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Flexible Use of Airspace
From SKYbrary Wiki
| Article Information | ||
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| Category: | Airspace Infringement | 
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| Content source: | SKYbrary | 
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| Content control: | EUROCONTROL | 
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Contents |
Description
To meet the growing public demand for air transport and expanding need for air traffic services, the Transport Ministers of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) adopted an En-Route Strategy on 24 April 1990.
A major Airspace Management objective was the implementation of the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) Concept. This FUA Concept was introduced in March 1996 after development by civil and military representatives of the ECAC States together with representatives of Aircraft Operators.
The introduction of the FUA Concept is based on the fundamental principle that airspace is one continuum to be allocated for use on a day-to-day basis to accommodate user requirements.
Definition
The EUROCONTROL Concept of the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) is that:
- Airspace is no longer designated as purely "civil" or "military" airspace, but considered as one continuum and allocated according to user requirements.
- Any necessary airspace segregation is temporary, based on real-time usage within a specific time period.
- Contiguous volumes of airspace are not constrained by national boundaries.
Airspace Management
The FUA Concept has been developed at the three Levels of Airspace Management that correspond to Civil/Military co-ordination tasks. Each Airspace Management level has an impact on the others:
- Strategic Level 1 - definition of the national airspace policy and establishment of pre-determined airspace structures;
- Pre-tactical Level 2 - day-to-day allocation of airspace according to user requirements;
- Tactical Level 3 - real-time use of airspace allowing safe Operational Air Traffic & General Air Traffic (OAT & GAT) operations.
Benefits
The Implementation of the FUA Concept has already benefited both civil and military aviation with:
- Increased flight economy offered through a reduction in distance, time and fuel;
- The establishment of an enhanced Air Traffic Services (ATS) route network and associated sectorisation providing:
- an increase in Air Traffic Control (ATC) capacity;
- a reduction in delays to General Air Traffic;
- More efficient ways to separate Operational and General Air Traffic;
- Enhanced real-time civil/military co-ordination;
- A reduction in airspace segregation needs;
- The definition and use of temporary airspace reservation that are more closely in line with military operational requirements and that better respond to specific military requirements.
However, progress in this area is inevitably slow and it is unreasonable to expect that the FUA concept will ever embrace all "military" airspace.
Related Articles
- Conditional Route
- Temporary Segregated Area
- Cross Border Area
- Regulation 2150/2005 - Common Rules for the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA)
Further Reading
EUROCONTROL
- FUA Brochure
- Enhanced FUA Brochure
- Guidance for the implementation of FUA
- European Action Plan for Airspace Infringement Risk Reduction
- Airspace Infringement Initiative website
- FUA website
EUROCONTROL Guidance Notes for GA pilots
- Rules for VFR flight
- Flight preparation
- Getting aeronautical information before flight
- Reading and understanding NOTAMS
- Getting meteorological information before flight
- Reading and understanding weather reports and forecasts
- Using meteorological information for planning
- Visual navigation
- VOR/DME/ADF Navigation
- GPS Navigation
- Getting aeronautical and meteorological information in flight
- Entering controlled airspace
- Getting the most out of your transponder