FABEC and Baltic FAB intensify cooperation

PANSA - the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (member of Baltic FAB) and their German partner DFS (member of FABEC) enhanced their collaboration by implementing a new direct routing structure to improve the accessibility of Berlin airports and facilitate the implementation of the free route concept between FAB BALTIC and FABEC. Both measures will benefit the European network concerning capacity and flight efficiency. They are part of the growing cooperation within the system development (iTEC).   

On 11 November, both parties improved flows by implementing nine new direct routings (DCT’s) connecting within the upper airspace the traffic coming from the Baltic Sea towards Western Germany close to the French and Dutch borders. Most of those new routings are offered on H24 basis to ease the planning process of the airspace user which will benefit by reduced fuel consumption – meaning less cost and less emissions by using shorter routes. Concrete benefits are depending on the usage of this improved route structure by the airspace users and close cooperation between two ANSP’s.

On 8 December, DFS and PANSA implemented new hand-over points at the common border between the airspace controlled by both air navigation service providers. The objective is to elevate the highly congested control sectors close to Berlin airports and between Polish and German airspace. The agreement includes that flights coming from the east and currently approaching Berlin from the south will be shifted to the northern sectors. In addition, departures from Berlin airports will be allowed to turn earlier to the east. Both measures will reduce the complexity deriving from the current mixture of horizontal flows and vertical movements around Berlin and Polish and German Border. Because of the close cooperation between PANSA and DFS participants of FABEC and FAB BALTIC it is expected to reduce of flight times to Berlin airports by shortened routes.

The airspace of the six FABEC States of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland is one of the busiest and most complex in the world. Most major European airports, major civil airways and military training areas are located in this area. FABEC airspace covers 1.7 million km² and handles about 5.5 million flights per year – 55% of European air traffic.

FAB BALTIC is the bridge between EAST – WEST and NORTH - SOUTH traffic flows in central Europe. It consists of the Polish and Lithuanian airspace, covering 410 126 km². Baltic FAB handles about one million flights annually.