Brussels, 08/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 7 June, the European Commission adopted new rules to improve the interoperability of air traffic management systems (ATMs) in Europe, with the aim of establishing common technical regulations and procedures, thereby eliminating obstacles to the harmonisation of ATMs. The new legislation supplements the two regulations adopted last year to modernise air traffic management as part of the European Single Sky system.
The new regulation on the flight information transfer protocol will allow the use of internet protocols in communication systems linking up air traffic control units. The communications systems support other communications procedures between air traffic control units (as laid down in the air traffic control coordination and transfer regulation 1032/2006/EC), civilian air traffic units and military airspace control units - as set out in the EU regulation on flexible use of airspace (2150/2005/EC). Vice-President of the Commission with responsibility for transport Jacques Barrot, said the new regulation was a new step in the process of implementing the Single European Sky because it backs the coordinated introduction throughout Europe of a new technical solution in air traffic control systems.
Adopted in July 2006, the coordination and transfer regulation lays down procedures and sets out the information to be transmitted (the aircraft's altitude, time and location of the transfer) when aircraft move from areas controlled by one air traffic management unit to areas controlled by another. By harmonising the communications procedures, the regulation has made the first steps in introducing interoperability among ATMs in Europe. In the past, there was no legislation setting out how information is to be coordinated and transferred among air traffic control units and civilian and military airspace control systems. The regulation adopted on Thursday fills this gap and will apply to all new ATMs from 1 January 2009. Air traffic control units which do not update their systems by this date will have until 20 April 2011 to come into line with the regulation. (aby)