Why Single European Sky?

The Single European Sky is an ambitious initiative to reform the architecture of European air traffic control to meet future capacity and safety needs.

There has been a sharp rise in delays to aircrafts. This has major repercussions for users and places a substantial financial burden on airlines. Delays cost airlines between €1.3 and €1.9 billion a year. The delays are due to a combination of factors: insufficient capacity of the air traffic control system, adverse weather, problems of airports or within airline operations.

Air traffic has definitely recovered after the temporary slowdown following the down turn of the world economy in general and the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. Estimates are that air traffic will grow by 4% a year over the next 15 years, leading to a nearby doubling of traffic by 2020. Air traffic is already hitting monthly record numbers and 2004 will most likely be a record year in terms of air traffic.

In addition, the traffic increase requires permanent emphasis on safety. The framework for safety regulation and safety management must be reinforced in order to ensure that the traffic can continue to grow without putting the travelling public at risk. The Single European Sky initiative is intended to organise airspace and air navigation at a European rather than at a local leve

 The Single European Sky legislation

The European Commission proposed a regulatory approach with the objective of achieving a Single European Sky. The objectives of the legislation are to improve and reinforce safety, to restructure European airspace as a function of air traffic flow, rather than according to national borders, to create additional capacity and to increase the overall efficiency of the air traffic management system (ATM).

This can be achieved by a more effective and integrated air traffic management architecture and by ensuring that this architecture is based on demand driven service provision. The legislation will enhance cross-boarder co-ordination, remove administrative and organisational bottlenecks in the area of decision-making and enhance enforcement in ATM.

The legislative package comprises four regulations covering the essential elements for a seamless European Air Traffic Management System.

Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky (the framework Regulation) 

Framework regulation (pdf dokument)

Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air navigation services in the single European sky (the service provision Regulation) 

Service Provision Regulation (pdf dokument)

Regulation (EC) No 551/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the organisation and use of the airspace in the single European sky (the airspace Regulation) 

Airspace Regulation (pdf dokument)

Regulation (EC) No 552/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network (the interoperability Regulation)

Interoperability Regulation (pdf dokument)

The four regulations will be complemented by more detailed implementing rules to be adopted by the European Commission after discussion within the Single Sky Committee. Industry will be invited to advise the European Commission on actions to be taken on the basis of the regulations through an Industry Consultation Body.

The regulations provide a platform for improved technological progress. It will be possible to focus research and development on compatible products in the harmonised ATM market.

The actions defined in the regulations, also reinforce the integration of civil and military air traffic control. This will ensure that the needs of both the civil and military communities are respected and properly taken into account, where there are areas of common interest, yet safeguarded where there may be specific requirements.

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