€1.9 billion Earmarked for SESAR

The SESAR Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership in air traffic management (ATM) research and development founded by the European Commission and EUROCONTROL, has signed 16 contracts totaling €1.9 billion for the creation of Europe’s future ATM system. These contracts mark the beginning of the execution of the SESAR program. Based on the Single European Sky legislative package, the mission of the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) is to ensure the modernization of the European ATM system by coordinating and concentrating all relevant research and development efforts in Europe. By 2020, SESAR aims to creating the capability to handle a threefold increase in traffic in Europe, while improving safety by a factor of ten. The program also seeks to reduce by 10% the environmental impact per flight thanks to significant fuel reduction. The modernized ATM system in Europe should cut ATM-related expenses by half. SESAR’s new components and operational procedures will be gradually implemented from 2012 to 2020. “But it is essential that we can also identify and develop quick wins for implementation from 2010.” insists Patrick Ky, executive director of SESAR JU.