History
“In the past 50 years European aviation has come a long way and so has EUROCONTROL”, Patrick Gandil, Provisional Council President
Since the first attempt in collaboration in air traffic services made by our six founding States in December 1960, EUROCONTROL has grown into a central player in European aviation.
In close cooperation with its stakeholders, it has introduced advanced procedures and technologies to air traffic management (ATM) and helped to foster a common approach to rulemaking in aviation.
Now with 39 Member States and the European Community as a member, EUROCONTROL has helped to lay the foundations of Europe’s most ambitious project, the Single European Sky (SES). In these pages you will find an overview of EUROCONTROL's history, as well as future perspectives.
1960s: Building the foundations
The 1960s saw the first post-war collaboration in the European air traffic control sector. The original aim of EUROCONTROL was to achieve the complete integration of air traffic services. More
1970s: A growing organisation
EUROCONTROL took its first major physical step towards unified European airspace in 1972 with the establishment of the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre. This was the first international air traffic control centre in the world. More
1980s: Capacity challenges
The 1980s were marked by worsening air traffic congestion and delays. The need for a centrally coordinated flow control in Europe became reality with the decision to create the Central Flow Management Unit. More
1990s: Towards a seamless European airspace
EUROCONTROL expanded its membership, agreed cooperation principles and enhanced radio communication capacity. At the dawn of the new millennium, the stage was set to see real progress made on the concept of the Single European Sky. More
2000s: Reaching for a Single European Sky
The signing of the agreements between EUROCONTROL and the European Community paved the way for the SES ATM Research Programme, setting the parameters for the European air traffic control structure of the future. More
2010 and beyond
By 2020, 50,000 flights will be handled by Europe’s air traffic management system. EUROCONTROL will help the European aviation community advance in providing passengers and the planet with an integrated, efficient and sustainable air traffic management system. More
