Preparing the ground for safe and efficient higher airspace operations in Europe

ECHO is a two-year project, which will deliver a comprehensive demand analysis and the concept of operations for higher airspace, with the objective of allowing safe, efficient and scalable operations above the flight levels where conventional air traffic operates.

New airspace users and operations are increasingly emerging in this higher airspace. There is a broad diversity of vehicles, ranging from unmanned balloons, airships and solar planes capable of persistent flight, collectively known as high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) to supersonic and hypersonic aircraft, and trans-atmospheric and suborbital vehicles. Commercial and State space operations are also transiting through the higher airspace for launches and re-entries.

Funded within the framework of Horizon 2020, the work of ECHO on the future definition of a European concept of operations for higher airspace will feed into the ICAO global framework, ensuring a global harmonised approach for higher airspace operations. It will also constitute the foundation and the starting point for the development of the future European higher airspace operation regulatory framework by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).