BLUE MED
The Single European Sky regulatory framework, issued in order
to obtain a more efficient, highly integrated and flexible
management of the airspace has, as a relevant milestone, the
implementation of Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs) by the EU
Member States.
A Functional Airspace Block is a portion of airspace where the
air traffic is managed regardless of existing national
boundaries, with operational and technical requirements aimed at
simplifying and harmonizing air traffic management limiting
costs, improving operational capacity and at the same time,
reducing the environmental impact of operations.
The BLUE MED FAB Project, promoted and coordinated by ENAV
S.p.A. with the financial contribution of the European
Commission, is one of the most significant FAB at European level
and aims at the creation of a FAB over the central/south-eastern
part of the Mediterranean basin, with the active involvement of
non-EU states. Partners of the project are the EU Member States
of Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta, with the participation of
Albania, Tunisia and Egypt. Part of the project are also the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Lebanon with an observer role,
with additional expression of interest from non-EU countries.
Project activities are developed for Italy thanks to the
contribution of the Italian Air Force and ENAC, in accordance
with the relevant guidelines from the Ministry of Infrastructures
and Transports.
The BLUE MED initiative is a three phase Project:
The "Feasibility Study" (2007-2008), closed in
2008 with the Conference of the BLUE MED Ministers of Transport,
allowed to identify potential benefits as well as the
operational, technical and economic feasibility of the FAB.
The Feasibility Study allowed also to demonstrate the importance
of the establishment of a FAB over the central/south-eastern part
of the Mediterranean basin, a region with a continuous growth of
traffic demand and a primary interest as a major interface of
Europe from and towards Africa and the Middle-East.
The "Definition Phase" (2009-2011) is actually
ongoing. All participating States are working on the new and
optimal operational scenario to be progressively implemented
within the BLUE MED FAB as well as on the identification of the
technical, regulatory, safety/security details showing the
expected economic results, thus proving how the FAB
implementation will allow reduction of air navigation service
charges, with relevant benefits for air transport
operators.
Within the Definition Phase of BLUE MED detailed studies are
being developed on air traffic flows identified over the BLUE MED
area, for a continuous route network improvement and more
efficient solutions tailored on the harmonization requirements
from different actors involved in the Air Navigation
environment.
A relevant aspect of the Definition Phase is the technical
analysis aiming at identifying, in coordination with SESAR, new
functional requirements of communication, navigation and
surveillance systems, with focus on the interoperability
requirements of ATM systems in use within the Area Control
Centres of the involved countries for the establishment of the
"Virtual Centre", an overall integrated system allowing to
achieve FAB's objectives taking into consideration requirements
from all the concerned partners.
The "Implementation Phase" (2012 ) will start
within 2012. This phase will progressively determine a paramount
shift in the organization of air navigation services over the
Mediterranean basin, bringing competition advantages in the area
and benefits for the users in terms of an enhanced efficiency of
the service, reduction of delays and cost containment, with a
lower environmental impact of operations.
Download the publication "Projects
& Activities" containing the project BLUE MED (.pdf)
