Implementation of South East Common Sky Initiative Free Route Airspace begins

The implementation of the South East Common Sky Initiative Free Route Airspace (SECSI FRA), entailing the air traffic control services of Austria, B&H, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and Slovenia, began on February 1. It will enable airlines to make considerable savings regarding the reduction of flight duration, consumption of fuel and emission of carbon-dioxide (CO2).

As the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services (SMATSA) announced, the users of the airspace along the southeast axis will be able to pick the shortest routes between Central Europe and tourist destinations in Greece, Egypt and Turkey, and the initiative is expected to allow airlines to save 600,000-700,000 nautical miles a year.

– By enabling airlines to plan and fly direct (shortest) routes, up to 1,940 nautical miles are saved each day, realizing savings estimated at 285 minutes per flight, 8,000 kilograms in fuel consumption and around 25,000 kilograms in CO2 emission – the press release says.

It is also said that the fully free usage of routes in the airspace of the participating states enables airlines to better use wind directions and avoid the overloaded sections of airspace, active military zones or zones featuring adverse weather conditions more efficiently.

– The initiative will provide even more options in choosing the desired routes. The planning of direct routes increases the predictability of aircraft trajectories, thereby reducing the workload of flight control services – SMATSA announced.

It is added that the initiative will lead to the creation of one of the biggest international free route airspace areas in Europe and that it is an important step towards the establishment of a joint European FRA by 2020.

Kontrola letenja Srbije i Crne Gore SMATSA d.o.o. Beograd

SMATSA

Austria air traffic service

B&H air traffic service

Croatia air traffic service

Slovenia air traffic service

South East Common Sky Initiative Free Route Airspace

SECSI FRA

air routes

air route

usage of air routes

free usage of air routes in South East Europe airspace

FRA

airline

airlines

airspace

usage of airspace