CANSO Academy: Free Route Airspace From Regional Implementation to Global Application

Free Route Airspace (FRA) is an important enabler of more efficient, flexible, and sustainable air traffic operations and an important step toward trajectory based operations and the future of ATM.

Many regions are now exploring how the concept of FRA can be adapted within their own operational, regulatory, and infrastructure environments.

This webinar provided a case study on how Austria began the journey to transfer its airspace from Air Traffic Services (ATS) route to a FRA. As one of the busiest Area Control Centres (ACCs) in Europe, Austria, together with Slovenia, were the first ACCs in Europe to have a cross-border FRA from ground to FL660, expanding its FRA over the years more to the southeast, one of the busiest flows in Europe.

Additionally, the webinar also gave an in depth look at how one Air Navigation Service Provider fundamentally transformed its flight plan (FPL) filing philosophy through a bottom-up approach, actively involving air traffic controllers from the beginning. It explored the transition from a traditional ATS route structure to a fully implemented FRA environment.

Speakers

Arno Leimlehner, Manager Airspace and Procedures Design and ATCO ACC Wien, Austro Control

Dieter Guenter, SVP Aerospace, Tetra Tech AMT