Satellite-Based ATC Expected To Be Operational By 2010

This next story will sound familiar to anyone who's followed the FAA's much-bandied -- but, so far, little-realized -- plans to implement its "NextGen" satellite-based air traffic control system. On Monday, the European Union launched its own version of NextGen, dubbed "SESAR."

"This is one of the most complex research and development programs ever launched in (Europe)," said Antonio Tajani, vice president of the European Commission, to The Associated Press.

Like NextGen, the $2.7 billion SESAR program aims to replace the current ATC system, which relies on essentially 60-year-old technologies like radar and radio communications. In their place will be a more efficient system dominated by GPS-based traffic management solutions, which in addition to improving safety should also help route air traffic more efficiently, saving fuel.

Line-for-line, that echoes the FAA's publicity spin for NextGen. Despite ongoing battles over who should pay for such technologies, few question the need for such systems to be put in place... and one could argue there's an even greater need for such management in the EU.

As ANN reported last week, Eurocontrol -- the EU's air traffic management agency -- says European air space has already reached the breaking point, with a limit of 28,000 flights per day. That number is expected to double by 2020... meaning new technology is needed now to handle the influx.

Officials hope SESAR implementation will ramp-up as traffic levels increase, with full roll-out scheduled in 12 years.

"Compared with today's way of managing aircraft, SESAR represents a paradigm shift," said Eurocontrol's director general David McMillan. "We will change the way we manage air traffic -- no more skyways, just the most efficient trajectory to save fuel and time."

FMI: www.eurocontrol.com