern air traffic management system in Europe is put at €30 billion over 15 years. (Cor/transl.rt)