This expert consultation, which allows feedback from a wide range of stakeholder at an early stage of drafting, is organised by EUROCONTROL within the SESAR R&D Programme and under the umbrella of the EUROCONTROL Agency Advisory Body (AAB), an ECAC-wide joint civil-military body that advises the EUROCONTROL Director General, Eamonn Brennan, on strategic, policy, operational and technical matters affecting aviation as a whole.
The event brought together representatives from a wide range of aviation stakeholders, including the Civil Aviation Authorities of Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and the UK; Czech Republic Ministry of Transport; Air Navigation Service Providers from Austria (Austro Control), Belgium (Belgocontrol), Czech Republic (ANS CR) Germany (DFS), France (DSNA), Hungary (HungaroControl), UK (NATS), Denmark (NAVIAIR), Poland (PANSA), Spain (ENAIRE) and Switzerland (Skyguide) as well as ANSP alliances (Borealis, COOPANS), the air traffic management industry (Leonardo), airports (Heathrow), European bodies and professional associations (CANSO, EBAA, EDA, ERA, ICB), military national representatives and international associations (IATA).
Participants expressed the pressing need to tackle the current and predicted air traffic congestion. They pointed to the need to explore new digital and automated technologies as a top priority alongside the integration of drones and the rationalisation of Europe communications, navigation and surveillance ground (CNS) infrastructure.