eATM Portal

Essential Operational Changes

This 2020 edition of the European ATM Master Plan introduces nine new Essential Operational Changes top-down as nine essential “game changers”. They are shown here and they are triggering structural evolutions of the European ATM, that are required to deliver the SESAR vision, up to and including its phase C and the “digital European sky” enabling the delivery of the Single European Sky’s objective to implement “more sustainable and better performing aviation”. More...

The EOCs are not independent from each other. In particular, some of them are closely linked to delivering the en-route performance and have been driving the definition of the target architecture, while others bring the essential changes in the other parts of the system.

For learning more about the new Essential Operational Changes, the Chapter 4.2 of the European ATM Master Plan document refers.

Each EOC is supported by SESAR Deployment Scenarios containing solutions contributing to their achievement.

Select from the drop-down menu the Essential Operational Change. Hovering with the mouse over a Deployment Scenario will display further details on it, hovering over a timeline bar will show the associated dates.

Citizens expect an increasingly seamless mobility experience, where their “passenger experience” will be smooth, safe and cost-efficient, with minimum delays, transfers and hassle. Implementing the multimodal mobility concept means that passengers shall not need to worry about selecting the most appropriate means of travelling. In that endeavour, aviation and air transport shall support a safe, efficient and green travel experience and promote use of the most appropriate mean or means of transport. In this way, aviation shall play its part on the global greening of transport and address its own issues of congestion, delays and suboptimal passenger experiences. In addition, civil and military airspace users, stakeholders and State authorities (both civil and military) are recognising new business and mission opportunities enabled by the latest airborne vehicle technologies, in particular various types of drones and very high altitude vehicles. These new opportunities have the potential to bring significant value to the European society, in terms of industrial leadership, economic opportunities and passenger experience. These opportunities shall be integral part of the evolution of ATM towards a fully integrated ATM in which all types of aerial operations shall be performed safely and efficiently. Mobility as a service will take inter-modality to a next level, connecting numerous modes of transport into seamless door-to-door services, for people and goods. There will be increasingly diverse aircraft in the European skies at any moment in time than ever before, and drones (civil and military) will be completely and seamlessly integrated into all environments and classes of airspace, operating safely and efficiently alongside manned aircraft. Evolution of transportation modes includes seamlessly combining various means of transport, such as car, train, helicopters, drones and aircraft, for different segments of a trip. Integration of RPAS, Rotorcraft, Business and General aviation operations through IFR procedures using performance based CNS infrastructure in the airspace surrounding airports, as well as in the TMA, is a priority. Therefore access and equity of all airspace users to the airspace, broadens the options for achieving door-to-door mobility. A coherent multi-modal regulatory framework may be needed to support this objective, including new ATC methods and review and adaptation of ATS. ATM as a whole needs be flexible enough to accommodate additional aspects associated with intermodal transportation.

Deployment Scenario Timeline Solution Solution V3 Gate
 20192020202120222023202420252026202720282029203020312032203320342035
1. In deployment phase: Key SESAR Solution
Optimised low-level IFR routes for rotorcraft
#113 -
2. In development phase: Key Solutions Approaching Maturity
Enhanced rotorcraft and GA operations in the TMA
PJ.01-06 -
Independent rotorcraft operations at airports
PJ.02-05 -
3. In development phase: Key R&D Activities
Collision avoidance for IFR RPAS
Not Available - To be defined when Solution reaches MP Category
2. In development phase: Key Solutions Approaching Maturity
PJ.11-A2 -
PJ.13-W2-111 31-12-2022
IFR RPAS accommodation in airspace classes A to C
Not Available - To be defined when Solution reaches MP Category
2. In development phase: Key Solutions Approaching Maturity
PJ.13-W2-115 31-12-2022
IFR RPAS integration in airspace classes A to C
Not Available - To be defined when Solution reaches MP Category
2. In development phase: Key Solutions Approaching Maturity
PJ.10-05 -
PJ.13-W2-117 -
5. Additional R&D Activities in development
ACAS evolution for rotorcraft and general aviation
Not Available - To be defined when Solution reaches MP Category
2. In development phase: Key Solutions Approaching Maturity
PJ.11-A4 -
Advanced rotorcraft operations in the TMA
Not Available - To be defined when Solution reaches MP Category
2. In development phase: Key Solutions Approaching Maturity
PJ.01-W2-06 -
Development of new services similar to FIS-B to support ADS-B solutions for General Aviation
Not Available - To be defined when Solution reaches MP Category
2. In development phase: Key Solutions Approaching Maturity
PJ.14-02-05 -
Surface operations by RPAS
Not Available - To be defined when Solution reaches MP Category
2. In development phase: Key Solutions Approaching Maturity
PJ.03a-09 -