A declaration of intent to build the 'Functional Airspace Block: Europe Central' (FABEC), merging the airspace of six European countries, was signed at the European civil aviation summit on 18 November.
The French EU Presidency hailed the agreement as "a major step in the effective implementation of the Single European Sky (SES)". At the heart of Europe, FABEC countries currently handle around 55% of all flights in Europe and cover "the most complex traffic areas between the busiest airports".
The goal of the initiative is to organise air traffic management irrespective of national borders to increase the performance of air traffic control in terms of safety, environmental impact, capacity, cost effectiveness, shorter routes and effectiveness of military missions.
The European aviation summit, which brought together national and European aviation officials and industry stakeholders to consider managing the environmental impact of air transport, also saw the signature of agreements on the Clean Sky Joint Technological Initiative - a seven-year, €1.6 billion public-private partnership aimed at helping the aviation industry to improve the fuel efficiency of air transport and reduce gas emissions.
The summit, taking place in the context of the current financial crisis and the economic slowdown, also discussed the European Commission's plans to include the aviation sector in the bloc's Emissions Trading System (ETS). The proposal, which would impose a cap on CO2 emissions for all planes arriving or departing from EU airports while allowing airlines to buy and sell 'pollution credits' on the bloc's 'carbon market, has been condemned by airlines (EurActiv 27/10/2008), who fear that it would slash airline profits.
Airlines are also stressing that inclusion of aviation in the ETS cannot take place before a well-functioning European Single Sky becomes a reality and the sector has recovered from the current economic slowdown.
