Bound for Europe
Belgocontrol, even more so than others, deals with a busy and complex airspace and is therefore convinced that the expansion of air traffic implies an increased international co-operation.
That is why it supports and prepares the initiative of the Single European Sky of the European Commission. This initiative recommends a reorganisation of the airspace, closer civil-military collaboration and a harmonisation of technologies.
Safety and Capacity
One of the key objectives of the Single European Sky is the improvement of the current safety standards, but also of the overall efficiency in the organisation and use of the European airspace. Of course, the aim is also to get ready for the expected air traffic growth that should double by 2020 compared to the traffic of 2003, and thus amounts to 17 millions flights a year in Europe, while ensuring in the meantime maximum safety and capacity considering the economic and environmental issues.
The achievement of these objectives is structured around a package of four regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council entered into force on 20 April 2004:
- The framework regulation (EC) n° 549/2004, lays down the decision-making process at political and institutional level,
- Regulation (EC) n° 550/2004 concerning the organisation and use of the airspace,
- Regulation (EC) n° 551/2004 concerning the provision of air navigation services,
- Regulation (CE) n° 552/2004 concerning the interoperability of the European air traffic management network.
In addition to these basic regulations, more specific rules are being established by the European Commission, called implementing rules. These rules specify the actual changes that will be progressively imposed by the Single Sky on the air navigation service providers.
As an integrated service provider (ATS, AIS, Meteorology, etc.), Belgocontrol intends to enhance its expertise at international level and to position itself as a proactive partner in the building of the Single European Sky.
