Combined European air traffic control deal signed
10.03.11
A new agreement between European air traffic controllers will lead to less fuel consumption, faster travel times and lower flying costs, Travelmole reports. Air traffic control organisations across Europe have signed a deal that will lead to a single, unified airspace through combining the technology of each country’s control systems.
The Single European Sky will allow planes to travel through countries on a much more direct routes. At the moment, countries control their own air space and impose their own rules, which often means that planes to zigzag across Europe to avoid, for example, military airspace and other no-fly zones, burning 10% more fuel than if they had been allowed to fly a more direct route.
The EU estimates that air traffic could double by 2020, which will mean that there will be a need for more capacity in the air and on the ground. Now controller organisations including The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), National Air Traffic Services (NATS), Denmark’s Naviair and cross-borders LFV have signed the memorandum of understanding to unify Europe's air space.
BAA airside director Tim Hardy said: ‘Modernising Europe’s airspace so aircraft can fly more direct routes using less fuel makes perfect sense and we are delighted that it is moving one step to becoming reality.’
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