Eurocontrol

Last updated
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
Formation1963 [1]
Headquarters Brussels, Belgium
Membership
41 member states
Budget
505.8 million (as of 2014) [2]
Employees
1,945 (as of 2014) [2]
Website eurocontrol.int

The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, commonly known as Eurocontrol (stylised EUROCONTROL), is an international organisation working to achieve safe and seamless air traffic management across Europe. Founded in 1963, Eurocontrol currently has 41 member states with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. It has several local sites as well, including an Innovation Hub in Brétigny-sur-Orge, France, the Aviation Learning Centre (ALC) in Luxembourg, and the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The organisation employs approximately two thousand people, and operates with an annual budget in excess of half a billion euros. [2]

Contents

Although Eurocontrol is not an agency of the European Union, the EU has delegated parts of its Single European Sky regulations to Eurocontrol, making it the central organisation for coordination and planning of air traffic control for all of Europe. [3] The EU itself is a signatory of Eurocontrol and all EU member states are presently also members of Eurocontrol. [4] The organisation works with national authorities, air navigation service providers, civil and military airspace users, airports, and other organisations. Its activities involve all gate-to-gate air navigation service operations: strategic and tactical flow management, controller training, regional control of airspace, safety-proofed technologies and procedures, and collection of air navigation charges.

History

Headquarters of Eurocontrol in Brussels Eurocontrol hoofdkwartier 1.jpg
Headquarters of Eurocontrol in Brussels

The Eurocontrol Convention was signed in 1960 and ratified in 1963. Before the Convention entered into force in 1963, there were already indications that the matter of national sovereignty would complicate the full implementation of the organisation's founding mission. The first European plan for a harmonised air traffic control (ATC) system, proposed in 1962, was beset by the refusal of both France and Britain to comply, largely due to reasons closely linked with their national military airspace control. The other four original members (the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) agreed in 1964 to set up a single international air traffic control centre to manage their upper airspace, settling in the Dutch city of Maastricht. [5]

The European Parliament at the time expressed concern about the lack of clear intergovernmental agreements to ensure common air traffic control services across the continent. In 1979, Eurocontrol signed a working cooperation agreement with the European Commission, attempting to create a synergy of Eurocontrol's technical expertise and EU's regulatory authorities. Several initiatives originating in this period become a lasting element of the organisation, such as the Eurocontrol forecasting service, which became STATFOR, as well as the Aeronautical Information Service. By 1986, the pressure on the European ATC network was so big that a new, wider mandate was already being considered for Eurocontrol, with much of the initiative coming from ECAC’s Ministers of Transport. Subsequently, ECAC urged all of its member states to join Eurocontrol. [5]

A meeting of Eurocontrol members Meeting of EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation.jpg
A meeting of Eurocontrol members

A revised Eurocontrol Convention was signed in 1997, renewing the organisation's optimism for greater political support, surpassing the original vision of the 1960 Convention. In June 1998, Eurocontrol, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC) also signed an agreement formalising cooperation in the realm of satellite navigation systems and services. In 1999 the European Commission presented its plan for a Single European Sky (SES) to the European Parliament, followed by two high-Level groups (HLG). The HLG reports on SES led to the establishment of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and reinforced the European Commission's role as the sole European aviation safety regulator, while acknowledging Eurocontrol's technical expertise in the implementation of said regulations. [5]

The early 2000s were marred by several fatal accidents in Europe, such as the 2001 2001 Linate Airport runway collision and the 2002 Überlingen mid-air collision, both of which were related to air traffic navigation shortcomings. The pressure was further compounded by the September 11 attacks, increasing the need for a rapid Europe-wide regulatory and coordinating body. By May 2003, Eurocontrol and NATO had signed a memorandum of cooperation, followed by a similar memorandum with the European Commission in December 2003. In February 2004, Eurocontrol started work on first mandates from the European Commission and in April 2004, it adopted the Single European Sky Regulations (Package 1). In March 2006, the European Commission's Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Program was launched by the Stakeholder Consultation Group (SCG) under Eurocontrol's aegis. [5]

Functions and centres

Eurocontrol provides a set of different services:

Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre

Eurocontrol's Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC), ICAO designator EDYY, [6] located at Maastricht Aachen Airport, provides air traffic control for traffic above 24,500 ft over Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and north-west Germany. In 2017 it became the first multinational, cross-border, civil-military, air navigation service provider since it integrated the military air traffic control of the German and Dutch upper airspace.

It is the third busiest upper area area control centre (ACC) in Europe after the London Area Control Centre and Karlsruhe ACC in terms of traffic numbers, but the first in terms of flight hours and distance.

