eATM Portal

AOM21.3 — Enhanced Free Route Airspace Operations

This implementation objective addresses the following three elements:

• Final FRA implementation
• Cross-border FRA implementation
• FRA connectivity with TMAs.

1) The Final FRA implementation shall eliminate the structural limitations that are permissible for Enhanced FRA in terms of timing limitations (night FRA, weekend FRA, seasonal FRA) and lateral and vertical limitations. RAD restrictions should be applied to the minimum extent possible, where unlimited free route airspace operations would endanger airspace capacity (e.g. in high-density, complex airspaces).

2) Cross-border FRA operations provide further benefits of the FRA concept to Airspace Users. Cross-border FRA shall be implemented with at least one neighbouring State. However, it should be considered by the implementing ANSPs, that maximum benefits for airspace users in terms of time, fuel and CO2 emissions savings will be achieved when cross-border FRA is implemented among all neighbouring states from the lowest mutual flight level upwards. For the time being, there are several cross-border FRA implementations, in some cases addressing the airspace controlled by several ANSPs within FAB and between FABs.

3) FRA connectivity with TMAs must be ensured by one of the following options:

• lowering the FRA vertical limit until the TMAs upper vertical boundaries;
• linking appropriate arrival/departures points;
• defining FRA connecting routes;
• extending the existing standard arrival and departure routes;
• connecting with the underlying fixed ATS routes via set of waypoints reflecting the typical climbing/descending profiles

Final FRA implementation, Cross-border FRA with at least one neighbouring State and FRA connectivity with TMAs shall be provided and operated at least above flight level 305.

The system requirements for implementation of the 3 elements of this objective need to encompass the system upgrades listed for Enhanced FRA and additional system upgrades as follows:

NM systems:

• Environmental database adaptations for cross-border FRA operations and FRA connectivity with TMAs;
• Data exchange for cross border FRA and FRA connectivity with TMAs.

AU systems:

• Optimisation of free routing trajectories taking into account the ATM constraints, including possible differences of FRA lower limit implementations throughout the flight.

ANSPs may decide which system improvements are needed in addition to those required for Initial FRA. The choice of the appropriate tool/function remains a stakeholder decision based on operational environment and may include the tools listed for Enhanced FRA plus additional tool/functions, as for example:

• COP management for FRA supporting Cross Border COP handling;
• Tactical Controller Tool (TCT), managing the Cross-Border clearances;
• Multi-Sector Planner/Extended ATC Planner (MSP/EAP) function.

NOTE FOR MILITARY AUTHORITIES: It is the responsibility of each Military Authority to review this Objective IN ITS ENTIRETY and address each of the SLoAs that the Military Authority considers RELEVANT for itself. This has to be done on top and above of the review of "MIL" SLoAs which identify actions EXCLUSIVE to MIL Authorities.

Edition
2022
Stakeholders
Air Navigation Service Provider / Airspace Users / Network Manager
Type
CP1
Scope
ECAC+
Status
Active

Context

Related Elements

Applicability Area(s) and Timescales

Applicability Area 1:
All EU SES States
(All EU SES States)
Applicability Area 2:
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Timescales From By Applicable to
Initial Operational Capability 01-01-2021 - Applicability Area 1 + Applicability Area 2
Full Operational Capability / Target Date - 31-12-2025 Applicability Area 1 + Applicability Area 2

Links to SESAR Solutions

Links to PCP ATM Sub-Functionalities

ICAO Block Modules: No associated data

References

Applicable legislation
- COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2021/116 of 1 February 2021 on the establishment of the Common Project One supporting the implementation of the European Air Traffic Management Master Plan provided for in Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 409/2013 and repealing Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 716/2014
Applicable ICAO Annexes and other references
None
Deployment Programme 2022
Family 3.2.2 - Enhanced Free Route Airspace Operations
Operating Environments
-

Expected Performance Benefits

Safety
Safety maintained.
Capacity
Increased airspace capacity.
Operational efficiency
Improved operational efficiency. Optimised flight trajectories.
Cost efficiency
-
Environment
Reduced fuel burn and emissions.
Security
-
  Code Title From By Related Enablers
 
ASP01 Implement Enhanced FRA procedures and processes in support of the Network dimension
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
ASP02 Implement Enhanced FRA system improvements
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
ASP03 Implement Enhanced FRA procedures and processes in support of the local dimension
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
ASP04 Safety Assessment
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
ASP05 Training
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
ASP06 Operational use
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
USE01 Implement Enhanced FRA system improvements
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
USE02 Implement Enhanced FRA procedures and processes
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
USE03 Training
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
USE04 Operational use
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
NM01 Implement Enhanced FRA system improvements
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
NM02 Implement Enhanced FRA procedures and processes
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
NM03 Safety Assessment
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
NM04 Training
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
 
NM05 Operational use
  • 01-01-2021
  • 31-12-2025
Code Dates
 
1999 99
2000 00
2001 01
2002 02
2003 03
2004 04
2005 05
2006 06
2007 07
2008 08
2009 09
2010 10
2011 11
2012 12
2013 13
2014 14
2015 15
2016 16
2017 17
2018 18
2019 19
2020 20
2021 21
2022 22
2023 23
2024 24
2025 25
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AOM21.3
 
20210101_20251231
ASP01
 
69%
20210101_20251231
ASP02
 
65%
20210101_20251231
ASP03
 
65%
20210101_20251231
ASP04
 
67%
20210101_20251231
ASP05
 
60%
20210101_20251231
ASP06
 
58%
20210101_20251231
USE01
 
20210101_20251231
USE02
 
20210101_20251231
USE03
 
20210101_20251231
USE04
 
20210101_20251231
NM01
 
20210101_20251231
NM02
 
20210101_20251231
NM03
 
20210101_20251231
NM04
 
20210101_20251231
NM05
 
20210101_20251231

Supporting Material

Title Related SLoAs

SDM - Standardisation and Regulation support to CP1 deployment 2021, Deliverable D1.1.1 07/2021

https://www.sesardeploymentmanager.eu/publications/deployment-programme

ASP01, ASP02, ASP03, NM01, NM02, USE02

Consultation & Approval

Working Arrangement in charge
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Outline description approved in
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Latest objective review at expert level
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Commitment Decision Body
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Objective approved/endorsed in
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Latest change to objective approved/endorsed in
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