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Using FlyingGreen's NetZero pillar to support flight efficiency improvements at the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre

7 July 2025

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Vincent Taverniers, Senior Advisor Sustainability from the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC)

The EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) manages the upper airspace over Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and north-west Germany - one of Europe’s busiest and most complex airspace areas. MUAC is committed to identifying opportunities and supporting initiatives that aim to reduce aviation’s impact on the environment supporting European aviation’s sustainability targets. The team at MUAC recognises the value of the NetZero pillar of the platform that provides valuable data on emissions, fuel burn and more in support of flight efficiency improvements.

“The EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) is committed to working together with our customers and the whole aviation industry towards climate neutral operations. We welcome the latest release of FlyingGreen that allows the visualisation of the data for our airspace and the associated “what-if” filters for operational improvements per flight phase. The NetZero Pillar will support our data- driven decision process with the aim to progressively lower the carbon footprint of the aviation sector towards decarbonisation.”

Vincent Taverniers Senior Advisor Sustainability EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC)

NetZero provides a visual representation of emission projections up to 2050, illustrating the impact of various decarbonisation measures, including indicative additional environmental costs for airlines.

By leveraging real operational data and the latest EUROCONTROL medium- and long-term traffic forecasts, the platform delivers fuel burn and emissions projections across different geographical levels – networks, airspace and airport. Not surprisingly, among various mitigation strategies, the most effective measure is the introduction and adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). FlyingGreen enables users to simulate global or regional adoption scenarios at country, airspace, or airport levels, making it essential for Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs), air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and airport operators. Beyond projection curves, FlyingGreen also quantifies the SAF volumes required per scenario, offering stakeholders the data they need to plan realistic transition towards sustainable fuels and energy sources.

An air navigation service provider tracks emissions and tests “what-if” scenarios for operational improvements.
A civil aviation authority simulates national decarbonisation trajectories using fleet and SAF scenarios.
An airport estimates SAF needs and environmental costs for future traffic.

The latest technical release has significantly enhanced the tools under NetZero supporting aviation stakeholders in making more informed decisions:

New ANSP view: A dedicated emission and fuel burn dashboard tailored for ANSPs, covering their entire area of responsibility, including Control Areas (CTA), and Terminal Areas (TMAs).
Improved emission and fuel burn calculations: Now based on detailed trajectory forecasts rather than generic country-level traffic growth rates, ensuring better estimates.
Stronger industry integration: New links established with sustainability programs of Airport Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation and CANSO’s Green ATM initiative.
Extended What-If analyses: Enhanced simulation capabilities for airline operators and Air Traffic Management (ATM) operational improvements, allowing stakeholders to model potential efficiency gains.
Operational Key Performance Indicator (KPI) dashboard: A new performance monitoring dashboard designed for ANSPs and airports, facilitating more data- driven approach to emissions reduction.

The roadmap for NetZero continues to evolve, with a strong focus on expanding capabilities and fostering new collaborations:

Extended fleet renewal and revolution options: Incorporating (hybrid-)electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft scenarios, enabling stakeholders to assess future fleet transition pathways.
Broader collaboration network: Strengthening partnership with airports, national aviation authorities, and global sustainability alliances to enhance data- sharing and policy alignment.