FABIEN fired up for use in data-exchange in FABEC

The CEOs of all FABEC air navigation service providers confirmed the operational setup of the so-called "FABEC Interconnection of Existing IP Networks", in short: FABIEN. Based on the FABIEN agreement, an IP network dedicated in a first step to the exchange of standardised end-to-end flight messages between the air traffic control centres of FABEC will take up full operations in the course of 2013.

The efficiency of international air traffic control depends to a large extent on the swift and reliable exchange of flight related data between control centres. Whereas point to point networks have been in use for years, FABIEN allows the state-of-the-art exchange of flight messages between FABEC air traffic control centres. It thus represents a fundamental prerequisite for future operational integration in FABEC. FABIEN interconnects nodes at the ACCs of Athis-Mons, Bordeaux, Geneva, Langen, and Maastricht. The network consists of a redundant set of routers located in each of the ACCs mentioned above. The other FABEC ACCs are connected to these five nodes, via their national or regional network.

The redundancy of diversified links interconnecting the nodes of this network provides a high level of availability, of paramount importance in ATC. The selected solution was based on dedicated IP routers to ensure flexibility, scalability and cost efficiency. As a result of this fruitful cooperation within the FABEC IP Network Group, the ratified Interconnection Agreement innovates by introducing the notion of a multilateral operational coordination.