European air traffic management gets a boost from EU funds

The EU's TEN-T Programme will co-finance with nearly €800,000 the first step towards bringing together two different European air traffic management (ATM) systems. Their convergence towards a common technical platform by 2025 is expected to increase the capacity of air travel, improve its efficiency and safety and cut down on flight costs.

European air navigation service providers are currently using different ATM systems which were developed based on national requirements. Such fragmentation is leading to higher fees for the use of air traffic management infrastructure, including the costs for technological development, maintenance and training of air traffic controllers.

This project brings together French air navigation service provider and several members of COOPANS alliance (the service providers in Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden) to set up solid foundations for the convergence of their respective ATM systems towards a common technical platform by 2025.

The common ATM system will allow remarkable savings through a progressive harmonisation of the existing infrastructures, sharing costs for new functionalities, technical operating procedures, training, maintenance and development, and ultimately reduce the flight costs for passengers. 

The project is also expected to facilitate the completion of the Single European Sky initiative (SES), which aims to increase Europe's airspace capacity, reduce the risk of accidents and the environmental impact of flights and cut the costs for passengers.

The project was selected for EU funding with the assistance of external experts under the TEN-T Multiannual Call 2013, priority 'Air Traffic Management'. Its implementation will be monitored by INEA, the European Commission's Innovation and Networks Executive Agency.

The project is to be completed by December 2015.