EUROCONTROL took on a new role as CNS Programme Manager at the start of 2024, created to accelerate the upgrade of Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) equipment across Europe. The task is one of 12 recommendations made by the CNS Advisory Group convened by the European Commission in 2020, and responsible for the 2022 CNS Action Plan. EUROCONTROL’s approach is intentionally centred on providing objective views, in addition to education and support, to meet the plan’s ambitious targets. Its leadership role also recognises that modernisation relies on participation from across the industry, involving extensive input from air navigation service providers (ANSPs), regulators, industry, airspace users, civil and military operational stakeholders.
CNS infrastructure is an essential technical enabler for the provision of air traffic services. The European ATM Master Plan describes how CNS infrastructure should evolve by deploying new systems and rationalising existing systems to take advantage of synergies within the system. In practical terms, however, ground infrastructure modernisation needs compatible on-board equipment and this can mean costly avionics upgrades with airlines only recouping their investment in a harmonised environment. As a result, progress has been slow and uneven, leaving a large number of nationally operated legacy CNS systems which the CNS Advisory Group says are costly to maintain, energy inefficient – adding environmental cost – and reduce spectrum efficiency. In contrast, transitioning to modern digital technology in an increasingly optimised network offers a route to more efficient CNS services with greater resilience, scalability and increased automation. For example, by implementing datalink services, system wide information management (SWIM), secure Internet Protocol networks, advanced surveillance services and benefit-driven Performance-Based Navigation (PBN), airspace users gain access to more services from less infrastructure. These new capabilities help to reduce the cost of CNS services, estimated at around €1.2 billion/year (en-route) currently , improve efficiency and reduce associated emissions.
EUROCONTROL launched a series of stakeholder meetings in 2023 in response to the Commission’s proposal for the Network Manager to coordinate CNS evolution activities. Bilateral meetings with ANSPs, SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU), SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM), the Performance Review Body (PRB), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), European Defence Agency (EDA), airline representatives, professional staff organisations and EUROCAE identified key objectives for the next five years along with an initial project management plan approved by the Network Manager Board. The CNS Programme Manager function is part of Network Manager’s tasks defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/123.