The Eurocontrol Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) and Reims Area Control Centre (ACC) have implemented a major redesign of their airspace boundary. According to the organisations, this redesign represents a significant milestone that underscores their commitment to providing safe and efficient air navigation services in one of Europe’s busiest and most complex airspace areas.
The update to the air traffic control (ATC) sector interface between the two centres is particularly significant as the new boundary aligns with the flow of traffic, rather than rigidly tracing national borders. This facilitates a more direct routing as well as a reduction in complexity and air traffic controller workload and will ultimately result in an increase in ATC capacity.
In addition, the associated improved routings and enhanced flight profiles will enable airlines to plan shorter, more direct routes through the airspace block. This, in turn, has the potential to deliver environmental benefits as less fuel is consumed and associated emissions are reduced.
“As the only cross-border, civil-military air navigation service provider in Europe, we are an example of the efficiencies that can be gained when airspace boundaries align with traffic flows rather than national borders. This project serves as an example of bilateral collaboration for the benefit of the overall network,” said Peggy Devestel, director of the Eurocontrol Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre.
Estelle Le Guilcher, head of Reims ACC DSNA, added: “This upper airspace design is the result of several years of work. By optimising our interface with MUAC, Reims ACC will be able to improve the operational and environmental performance of flights for the benefit of the whole European network. A new stage in our commitment to modernisation which reinforces the key role of Reims ACC!”
The major boundary redesign has been delivered as part of the Central High Project, which is an ongoing FABEC (Functional Airspace Block Europe Central) project chaired by MUAC, to improve sector interfaces between surrounding air traffic control centres.
Further packages will be delivered in the future, with the ultimate aim of improving the flow of traffic through and increasing capacity in MUAC and its neighbouring airspace.
“The delivery of this project was only possible due to the close and productive collaboration with the DSNA, the French air navigation service provider, and I would like to thank them as well as [Belgian ANSP] skeyes, the Civil Aviation Authorities and all other partners who were involved, for their contribution,” concluded MUAC’s Devestel.
