An independent report has come out in favour of Austria as the location for a new air traffic control centre for the central European area.
While there is still some dissent on the findings of the report, there is, say industry sources, "considerable optimism" that the findings will be approved at a meeting of civil aviation authority director generals in Paris this month.
If approved, the central European air traffic services (Ceats) system is planned to open in 2005/6. Seven countries are involved: Austria, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia and the Czech Republic. In June, they agreed that Eurocontrol would run the Ceats centre, and be responsible for collecting the user charges that will pay for it. Initial funding will be through bank loans, national contributions and possibly the European Union, through its trans-European network programme.
Details of how the centre will work remain to be agreed once the political deal is in place, but they centre at present on the creation of a single airspace continuum offering direct routings over flight level 300 (30,000ft/(9150m). Transition to other airspace areas will be handled by Eurocontrol.
Source: Flight International
