At a Paris meeting, FABEC leaders and stakeholders committed to enhancing European air traffic management, focusing on efficiency, safety, and sustainable practices to meet operational challenges and stakeholder needs.

PARIS – By invitation of the French Functional Airspace Block Europe Central (FABEC)presidency, State representatives, ANSPs and airspace user associations met in Paris for establishing a common understanding to the common challenges the industry is currently facing. In his opening speech Johan Decuyper, CEO skeyes and this year’s Chairman of the CEO Board, reaffirmed the commitment of FABEC ANSPs to continue to work collaboratively to jointly identify operational improvements so that FABEC can deliver best value to the FABEC States and all stakeholders.

Jean-Christophe Braun, DGAC, representing the Functional Airspace Block Europe Central State presidency emphasised the definition of a common FABEC Performance Plan according to the treaty and States ambition level; the support of the need of the airlines and passengers by reducing delays and increasing efficiency of air traffic in the core area of Europe; the assurance to maintain and further develop sustainable airspace management and use through environmentally responsive operations both in the en-route and terminal airspace as well as to strengthen the integrity and safety of all flight operations.

The meeting noted the open dialogue and acknowledged the need to learn more about the working methods of each stakeholder. Of particular relevance was the discussion about the implementation process of new performance indicators for monitoring purposes, which should be output oriented. The parties agreed to establish a joint work with States, ANSPs and Airspace User Associations to exchange views on the existing and new Performance Indicators and the development of the SES Performance Scheme in view of RP5 and in relation to quick wins.

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. The majority of the 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 55% of European air traffic.