Brussels, 22/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 4 June the European Commission will probably present the second “Single Sky” package, which aims to accomplish a single European airspace by 2012. A single network management body will ensure air traffic control coherency and the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) will become the only aviation safety authority in the EU. The Commission will have the right to sanction delays and shortcomings in package provisions implementation. The second “Single Sky” package will largely include recommendations from the high level group presented last July (EUROPE 9463) and will propose the development phase for the SESAR programme, which makes up the technical chapter in the new air traffic control management system.
The huge rise in air traffic is at the basis of the revolution being prepared for civil aviation. The long awaited revision aims to introduce instruments that will bring an end to the fragmentation in Europe's airspace. In other words, the instruments contained in the second “Single Sky” package proposals are expected to supersede the national air traffic control framework by way of implementing a network of functional airspace blocks (FAB) based on performance criteria. These performances will focus on three areas: the environment, capacity and cost-efficiency. Implementation of this network will end application of provisions in the Chicago Convention, which confer each member state with the responsibility and single control of its own airspace. With the constant rise in air traffic, this airspace fragmentation is in danger of becoming unworkable at a level of air traffic control and airline punctuality. The flight between Rome and Amsterdam, for example, involves a plane flying through three or four different airspaces and changing the air traffic controller at each subsequent change. This requires contact to be made with air traffic control on the ground, which demands radio communication at least three times and a change of altitude (each country decides on flight altitude) and speed. The flight can also be extended. Costs added to this system (flight costs vary from country to country) often determine the choice of itinerary, even if the flight turns out to be longer. With the massive increase in planes, communication systems are at saturation point and communications are already getting jammed. System saturation is also detrimental to low cost airlines (which in contrast to traditional airlines do not have slot allocations) and leads to environmental damage (longer waiting times at airports cause higher emissions and higher costs).
These reasons explain why the Commission's proposals aim (backed up by sanctions) to consolidate air traffic control systems. Each of the FABs proposed in the first “Single Sky” package will be responsible for airspace control (shared responsibility). Equipment will be interoperable, vocal communication systems replaced by a “data link” system facilitating digital communication between on-the-ground control centres and planes (EUROPE 9534) and air traffic control centres will control a much larger area than their own national areas. Network management bodies will be imposed at a Community level to ensure system coherency. The Commission believes that “defragmentation” will reduce aviation sector emissions by 10%, while increasing capacity by 10%. Air traffic control will now cover all air space and not as is currently the case, open space alone. Responsibility for an aeroplane will be assumed from its departure till its landing (the so-called door-to-door approach defined by the high level group). Member states will have until 2010 to introduce the necessary modifications into their national legislation. The raft of modifications is expected to be implemented by 2012. The Commission will impose sanctions for any delays.
The Commission will also propose extending the remit of the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) so that it will become the only aviation safety agency in Europe. The regulation presented in the second package will also propose extending its scope to the certification of all aviation equipment, which will now be made available to FAB. The third proposal in the package will activate the SESAR programme development phase, the technical section of the “Single Sky”. The communication on the European Single Sky agreement makes up the four proposals in the package and establishes a system implementation calendar. Other initiatives may be planned, especially one on cooperation between civil and military aviation. A proposal might allow for military airspace being made available to civilian flights when this airspace is not being used for military exercises. According to the Commission, it will also be necessary to develop the opportunities created by the satellite navigation systems, especially Galileo, which is expected to be incorporated into air traffic control. (A.By.)