European Commission proposes extension of SESAR JU

The European Commission has proposed to extend the mandate of the Single European Sky air traffic management research (SESAR) joint undertaking (JU) for a further eight years until 2024.

Initially, it was indicated that the SESAR JU would cease to exist on 31 December 2016, as the union funding for the joint undertaking had to be limited to the period covered by the union’s 2007-2013 financial framework.

The proposed extension is aimed at supporting coordinated air traffic management (ATM) related research, development and validation activities.

The purpose of the SESAR JU is to coordinate all ATM related research efforts in the union to achieve the performance objectives of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative.

For the extension, the European Union (EU) will provide funding of €600m, under the Horizon 2020 programme, as part of the EU’s new multi-annual financial framework.

The members of the SJU have also confirmed their commitment to the SESAR 2020 programme, which will result in an overall budget of about €1.6bn.

The new funding will focus on developing means to allow airlines to fly their preferred routes, using new technologies for data exchange between air and ground; integrating new aircraft types such as drones, in the ATM system, and optimising traffic management.

It will support ATM exploratory research, applied research, pre-industrial developments and large-scale demonstration projects.

European Commission vice-president Siim Kallas, who is responsible for transport, said that the benefits of a truly European air traffic management are clear.

"Without the technology developed by the SESAR JU, we would not be able to make the Single European Sky, with fewer delays and less pollution, a reality," Kallas said.

"Exporting the technology developed here will put us in a strong position in this major sector of global air transport."

The SESAR project, formerly known as SESAME, is the European air traffic control infrastructure modernisation programme. It is aimed at developing the new-generation ATM system, which ensures safety and fluidity of air transport worldwide.

The SESAR JU comprises two founding members, the EU and Eurocontrol, as well as 15 members representing all ATM stakeholders, including civil and military air navigation service providers, aircraft manufacturer Airbus, equipment manufacturers such as Thales, Indra, Alenia Aermacchi, Frequentis, Selex SI and Honeywell, as well as airports.

It also involves airspace users, staff associations, scientific institutions and a number of associate partners completing the programme.

The objectives of SESAR JU are to ensure the concentration and coordination of all relevant ATM research activities in the EU to implement the ATM master plan; to contribute to achieving the SES performance targets.

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Image: The proposed extension of SESAR JU is aimed at supporting coordinated air traffic management (ATM) related research, development and validation activities. Photo: courtesy of Suzanne T.