The European Commission (EC) is to start drawing up implementation rules for its Single European Sky initiative ahead of movement on the contentious issue of Gibraltar airport.
European transport ministers last week approved dossiers clearing the way for the long-awaited Single Sky regulations, which will see a major reorganisation of the continent's upper airspace by the end of 2004.
Regulations, including harmonised incident reporting and aviation statistics, will now be passed to the European Parliament after approval from European Union (EU) transport ministers, including those from Spain and the UK who had previously stalled talks over Gibraltar sovereignty issues.
The UK proposes placing Gibraltar's military facilities under NATO. Spanish civil flight restrictions into the territory are likely to be eased in return for Anglo-Spanish control of the airport, expected to include UK approval for Spain to build a passenger terminal in La Línea, on its side of the border - the nations share the airport's runway (Flight International, 14-20 August 2001).
The deal has allowed EU transport ministers to agree proposals to bring Single Sky legislation into force. The EC's Single Sky committee has issued tenders defining Single Sky functions and procedures. This work is to be completed by year-end to allow a year for member states to approve the rules before they take force in 2004.
The committee will start work on issues including harmonisation of air navigation services provision. The EC says that it is looking to extend the project to lower airspace, "in light of progress achieved" in recent months.
Ministers also approved the EC joining Eurocontrol - a long-awaited move meant to improve implementation of air traffic management and navigation initiatives in the EU. The EC will thereafter join the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Source: Flight International