Can improving controller mobility help reduce costly capacity and staffing delays?

So far in 2022 ATC capacity and staffing delays in Europe have amounted to 7.43 million minutes, costing airlines over €800 million. Our 19^th Think Paper looks at whether and how ATCO mobility might help improve capacity and scalability – and cut this high level of cost.

ATCO mobility includes both the situation where a controller moves from one centre to another – and also where ATCOs take control of airspace outside their usual area in order to help another control centre that is stretched.

In both situations there are significant challenges to be overcome for this to happen but, in the case of remote operations, there are also real success stories of virtual centres and cross-border operations. On the regulatory side, we already have the European ATC Licence, with a common rating system and rules to mandate mutual recognition. However, national requirements still present difficulties.

Download the Think Paper: Eurocontrol Think Paper #19 - ATC Mobility and Capacity Shortfalls