Un nouveau système de technologies de l’information révolutionnera l’espace aérien européen [en] 

The new high-tech system allows for "more efficient, dynamic and accurate air traffic management, reducing delays and costs and ensuring higher safety of air navigation," according to Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation.

The first geographic zone to benefit from the new system will be the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre, whose system, which dated from the 1970s, was replaced on 23 March. The centre delivers air navigation services for the upper airspace of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and north-west Germany.

Despite the current financial crisis, air traffic in Europe is expected to double by 2030, increasing from the current level of 10 million flights to 20.4 million flights per year. Such an increase will need to be coupled with a boost in air traffic control capacity across the continent, particularly as voice channel communications become increasingly congested.

"The mandate will revolutionise how en-route air traffic control services are delivered in European airspace," argued SITA, the provider of the new communications services. While the majority of routine controller/pilot communications are currently exchanged via voice radio-telephone systems, the majority will now be migrated to "data link message exchanges, similar to email," the company explained. 

According to SITA, aircraft trajectories will be calculated automatically in real time using radar data, information entered by the controllers and flight plan data, giving controllers access to the most comprehensive and accurate information on the air traffic situation. This will allow controllers "to anticipate and organise traffic safely and efficiently," the company underlined. 

Calculating the most direct air routes can help reduce flight distances and thus help reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Eurocontrol underlines that the new flight data processing system is "the first of its kind in Europe to be developed in accordance with European standards on interoperability between systems" and follows the philosophy behind the establishment of a Single European Sky.