The
future
of
f ly i n g
EN
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Through this leaflet, SESAR aims to inform you –
travellers - about the future of European air traffic
management.
SESAR is about
improving
the passenger
2
experience –
THE FUTURE
OF FLYING
SESAR:
IMPROVEMENTS
AT EVERY LEVEL
Keeping Europe’s
Flying
has become an affordable reality
for everyone: more flights, more
destinations and more airports mean that it’s
now easy to fly to the other end of Europe for a
weekend getaway. Air transport also brings a lot
of added value to European economies, by creating
jobs, developing business, strengthening tourism,
and creating infrastructure around airports. The
European air traffic management system helps
to keep us mobile in the sky, and makes sure that
Europe’s 10 million flights per year are safe, efficient
and environmentally friendly. But, the system is
already overstretched, and with the
number of flights in Europe set to double
Did you
by 2030, it needs to change. If we don’t
do something, there will be more flights
know that...
delayed, more cancellations, higher
costs for passengers and an increase .... 1.4 billion
passengers
in unnecessary fuel emissions. SESAR,
travel through
Europe’s new air traffic management
Europe’s 440
airports every
programme, was designed to avert this
year?
crisis and to keep the dream of flying
... European skies
alive.
Air traffic
skies safe, and
management is complex, making your flight
but crucial. It is responsible
for the safe direction of all more efficient and
aircraft, from the moment
cleaner.
the plane leaves the departure gate until it docks at the
arrival airport. On the whole,
the system works well, even though it uses some
technologies and procedures that were developed
50 years ago. As a passenger, you probably don’t
notice air traffic management until something goes
wrong: for example when your flight has to queue
for too long on the tarmac or is delayed due to too
much traffic. SESAR aims to improve every step of
your flight, from departure, flight times and landing,
to increased reliability during Europe’s unpredictable weather.
see 10 million
flights a year?
... the number of
flights in Europe
looks set to
double by 2030?
THE FUTURE
O F F LY I N G
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3
THE FUTURE
O F F LY I N G
Aircraft take off
on a first come,
first served basis.
Your plane might
queue on the
runway for some
time, waiting with
the engines on.
TAKE OFF
We can’t change
the weather, but
through better
information and
planning systems
interlinking
airlines, airports
and air traffic
control more
flights will leave
on time.
The exact time
of your flight’s
departure,
from the gate to
take-off will be
scheduled and
you will get in the
air quicker.
T O M O R R O W
Airports are overcrowded and bad
weather can often
lead to serious
delays.
T O D A Y
LEAVING
GATE
Aircraft will
climb in a optimal
curve, meaning
that your flight
will burn less
fuel and will
reach its cruise
level faster.
Aircraft climb
in steps, which
wastes fuel and
time.
CLIMB
Cruise levels
and speeds will
be adapted to fit
the exact time of
landing, which
also optimises
the flight’s fuel
consumption.
Air traffic
controllers define
a set cruise level
and speed for
each flight.
CRUISE
As the exact time
of landing will be
known, the plane
can descend in
the best and most
fuel efficient way,
helping it to land
on time.
Pilots have to
wait for the green
light before
descending.
DESCENT
The exact
landing time
will be defined
and holding can
be avoided. The
aircraft will land
on time and at
the most suitable
runway, resulting
in a shorter taxi
time.
The aircraft
lands when a
runway becomes
free. Holding or
circling in the air
is typical at busy
airports.
LANDING
The aircraft will
be directed to the
nearest possible
gate.
Your departure
gate might not
be the closest
to the runway.
Taxiing around
the airport might
seem like ‘going
in circles’.
TA XIING
Better planning
and cooperation
will lead to exact
timing of arrival
actions (baggage
handling, gate
services, etc).
Too many factors
can prevent
a flight from
arriving on time.
ARRIVAL
AIR TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT
TODAY AND
TOMORROW
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TOMORROW’S
SYSTEM STARTING
TODAY
WORKING
TOGETHER
SESAR
Modernising
is creating tomorrow’s air traffic management technologies
in Europe and aims to make every flight a perfect,
smooth flight. SESAR will already start to introduce
some elements of the new system in 2011. For
example, air traffic controllers will have better tools
to “route” aircraft at busy airports. This will free up
space at some of Europe’s busiest airports and help
lower the fuel consumption of aircraft both in the air
and on the ground. Along with measures to improve
traffic flows, which are also being tested in 2011, air
traffic controllers will be able to make better use of
airspace. This is just the beginning. SESAR will eventually rework and improve every step of your flight.
THE FUTURE
O F F LY I N G
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air traffic management is an
important project which requires the involvement of
the entire aviation community. This is why the European Commission and Eurocontrol founded SESAR
– a public-private partnership that brings together
over 2,000 ATM experts from aircraft manufacturers,
air navigation service providers and the supply
industry. Europe’s major
airlines and airports are
also on board as are air
traffic controllers, pilots
and other aviation staff.
By the end of this decade,
your flights will be SESAR.
“SESAR:
today’s
partners
for
tomorrow’s
aviation.”
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www.s e s ar j u . e u
THE FUTURE
O F F LY I N G
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p ar tn e rs
THE FUTURE
O F F LY I N G
assoc i ate
mem be rs
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