EUROCONTROL and the European Defence Agency (EDA) have taken an important step to strengthen their cooperation by signing a joint work programme covering the coming two years.
The work programme puts in place a close cooperation between the two organisations in the domain of the Single European Sky ATM research programme (SESAR). It provides a more detailed view on the contributions from both organisations and outcomes to be achieved within this framework with a first key step being to ensure that military views are fully taken into account in related work on SESAR development.
Working together
“EUROCONTROL, as a civil-military organisation, is committed to help the military community integrate fully into the Single European Sky and its research arm, SESAR,” said Frank Brenner, Director General of EUROCONTROL. “By working together with the European Defence Agency through a joint work programme, we are making sure that the military perspective will be fully understood and taken on board.”
Claude-France Arnould, EDA Chief Executive, also reflected on this important milestone: “The Single European Sky and SESAR are key priorities for EDA. The European Defence Agency is determined to fully support Member States as military interface for SESAR”, she underlined. “By bringing together EUROCONTROL’s expertise of air traffic management and our technical know-how in military systems, we will be able to deliver quickly on this new joint work programme for the benefits of all”, she added.
Scope
Key elements of the joint work programme include:
- Investigating the usability and adaptability of the civil cost-benefit analysis model for military aircraft and ATM ground systems
- How the European ATM Master Plan can be updated to incorporate military needs
- Developing a common view of research and deployment projects of military interest that need to be implemented in order to contribute to the aims and objectives of SES
- Putting in place a process for military involvement in regulatory activities and for developing standards with implications for the military
The two Agencies have been working together since 2008 and have in particular been focusing on supporting their respective Member States on relevant military matters regarding Single European Sky implementation, including its technological pillar SESAR.
More information