Fresh series of air traffic management projects in Europe get green light

The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) has today given the green light on the second round of air traffic management (ATM) projects aimed at both harmonising and modernising European airspace.

The 138 projects, which are being coordinated by SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM), will now receive a further EUR 525 million grant from the European Union as a result of three new agreements signed today.

Henrik Hololei, European Commission's Director-General for Mobility and Transport, said: "The Single European Sky is at the core of our Aviation Strategy for Europe, and SESAR R&D solutions are the beating hearth of the Single Sky. It is clear to me that the deployment of SESAR solutions is a necessary step to reach our goals. I am glad the Commission could make such amount of funding available to improve the traffic management of our skies, and the industry responded so promptly to our calls."

The projects, which are helping make the Single European Sky (SES) initiative a reality, had previously received a grant worth EUR 318.5 million under Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in 2015.

Today's agreements are among the 33 European Union (EU) backed projects worth a combined EUR 694 million, which are contributing to the realisation of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme.

The projects were selected under the 2015 CEF Transport calls, which made EUR 6.7 billion available to help improve European transport infrastructure, promote transport safety, develop intelligent transport systems, and mitigate the environmental impact of the sector.

INEA Executive Director Dirk Beckers, who signed the grant agreements today, remarked: "Today we mark the continuation of a project which will contribute to bringing the European Union closer to its long-term objective of creating a Single European Sky. In the years to come ordinary citizens will already start to reap the benefits from projects like this one, enjoying a safer, faster and smarter air travel."

The projects will continue to be implemented by SDM.

SESAR DM's Managing Director, Massimo Garbini signed the grant agreements noting: "These grant agreements are crucial through the 138 projects for strengthening the actual deployment of SESAR solutions happening around Europe today. I see these funds as a key factor in realising the full ATM modernisation in Europe and leveraging the expected benefits for the European economy."

More Info: http://www.sesardeploymentmanager.eu