At the “Digital European Sky” conference, organised on 11th September under the Finnish Presidency of the EU, EHA together with other 20 EU aviation stakeholders signed the Joint Declaration on the Future of the Single European Sky outlining their shared commitment to improving Europe’s airspace.

The Organizations who signed the joint declaration were: EHA, A6 Alliance, A4 Airline Grouping, A4E, AIRE, ACI EUROPE, ASD, ATCEUC, Borealis Alliance, B4, CANSO, COOPANS, Drone Alliance Europe, EBAA, ECA, ERA, Gate One, IATA, IFATCA, IFATSEA and IAOPA. They sent a strong signal that the SES vision can only be achieved through the collaborative and coordinated efforts of all stakeholders, including Member States and the European Institutions.

Global passenger traffic is expected to double by 2037 – accommodating this growth while at the same time addressing its environmental and social impacts is key. The Single European Sky is an effective way to address European aviation environmental challenges by delivering an efficient and integrated air traffic management system. It will require the introduction of new technologies, interoperability of systems, harmonized regulation and adequate infrastructure.

Europe and its citizens deserve an efficient and sustainable airspace, and we hope that the full implementation of the SES vision will lead to these much-needed improvements.

Peter Möller, EHA Chairman, stated: ‘I am proud to announce that on 11th September, in Brussels, EHA renewed its commitment to the Single European Sky and its endeavours to improve airspace congestion by signing a joint declaration on the ‘Future of the European Sky’. We recognise that increased digitalisation and automation play a significant role in terms of scalability of the ATM system in Europe and that the future ATM network must function in a fully environment which takes into account all type of airspace users including the new entrants. We will work in concert with all forces involved and call upon the European Institutions, including the Member States, to take the necessary steps to achieve the goals of the Single European Sky, assessing their potential impact on costs and benefits. We also confide in a simplification of the regulatory framework in order to respond to present and future needs.’