DANUBE FAB signes memorandum of understanding with Aireon LLC on satellite ADS-B

On the 7th of March, 2017 the World ATM Congress was opened by the Spanish Minister of Transport Ingo de la Serna Hernaiz and European Commissioner on Transport Violeta Bulc. Commissioner Bulc delivered a speech with main focus on the ATM digitalisation, urban airspace for drones and usage of artificial intelligence in the ATM.
DANUBE FAB partner ANSPs – BULATSA and ROMATSA demonstrated the practical benefits of their cooperation through jointly exhibiting at the World ATM Congress 2017 in Madrid. Mr. Henrick Hololei, Director General of DG MOVE at the European Commission, and Mr. Massimo Garbini, Managing Director of the SESAR Deployment Manager, expressed their interest to gain a more comprehensive insight into DANUBE FAB’s achievements and dedicated a special visit to the DANUBE FAB stand. The DANUBE FAB team provided a showcase on the DANUBE FAB’s major accomplishments, including the Cross-Border Sectors establishment, Free Routes Implementation and active role in InterFAB cooperation. The next milestone is the completion of the trilateral Free Route Airspace (FRA) implementation – the cross-border Night FRA project between Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria which will be operational by the end of March 2017 thus bridging the airspace between the two FABs of FAB CE and DANUBE FAB and allowing airspace users complete freedom to plan routes throughout the combined airspace of the three nations at night, paving the way for future expansion. Mr. Hololei expressed his opinion that DANUBE FAB is an example that FABs can deliver benefits.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DANUBE FAB partner ANSPs BULATSA and ROMATSA and Aireon LLC was signed. The MoU establishes a framework for the parties to create a collaborative relationship to discuss the potential deployment of space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance services and applicable regulations and procedures in the Bulgarian and Romanian airspace. BULATSA and ROMATSA are interested in assessing the use of space-based ADS-B capabilities and ascertaining how those ADS-B capabilities can improve air traffic management/air navigation services provision in DANUBE FAB.