FAB CE News

The successful launch of FAB CE on December 4th represents a major milestone in the implementaion of Single European Sky. The flow of air traffic in the Central European Region will see significant improvements over the coming years generating substantial benefits for airlines and passengers.  The overall added value of all FAB CE projects has recently been summarized in a detailed document.

Through the implementation of the FAB CE Airspace Plan around 4 million km are saved in excess route distance by 2015 from route improvements, increasing to 14.7 million km saved by 2018, with the implementation of “Free Route Airspace”. The consequent savings in CO2 emissions are 44,260 tons by 2015 and 162,150 tons by 2018. More than 70 proposals for route optmisiations are to be implemented within FAB CE as part of the Airspace Plan. The FAB wide „Free Route Airspace“ should be fully operational by 2018.

As of January 1, Croatia in accordance with the FAB Agreement has assumed the presidency of the FAB CE Council for 2013.

As the December 4th deadline approaches the European Commission has formally been notified on the establishment of FAB CE and the jointly designated air traffic service providers within FAB CE. The overall added value of all FAB CE projects has also recently been summarized in a detailed document.

Notification to EC on establishment of FAB CE
Information on jointly designated ANSPs
Overall added value of all FAB CE Projects

The 8th FAB CE CEO Committee took place in Vienna on November 12th.The main topics on the agenda included the on-going FAB CE strategy development and an update on project activities by the Program Manager.

The next CEO Committee meeting will be held on January 18th in Vienna.

FAB CE has duly considered the observations in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 176/2011 and has put together a detailed and thorough response to the observations made during the EC Consultation Process. The submitted documents can be found here.

The 2nd Social Dialgoue Forum 2012 was held in Budapest on the premises of Hungarocontrol on October 17th. Among the items on the Agenda were:

• Project Status
• EC Consultation Process  
• Social Partners' Position Paper on ATCO mobility  
• SD Charter 
• Effects of RP2 on FAB CE 
• ATCO Retirement Age

The resepctive presentations can be found in the SD Members Area 

In addition to the Live Trial, executed in May 2012, three different scenarios will be performed during the Real Time Simulation from 15th of October until 26th of October 2012 at Eurocontrol`s Headquarter in Brussels.

The functional integration of the ASM and ATFCM coordination functions at FAB CE level is considered one of the major improvements provided by FAB implementation. The current different ASM/ATFCM organisational solutions as well as process and procedures in place need to be improved. The centralisation of ASM/ATFCM coordination functions at FAB level will provide a harmonised implementation of process and procedures supporting an enhanced cooperation among FAB CE States for a better utilisation of airspace.

The FAB CE ASM/ATFCM integration Real time simulation will be run from 15th of October 2012 until 26th of October 2012 and will examine the practicalities of application of ASM /ATFCM coordination procedures and ASM coordination tools in the FAB CE environment. It will assess the interactions between the National AMCs, FMPs and the NM, the workloads of the various actors, and the CDR availability notification process. It will also measure, both subjectively and objectively, the benefit of the procedures.

The Real Time Simulation is focusing on identifying and testing operational coordination procedures on the FAB level in the pre-tactical phase:

• between National AMCs and FAB CE ATFCM coordinator (function) and Network Manager, or
• between National FMPs and FAB CE ASM coordinator (function) and Network Manager and finally,
• between FAB CE Network Operations Centre (ASM/ATFCM coordination function) and Network Manager

Main purpose of the Real Time Simulation training is to prepare AMC and FMP staff from FAB CE States/ANSPs in the operational use of required system support and procedures, developed for the purpose of the execution of Real Time Simulation.

The geographical scope of this Real Time Simulation comprises the airspace of FIR’s of all seven FAB CE States, namely: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.