Our contribution to SESAR
Today, EUROCONTROL and its partners are contributing extensively to the development of new technologies and procedures that will deliver the air traffic management (ATM) performance required for the 21st century and beyond.
Our contribution, through direct involvement in 200 projects and our investment of up to EUR 700 million, represents one third of SESAR's total effort and budget.
As the co-founding member of the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU), EUROCONTROL successfully managed the SESAR definition phase, leading to the endorsement of the ATM Master Plan.
We now play a leading role in the nine work packages related to "building a pan-European network", whilst providing ATM expertise to all SESAR work packages.
More specifically, as a result of the competitive process led by the SJU, our involvement is directed towards the following main lines of activity:
ATM Master Plan and system view
This includes the maintenance of the ATM Master Plan on behalf of the SESAR JU, and our contribution to the development and maintenance of a consolidated system view, incorporating the operational concept, overall technical architecture and the consolidated business case.
WP 16 - WP B – WP C
ATM operations and systems validation
At EUROCONTROL we are helping to refine the SESAR target concept elements through our contribution to operational and technical work packages, by performing validation tasks and by assessing the impact on the technical systems and the feasibility of their evolutions.
WP 4 – WP 5 – WP 6 – WP 10 – WP 12
Network Management operations and systems validation
The same approach is applied to work packages linked to Network Management, providing our expertise to validation and assessment tasks.
WP 7 – WP 13
System-Wide Information Management (SWIM)
EUROCONTROL is a key player in the Work Package to develop inter-system data exchange capability across the SES network both in the air and on the ground. A key preparatory task is, therefore, to establish the framework which defines seamless information interchange between all providers and users of shared ATM information.
WP 8 – WP 14
Aircraft and non-avionics CNS systems
This work stream focuses on the definition and validation of the aircraft system and non-avionics communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) elements necessary to support SESAR operational improvements with the main emphasis on EUROCONTROL’s contribution to interoperability issues.
WP 9 – WP 15
Validation infrastructure adaptation and integration
The aim of this activity area is to define the coherent validation infrastructure - modelling, simulation, validation capabilities and tools - on which the SESAR concept can be developed in line with E-OCVM (European Operational Concept Validation Methodology) processes.
Long-term and innovative research (WP-E)
Performed on behalf of the SJU and under the guidance of its Scientific Board, this Work Package develops and maintains a programme of research activities, using expertise drawn from the European research community of R&D centres, universities and industry R&D facilities.
Coordination of military contribution
Fully embedding its civil-military expertise, the EUROCONTROL network of military organisations supports all SESAR JU relevant activities to ensure the full integration of military requirements and to guarantee interoperability between systems.
As the leader of the following work packages, EUROCONTROL is closely involved in the development and implementation of topics related to information sharing, interoperability issues, the consolidation of the system and its performance and future developments beyond the SESAR timeframe.
Network operations (WP-7)
This Work Package prepares and supports trajectory-based operations, including airspace management, collaborative flight planning and the network operations plan.
Network information management systems (WP-13)
EUROCONTROL performs research & development tasks related to the Network Information Management System (NIMS), the Advanced Airspace Management System (AAMS) and the Aeronautical Information Management System (AIMS).
R&D transversal areas (WP-16)
This Work Package covers the adaptation of a number of areas, including safety, security, environment, contingency, human performance, cost-benefit assessment and management system practices to SESAR, in order to pave the way towards an integrated management system.
Master plan maintenance (WP-C)
EUROCONTROL is monitoring the progress of work for its subsequent development and implementation as well as preparing the necessary updates to the European ATM Master Plan as part of WP-C.
Long-term and innovative research (WP-E)
WP-E covers the research activities addressing applications that are due to become operational beyond the SESAR 2020 timeframe, as well as allowing for innovative work to be applied in the nearer term.
