Real-time simulation on FABEC airspace design scenarios

This simulation aims to validate improvements to the route network within FABEC (Functional Airspace Block Europe Central) involving DSNA (Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne), skyguide, Belgocontrol, Maastricht UAC and the French Military ATC. FABEC is one of the busiest and most complex airspace of the world, it covers the airspace of six States (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland) and their civil and military air navigation service providers; 55 % of all European traffic takes place in this area. FABEC, as a cornerstone of the Single European Sky (SES), has entered its implementation phase where one major issue is a new cross border airspace design along the main traffic flows in Central Europe. FABEC requested EUROCONTROLs support to validate several airspace scenarios that will reduce the fragmentation of the FABEC airspace and the interruption of natural flows at the interface between adjacent States and ATM organisations. The validation process includes a series of incremental small scale real-time simulations on a limited set of questions used to support the airspace design, followed by large scale real-time simulations integrating the findings of several small scale simulations. The most important success factor to implement major changes in the field of Air Traffic Services is the proof that sophisticated ideas can be converted into a reality in a safe and efficient way, said Pascal DIAS Principal Manager Network Development / CND EUROCONTROL. This very first large scale realtime simulation is the culmination of two years development activities undertaken by FABEC in close cooperation with EUROCONTROL and is a valuable asset for the successful implementation of the Single European Sky.