Cross-border air navigation services

POWERED BY THE

Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre

Performance through innovation.

Cross-border air traffic management

About

The Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) manages the upper airspace (from 24,500 to 66,000 feet) over Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and north-west Germany - one of Europe’s busiest and most complex airspace areas.

We are pioneers in the delivery of customer-focused, reliable and impartial air traffic management services.

We are the only cross-border civil-military air navigation service provider in Europe and have played a pivotal role in integrating European airspace, building our services around traffic flows not national borders.

What makes us unique

Safety

This is our top priority! Our safety management system and robust safety culture contribute to an excellent safety record.

Multinational

Our multinational approach ensures that civil and military air traffic is managed as efficiently as possible irrespective of national boundaries.

Performance

We aim to deliver the highest possible level of performance through safety, punctuality, cost-effectiveness and environmental responsibility.

Productivity

We record the highest levels in controller productivity and sector throughput in the core of Europe.

Innovation

We are committed to developing innovative and proactive solutions to address the structural limitations of our congested airspace.

Customer focus

Our customer-oriented approach allows us to offer independent, transparent and flexible responses to our customers’ operational challenges.

Expertise

Our MUAC ATM Knowledge Centre (MAKC) relies on close to 50 years of experience in efficiently managing air traffic across borders and guarantees a 25% improvement in ATM service delivery performance.

Unique customer services

MUAC has launched its Customer initiative with the aim to address trajectory inefficiency by proposing optimal flight plan opportunities to aircraft operators. In addition, MUAC now also hosts the ATM Portal, a special platform that gives all users the ability to collaborate, to share data and information, and to act on a range of cost-saving and environmental opportunities.

ATM Awards 2021 Runner-Up

Join our ATS B2 ADS-C operations

ADS-C (ATS B2) is a datalink-based technology which obtains different types of information directly from the aircraft’s flight management system, without pilot interaction. It enables aircraft to automatically downlink the aircraft’s intended trajectory to the MUAC system, which is then displayed on controllers’ screens. With ADS-C, we can offer aircraft operators enhanced air navigation services and ensure safer, greener and more efficient operations.

Operational contacts

Tactical support and pre-tactical planning

Helping you through any (pre-)tactical questions/issues.

Flow management position pre-tactical cell

Test and check-flight approvals

Get your prior authorisation for a test/check flight in MUAC airspace.

MUAC Supervisor

Incident investigation and notification

Helping you with safety-related operational events in MUAC airspace.

Incident investigation department

AIRAC information and flight planning advice

Helping you further improve your flight planning.

Airspace and network planning team

Nattenheim height monitoring unit

Do you wish to use the NTM HMU? Coordinate with us: a 3-hour prior permission is required.

MUAC Supervisor

Karlsruhe UAC Supervisor

  • +49 721 6903 216

The Tactical Capacity Manager on MUAC’s flow management position is the (pre)-tactical focal point for any aircraft operator operations control centre in regard to any flight through MUAC’s area of responsibility.

The MUAC Tactical Capacity Manager on duty is on-call to assist you in the pre-tactical and tactical phases. If you are an aircraft operator and require any urgent assistance, please contact our flow management position Tactical Capacity Manager at any time using the dedicated aircraft operators hotline.

Our team will be happy to provide aircraft operators with any tactical support (on the day of operation) or pre-tactical planning support on D-1+ ( the day before operations or beyond) relating to your flight(s).

We are able to advise you on the most favourable routeings and re-route possibilities for your flight if required tactically. We can also provide updates to you on the latest status of pre-tactical ATFM regulations, sector configurations, forecasts or slot and other operational issues.

For all these topics, contact the flow management position pre-tactical cell via:

telephone: +31 43 366 1473
fax: +31 43 366 1320
email: [email protected]

Test/check flights are subject to prior approval by the Executive Duty Supervisor at the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (UAC). Aircraft operators wishing to perform a test/check flight within MUAC airspace are requested to submit details at least 24 hours in advance by filling the web form below or sending an email for acceptance.

For any other enquiries, please contact the Executive Duty Supervisor

telephone: +31 43 366 2022
fax: +31 43 366 1320
email: [email protected]

Inquiries on safety-related operational events within the MUAC airspace can be addressed to our incident investigation department.

Our investigators will analyse the event and provide feedback as soon as possible. Please note that they are not able to investigate scheduling and delay issues, e.g. relating to EU passenger rights, nor can they help answer any generic enquiries on specific flights or airline operators.

email: [email protected]

If you wish to use the Nattenheim height monitoring unit (NTM HMU) for RVSM purposes, please notify us three hours in advance. 

Contact the MUAC Supervisor
telephone: +31 43 366 2141

and the Karlsruhe UAC Supervisor
telephone: +49 721 6903 216

In 2022 we controlled
1.5 million

flights

4,053

flights per day on average

5,008

flights on our peak day (8 July 2022)

99.3 %

flights arriving on time

260,000 km2

of multinational airspace

Operations and services

ATMP

Maastricht UAC ATM Portal

ATS B2 ADS-C

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Contract (ATS-B2)

2021 Customer initiative

Tactical support and pre-tactical planning at MUAC

AIRAC information and flight planning support

FRA@MUAC

Free route airspace at Maastricht UAC

CPDLC@MUAC

Controller-pilot datalink communications at our Maastricht UAC

Incident investigation and notification at MUAC

Cartography

MAKC

Maastricht UAC Air traffic management knowledge centre

Test and check-flight approvals at MUAC

Operations and services

2021 Customer initiative

AIRAC information and flight planning support

ATS B2 ADS-C

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Contract (ATS-B2)

Cartography

CPDLC@MUAC

Controller-pilot datalink communications at our Maastricht UAC

FRA@MUAC

Free route airspace at Maastricht UAC

Publications

CAREERS AT MUAC

One career, many opportunities

Become a MUAC air traffic controller, or see what other career opportunities we have for you!

Discover

MUAC control room
Have a look around

360° virtual visit of our control room

Managing the complexity of the airspace at our Maastricht UAC

Follow us on Instagram

Get an insight into the work and life of air traffic controllers at the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre on Instagram.

MUAC computer screens

Videos

Get an insight into the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre on Youtube.

Photos

Get an insight into the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre on Flickr.

Governance

MUAC is operated by EUROCONTROL on behalf of Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The Maastricht Decision Making Body facilitates decision making by determining a common position for the four States.

Latest highlights

Adam Tisza, Marco Vismara, Sevastian Zakora & Humberto Carvalho
Article

LORD adds speed and flexibility to decisions by Maastricht controllers

World ATM Congress 2020 branding
News

“Europe for Aviation” team up for Airspace World 2024

Press release

Greater efficiency in European airspace: aircraft can now fly thousands of additional direct routes in the core area of Europe

Contrails conference
News

EUROCONTROL-CANSO Sustainable Skies Conference: reducing contrails and their non-CO₂ effects on global warming through operational mitigation

ATCO Days 2019
News

Happy International ATCO Day!

John Santurbano
Article

Airlines back MUAC’s new greener route plan