Air navigation managers within core European states are within a decade of targeting reductions of 10km (5.4nm) in direct routeings through some of the most complex and dense airspace.

This early contribution to the Single European Sky initiative could cut average fuel burn per flight from 248kg (545lb) to 162kg by 2013, which would reduce carbon dioxide emissions per flight from 778kg to 508kg and NOx from 2.4kg to 1.6kg.

Speaking at the recent Aviation and Environment Summit in Geneva, Dieter Kaden, chief executive of the German air navigation service provider DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, explained how the seven air navigation service providers that make up the Functional Airspace Bloc Europe Central (FABEC) plan to co-operate to optimise flights within some of Europe's busiest airspace.

Handling about 55% of all flights in Europe, the FABEC area manages operations at 240 airports with instrument flight rule operations, including several major European hubs, and around 370 control sectors incorporating 410 military or special areas.

Central European airspace covers an area of (650,000 miles2) 1.7 million km² where, according to 2006 figures, there were a combined 5.32 million IFR flights. DFS estimates it managed 3.15 million IFR movements - up to 10,000 flights a day - in 2008.

Authorities from France, Germany, Switzerland and the Benelux states signed the FABEC declaration in Bordeaux last November. Kaden stressed the continued need for co-operation in the aviation value chain where airspace structures were being redesigned for effectiveness rather than on the basis of national responsibility.

A feasibility study delivered last July showed FABEC co-operation could handle the expected 50% growth in air traffic volume by 2018 without sacrificing safety, while possibly saving costs of €7 billion ($8.8 billion) by 2025.

Redesign of internal FABEC cross-border areas is scheduled to be implemented by the end of 2011 with the signatories intending to finalise an international treaty as the main institutional framework for FABEC's implementation by 2010.

Source: Flight International