Article

FAB CE - Functional Airspace Block Central Europe

In March 2008, Austria, Bosnia &Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovak Republic and Slovenia approved the FAB CE Feasibility Study Master Plan. The Master Plan describes the implementation of the FAB CE in a phased approach, allowing progressive and flexible development of FAB operations for en-route ATM services.

On November 18, 2009, the FAB CE States signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the purpose of establishing FAB CE Preparatory (Phase) structures and a general framework of cooperation among the FAB CE States, including their NSAs and respective military authorities. The preparatory activities conducted by the FAB CE ANSPs under the Memorandum of Cooperation were completed in May 2010 with the final delivery of the ANSP planning documents to the FAB CE States’ structures.

With the signing of the FAB CE Agreement and the ANSP Cooperation agreement on May 5, the Preparatory Phase was completed paving the way for implementation.

Background: Single European Sky (SES)

The Single European Sky (SES) initiative was launched to enhance current aviation air safety standards, to contribute to the sustainable development of the air transport system and to improve the overall performance of air traffic management (ATM) and air navigation services for general air traffic in Europe. The Central European airspace is of significant importance in the European air traffic management and any improvements achieved in its design, management or in the provision of air navigation services will contribute to a better flow of traffic not only in Central Europe. Central European airspace is of significant importance to the European ATM network and any improvements achieved in its design, management or in the provision of air navigation services will contribute to a better flow of traffic in Central Europe and beyond.

Implementation of the Single European Sky is of major importance to airspace users in order to address issues of performance and fragmentation. FABs are a major element of the SES and FAB CE will play an essential role in meeting user requirements especially in the South East axis where major delays have occurred in the past with traffic to and from the Middle East and Asia. Airspace users look to the ANSPs in this region to coordinate their planning and investments to improve safety, cost efficiency and delays reduction.

To be compliant with the SES objectives, FABs are to respect the following requirements, among others, within their work programmes:

• be supported by a Safety Case;
• enable optimum use of airspace, taking into account air traffic flows;
• ensure consistency with the European route network;
• be justified by their overall added value on the basis of Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA);
• ensure a smooth and flexible transfer of responsibility for ATC between Air Traffic Services Units;
• facilitate consistency with Community-wide performance targets.   

State Level Structures

The State level structures are responsible for the implementation and operation of FAB CE when imposed by the SES legislation. The FAB CE Agreement establishes the following state-level structures: 

• FAB CE Council

Established as the highest joint decision-making body for the purposes of the implementation, operation and further development of the FAB CE Agreement.

• Joint Civil Military Airspace Coordination Committee (JC-MACC)

Established to institutionally cover the civil-military cooperation with respect to the FAB CE aiming at strategic coordination of national ASM and airspace design policies, ATFCM processes and civil-military cooperation of all FAB CE States.

• National Supervisory Authorities Coordination Committee (NSA CC)

Established to exercise the tasks outlined in the FAB CE and NSA Cooperation Agreements.
If deemed necessary for implementation, operation and further development of the FAB CE, the FAB CE Council may establish other bodies.

ANSP Level Structures

In line with the anticipated enhanced cooperation among the ANSPs in FABs, the FAB CE ANSPs have established the following cooperation structures through the ANSP Cooperation Agreement: 

• CEO Committee

Established as the high level decision-making body responsible for taking all decisions necessary and appropriate for the attainment of the purpose of the ANSP cooperation.

• FAB CE Steering Committee

Established as the superior body to the sub-committees and other structures. It is be responsible for the coordination and monitoring of the actual implementation of the ANSP cooperation.

• Programme Management

Established to among other tasks support projects and manage deliverables from projects. In addition tasks include to request and receive regular reports from project leaders as well as the evaluation of risks and changes.

• Sub-committees at executive/working level

Established to execute the ANSP cooperation in particular fields. To this end, sub-committees covering the operations, technical matters, financial matters, safety, human resources and training activities will start working from the very beginning. Other sub-committees may be established, if necessary.

FAB CE Common Entity (FCE)

FAB CE formally set up a legal entity in October 2014, when the members established the joint venture company "FAB CE Aviation Services". The FAB CE legal entity (FCE) is a limited company registered in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and is responsible for the support of the implementation of the FAB CE programme.