MUAC has put in operation innovative technology and productivity enhancements: a new generation Flight Data Processing System, [7] Integrated Flow Management Position, [8] the Short Term Conflict Alert (STCA), Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) and stripless controller working positions.

Typically, air traffic control sectors at MUAC can handle 55 or more flights per hour. The average flight duration is approximately 21 minutes and typically 80% of the traffic is climbing from or descending to the major European airports of London, Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Berlin. Maastricht UAC has undoubtedly one of the most complex airspace structures in the world and the traffic flow (up to 5,670 aircraft a day) can be disrupted by the many surrounding military airspaces.

Membership criteria

Overlap of organisational memberships among Eurocontrol members - Eurocontrol members shown in shades of blue.
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
ECAC, Eurocontrol, ECAA, EU
ECAC, Eurocontrol, ECAA
ECAC, Eurocontrol
ECAC, ECAA
ECAC European aviation organisations members.svg
Overlap of organisational memberships among Eurocontrol members – Eurocontrol members shown in shades of blue.
   ECAC, Eurocontrol, ECAA, EU
   ECAC, Eurocontrol, ECAA
   ECAC, Eurocontrol
   ECAC, ECAA
   ECAC

To be considered for membership of Eurocontrol, a country must meet all of the following criteria: [9]

List of members

MemberSinceRelationship with the EU
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1963EU Member
Flag of France.svg  France 1963EU Member
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1963EU Member
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 1963EU Member
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1963EU Member
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1963Former EU Member
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 1965EU Member
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 1986EU Member
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 1988EU Member
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 1989EU Member
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1989EU Candidate
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 1991EU Member
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 1992EU Member
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 1992Has bilateral treaties with EU, including Schengen and enforcement of EU passenger rights.
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 1993EU Member
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1994EU Member
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1994EEA Member
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 1995EU Member
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1995EU Member
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 1996EU Member
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 1996EU Member
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1996EU Member
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 1997EU Member
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1997EU Member
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 1997
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 1997EU Member
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 1997EU Member
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 1998EU Candidate
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 2000EU Candidate
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 2001EU Member
Flag of Europe.svg  European Union 2002In parallel with member states
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2002EU Candidate
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 2004EU Candidate
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 2004EU Member
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 2004EU Candidate
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 2005EU Candidate
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 2006EU Member
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 2006
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 2007EU Candidate
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 2011EU Member
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia [10] 2012EU Candidate
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia [11] 2015EU Member

Comprehensive Agreement States

In addition to membership, EUROCONTROL also concludes the so-called Comprehensive Agreements, which enhances the organisation's cooperation with non-European countries that are closely tied to the continent's aviation network. [12]

MemberSinceNotes
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco April 29, 2016
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel June 2, 2016

See also

Related Research Articles

The Single European Sky (SES) is a European Commission initiative that seeks to reform the European air traffic management system through a series of actions carried out in four different levels with the aim of satisfying the needs of the European airspace in terms of capacity, safety, efficiency and environmental impact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air traffic control</span> Service to direct pilots of aircraft

Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airspace. The primary purpose of ATC is to prevent collisions, organize and expedite the flow of traffic in the air, and provide information and other support for pilots.

NATS Holdings, formally National Air Traffic Services and commonly referred to as NATS, provides en-route air traffic control services to flights within the UK flight information regions and the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area. It also provides air traffic control services to 14 UK airports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish Aviation Authority</span> Commercial semi-state company in Ireland

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is a commercial semi-state company in Ireland responsible for the regulation of safety aspects of air travel. Its head office is in The Times Building in Dublin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maastricht Aachen Airport</span> Airport in Limburg, the Netherlands

Maastricht Aachen Airport is a major cargo hub and regional passenger airport in Beek in Limburg, the Netherlands, located 5 NM northeast of Maastricht and 15 NM northwest of Aachen, Germany. It is the second-largest hub for cargo flights in the Netherlands. As of 2022, the airport had a passenger throughput of 266,000 and handled 108,000 tons of cargo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ENAIRE</span> Spanish air navigation manager.

ENAIRE is the air navigation manager in Spain, certified for the provision of enroute, approach and aerodrome control services. As a public corporate entity attached to the Spanish Ministry of Public Works, it is responsible for air traffic control, aeronautical information and the communication, navigation and surveillance networks so air companies and their aircraft can fly safely and in an organised format within Spanish airspace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air traffic management</span> Air Control

Air traffic management (ATM) aims at ensuring the safe and efficient flow of air traffic. It encompasses three types of services:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airservices Australia</span> Australian air navigation service provider

Airservices Australia is an Australian Government-owned corporation, responsible for providing services to the aviation industry within the Australian Flight Information Region (FIR). Some of Airservices Australia’s responsibilities include air traffic control, airway navigation, communication facilities, publishing aeronautical data, airport rescue, and fire-fighting services. Airservices Australia has international partnerships with ICAO, CANSO and IATA.

