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Flexible use of airspace (FUA)

The Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) Concept was accepted by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) on 10.06.1994 and was introduced in the Republic of Bulgaria in 1999.

The implementation of the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) Concept within the European Union is in accordance with the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2150/2005 from 23 December 2005 laying down common rules for the flexible use of airspace. In addition, in the Republic of Bulgaria, the implementation is also ensured by fulfilling the regulatory requirements of Regulation No. 19 from 06.07.2023 on the functioning of the Unified Civil and Military Airspace Management System and Instruction No. 245 from 24 April 2024 for the functioning of the Unified Civil and Military Airspace Management System at the pre-tactical and tactical levels.

The main objective of the FUA is to increase the efficiency of airspace use, taking into account the needs of all civil and military users.

The FUA concept is based on three interconnected levels of civil-military coordination regarding the organization of airspace and the coordination procedures between civil and military air traffic services authorities:

  • Strategic Level;
  • Pre-Tactical Level;
  • Tactical Level.

The FUA strategic level is conducted by ASM Council (ASMC) which is designated as the national body for the management and use of airspace and the implementation of the Flexible Use of Airspace Concept.

The main ASMC tasks include:

  • formation of state policy for strategic planning and allocation of the airspace;
  • defining manageable airspace structures;
  • specifying rules and procedures for negotiation at pre-tactical level;
  • determines rules for coordination between the civil and military air traffic control units at tactical level, etc.

The pre-tactical level is carried out by the Airspace Planning and Allocation Center (APAC). The Airspace Planning and Allocation Center is a permanent joint civil-military body that allocates airspace in accordance with regulatory documents and decisions taken by the ASMC.

Main APAC tasks are:

  • receive and analyze all requests from users for the use of airspace;
  • implement decisions at the strategic level regarding large-scale military exercises, air demonstrations and other similar activities;
  • resolve conflicting requests for the use of airspace, taking into account the priorities in planning manageable airspace structures, the available airspace capacity, as well as all available information related to the throughput of airspace;
  • determine the use of manageable airspace structures;
  • prepares and distributes the airspace utilization plan (AUP) for the next 24 hours or the updated airspace utilization plan (UAUP).

    The tactical level is implemented by the Airspace Use Coordination Center (AUCC). The Airspace Use Coordination Center is a civil-military body interacting with civil Air Traffic Services authorities and military control units.

    The main tasks of the AUCC are related to:

  • activation and deactivation of controllable airspace structures according to the AUP (UAUP);
  • negotiate the use of other borders within the planned airspace;
  • receive information about used areas with reduced coordination, areas with preliminary coordination or use appropriate procedures to prevent a decrease in airspace throughput;
  • Organizes (permits and prohibits) according to a set procedure, the shooting at hailstorm clouds from anti-hail polygon sites.
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