At long last Europe has a plan to finally modernise its air traffic control! The European Transport Council adopted the SESAR Air Traffic Management (ATM) Master Plan on 30 March 2009. This roadmap, to develop and deploy the SESAR project started in 2004 with a 60 million Euro project defining the next generation of ATM systems. Now there is a dedicated EU body in Brussels overseeing and managing this ambitious project, and a plan to develop new systems using a combination of public and private funds and contributors. Industry intends to introduce the new system, based on this plan, in 2013.

ECA intends to work closely with the SESAR Joint Undertaking (JU) to monitor or be actively involved in a range of up to 70 tasks linked to the future system (including its concept of operations, human factor aspects etc.) Four million Euros are available to staff organisations (pilots, controllers and engineers) to contribute to these work packages over the temporary lifespan of the SESAR JU (8 years). ECA is still assessing how best to be involved to ensure pilot expertise and knowledge is fully taken into account.

For further information on SESAR please consult www.sesarju.eu