Air traffic control in Australia is provided by two independent organisations, one civilian and one military. The civilian provider is Airservices Australia, which controls civilian airfields and airspace. The military provider is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which controls military airfields and adjoining airspace. This includes Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy aviation bases.

Skyguide is an air navigation service provider which manages and monitors Swiss airspace. The company, which was formerly known as Swisscontrol, changed its name to skyguide in 2001. Skyguide is a joint-stock company under Swiss private law which is responsible, on behalf of the Swiss Confederation, for ensuring the safety of all Swiss airspace and of adjoining airspace areas in Germany, Austria, France and Italy that have been delegated to its control. For Swiss airspace, this duty extends to both civil and military air navigation services.

System Wide Information Management (SWIM) is a global Air Traffic Management (ATM) industry initiative to harmonize the exchange of Aeronautical, Weather and Flight information for all Airspace Users and Stakeholders. SWIM is an integral part of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP). The GANP defines 4 Performance Improvement Areas (PIA), SWIM resides in PIA 2: Globally interoperable systems and data, where its implementation is further defined in Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBU) B1-SWIM and B2-SWIM. ASBU B1-SWIM defines SWIM as a “a net-centric operation where the air traffic management (ATM) network is considered as a series of nodes, including the aircraft, providing or using information.” it goes on to say “The sharing of information of the required quality and timeliness in a secure environment is an essential enabler to the ATM target concept.”

Controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC), also referred to as controller pilot data link (CPDL), is a method by which air traffic controllers can communicate with pilots over a datalink system.

The First European Air Traffic Controller Selection Test (FEAST) is a tool that helps Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) identify the most suitable candidates for the job of air traffic controllers. FEAST was designed by and made available by (EUROCONTROL), the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. It is used by 44 organisations, including civil and military European Air Navigation Service Providers and certified ATC aviation training academies and universities.

In aviation, an air traffic service (ATS) is a service which regulates and assists aircraft in real-time to ensure their safe operations. In particular, ATS is to:

Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) is a collaborative project to completely overhaul European airspace and its air traffic management (ATM). The actual program is managed by the SESAR Joint Undertaking as a public–private partnership (PPP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RMCDE</span>

RMCDE is the name of a system designed to distribute the surveillance information to a community of user systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CIMACT</span>

CIMACT is EUROCONTROL's Civil-Military Air Traffic Management Co-ordination Tool.

BULATSA is the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority, a branch of the Bulgarian Civil Aviation Administration responsible for air traffic management within Bulgaria's airspace.

Skeyes, formerly called Belgocontrol or in its complete form the Authority of airways, is the Belgian air navigation and traffic service provider for the civil airspace for which the Belgian State is responsible. It was created in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Air Navigation Services</span> Company based in Estonia

Estonian Air Navigation Services, abbreviated as EANS, is a modern, rapidly developing company operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia. It is a business entity, the major function of which is to provide services to air traffic in accordance with international standards as well as to ensure flight safety in Tallinn Flight Information Region. The sole owner of the company shares is the Republic of Estonia.

References

  1. member states by accession date Archived 2017-03-16 at the Wayback Machine Eurocontrol.int.
  2. 1 2 3 Eurocontrol: Annual Report 2014, p. 67.
  3. Eurocontrol, SES mandate on Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA) implementing rule for airspace – Part A - COMPLETED Archived 2017-08-03 at the Wayback Machine , 31 January 2011.
  4. Eurocontrol, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Eurocontrol Archived 2017-05-31 at the Wayback Machine , Retrieved: 4 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 McInally, John (December 2010). "Eurocontrol History Book" (PDF). Eurocontrol. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2016.
  6. "Controller-Pilot Data-Link Communications at Maastricht UAC". Eurocontrol. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  7. "MUAC'S New generation FDPS". www.eurocontrol.int.
  8. Integrated flow management position - Enhancing air traffic flow and capacity management. Eurocontrol, 22 February 2017 [ permanent dead link ]
  9. Peter Tannhäuser, Head of Legal Service, EUROCONTROL: Models for future cooperation [ permanent dead link ], p. 3, Published: 27 November 2013, Retrieved: 4 May 2016
  10. "Georgia became a member of EUROCONTROL". gcaa.ge. Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  11. "Estonia set to join EUROCONTROL". www.eurocontrol.int.
  12. "Comprehensive Agreement States". eurocontrol.int. EUROCONTROL website. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.