Single European Sky
Encyclopedia
The Single European Sky is a European Commission
initiative by which the design, management and regulation of airspace will be coordinated throughout the European Union (ECAA
area).
This is expected to benefit all airspace users by ensuring the safe and efficient utilisation of airspace and the air traffic management system within and beyond the EU. Airspace management is planned to move away from the previous domination by national boundaries to the use of 'functional airspace blocks' the boundaries of which will be designed to maximise the efficiency of the airspace. Within the airspace, air traffic management, while continuing to have safety as its primary objective, will also be driven by the requirements of the airspace user and the need to provide for increasing air traffic. The aim is to use air traffic management
that is more closely based on desired flight patterns leading to greater safety, efficiency and capacity.
Air traffic management in the European Union
is largely undertaken by member states, co-operating through EUROCONTROL, an intergovernmental
organisation that includes both the EU member states and most other European states as well.
European air space is some of the busiest in the world, and the current system of air traffic management suffers from several inefficiencies, such as using air traffic control boundaries that follow national borders, and having large areas of European airspace reserved for military use when in fact they may not be needed.
In October 2001, the European Commission adopted proposals for a Single European Sky, to create a Union regulator for air traffic management within the EU, Norway
and Switzerland
. The Union regulator will merge upper European airspace, currently divided into national regions. It will organise this airspace uniformly, with air traffic control
areas based on operational efficiency, not national borders. Also, it will integrate civil and military air traffic management.
There are discussions about enlarging the initiative to cover the Balkan and Mediterranean states.
In June 2008 a revision of the SES regulations were adopted, called SES-II.
Focus is here on four areas:
The SES-II aims at implementing FABs
as a mean for providing better performance, etc..
blocked the inclusion of Gibraltar Airport
in the Single European Sky, meaning the whole package was suspended.
caused the acceleration to integrate the national air traffic control systems into the Single European Sky and the immediate creation of a crisis coordination group to handle future transport disruptions.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
initiative by which the design, management and regulation of airspace will be coordinated throughout the European Union (ECAA
European Common Aviation Area
European Common Aviation Area .Bilateral agreements between the EU and some external countries about this single market in aviation services were signed on 5 May 2006 in Salzburg, Austria. It would build upon the EU's acquis communautaire and the European Economic Area...
area).
This is expected to benefit all airspace users by ensuring the safe and efficient utilisation of airspace and the air traffic management system within and beyond the EU. Airspace management is planned to move away from the previous domination by national boundaries to the use of 'functional airspace blocks' the boundaries of which will be designed to maximise the efficiency of the airspace. Within the airspace, air traffic management, while continuing to have safety as its primary objective, will also be driven by the requirements of the airspace user and the need to provide for increasing air traffic. The aim is to use air traffic management
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
that is more closely based on desired flight patterns leading to greater safety, efficiency and capacity.
Air traffic management in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
is largely undertaken by member states, co-operating through EUROCONTROL, an intergovernmental
Intergovernmentalism
-A theory of regional integration:The theory is not applied on European integration which rejects the idea of neofunctionalism. The theory, initially proposed by Stanley Hoffmann suggests that national governments control the level and speed of European integration. Any increase in power at...
organisation that includes both the EU member states and most other European states as well.
European air space is some of the busiest in the world, and the current system of air traffic management suffers from several inefficiencies, such as using air traffic control boundaries that follow national borders, and having large areas of European airspace reserved for military use when in fact they may not be needed.
In October 2001, the European Commission adopted proposals for a Single European Sky, to create a Union regulator for air traffic management within the EU, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The Union regulator will merge upper European airspace, currently divided into national regions. It will organise this airspace uniformly, with air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
areas based on operational efficiency, not national borders. Also, it will integrate civil and military air traffic management.
There are discussions about enlarging the initiative to cover the Balkan and Mediterranean states.
In June 2008 a revision of the SES regulations were adopted, called SES-II.
Focus is here on four areas:
- The existing Single Sky legislation is sharpened to deal with performance and environmental challenges.
- The Single European Sky ATM ResearchSingle European Sky ATM ResearchSingle European Sky ATM Research is the name given to the collaborative project that is intended to completely overhaul the European airspace and its Air Traffic Management .- Project :The SESAR project is composed of three phases :...
(SESAR) programme is to provide the future technology. - The competence of the European Aviation Safety AgencyEuropean Aviation Safety AgencyThe European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
(EASA) is to be extended to aerodromes, air traffic management and air navigation services. - The ‘action plan for airport capacity, efficiency and safety’ is to be implemented thus providing ground capacity.
The SES-II aims at implementing FABs
Functional Airspace Block
Functional Airspace Block is defined in the SES-2 legislative package, as follows:A FAB means an airspace block based on operational requirements and established regardless of State boundaries, where the provision of air navigation services and related functions are performance-driven and...
as a mean for providing better performance, etc..
Exclusion
One report from the British Parliament, dated 2000, reported that SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
blocked the inclusion of Gibraltar Airport
Gibraltar Airport
Gibraltar Airport or North Front Airport is the civilian airport that serves the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence for use by the Royal Air Force as RAF Gibraltar. Civilian operators use the airport; currently the only scheduled flights operate to the...
in the Single European Sky, meaning the whole package was suspended.
Dates
- November 2000 - establishment of the SES regulation.
- June 2008 - SES-II regulation adopted.
Acceleration
The air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruptionAir travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption
In response to concerns that volcanic ash ejected during the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland would damage aircraft engines, the controlled airspace of many European countries was closed to instrument flight rules traffic, resulting in the largest air-traffic shut-down since World War II...
caused the acceleration to integrate the national air traffic control systems into the Single European Sky and the immediate creation of a crisis coordination group to handle future transport disruptions.
See also
- Air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruptionAir travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruptionIn response to concerns that volcanic ash ejected during the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland would damage aircraft engines, the controlled airspace of many European countries was closed to instrument flight rules traffic, resulting in the largest air-traffic shut-down since World War II...
- Eurocontrol
- European Neighbourhood PolicyEuropean Neighbourhood PolicyThe European Neighbourhood Policy is a foreign relations instrument of the European Union which seeks to tie those countries to the east and south of the EU into the EU...
- Single European Sky ATM ResearchSingle European Sky ATM ResearchSingle European Sky ATM Research is the name given to the collaborative project that is intended to completely overhaul the European airspace and its Air Traffic Management .- Project :The SESAR project is composed of three phases :...
(SESAR) - South-East Europe Regional Energy Market
- Stability Pact for South Eastern EuropeStability Pact for South Eastern EuropeThe Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe was an institution aimed at strengthening peace, democracy, human rights and economy in the countries of South Eastern Europe from 1999-2008. It was replaced by the Regional Co-operation Council in February 2008...
External links
- Single European Sky - European Commission website
- Single European Sky - EUROCONTROL website
- Airports Council International EUROPE website
- Construction of the Single European Sky
- Implementing Rules for the Single European Sky
- Multilateral Agreement on the establishment of a European Common Aviation Area
- The Commission launches Single European Sky II for safer, greener and more punctual flying
- Clean Sky