6 August 2009 Chisinau (Republic of Moldova) – Thanks to the generous invitation of the the Transport Agency of the Republic of Moldova and MOLDATSA, the air navigation services provider, the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office conducted a workshop on the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA). As defined in the Global Air Navigation Plan, the FUA concept is based on the principle that airspace should not be designated as purely military or civilian, but rather a continuim in which all user requirements are accomodated to the greatest possible extent. 35 participants from 12 States and two international organisations took part in the workshop, the main goal of which was to “demystify FUA”.

(see full-size photo)

During the workshop, participants became familiarized with ICAO provisions relating to FUA and the detailed documentation prepared in support of the FUA concept as implemented by the European Commission, including the Single European Sky (SES) Regulations, the SES FUA Implementing Rule and the FUA Specifications and supporting guidance material prepared by Eurocontrol. The workshop participants had a detailed exchange of viewpoints following briefings provided by States to explain how FUA had been implemented in their jurisdictions. These detailed discussions benefited from inputs from civilian and military perspectives. The briefings highlighted that various procedures and approaches could be used to implement FUA and included examples from western and eastern Europe and the United States. The participants also received a briefing regarding the upcoming Global ATM Forum on Civil/Military Cooperation, which will take place at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal from 19 to 21 October 2009 (more information regarding this important event is available at http://www.icao.int/GATM-CIV/MIL/).

Among the outcomes of the workshop was a consensus that FUA is not a “mystery”, but can be achieved through a number of different mechanisms and procedures – if the mindset of all airspace partners is right. The workshop also supported the work done by the EANPG task force on FUA to develop a proposal to amend the European Air Navigation Plan, which, among other benefits, would harmonize the application of FUA over high seas airspace. The workshop agreed upon recommendations for ICAO to develop more detailed guidance regarding FUA, including definitions and possible changes to personnel licencing requirements. The workshop acknowledged that although benefits would accrue from implementing FUA, more work was necessary to develop proper mechanisms for measuring and reporting those benefits. Finally, the workshop noted that FUA was but one significant advance that could evolve from improved cooperation between military and civilian airspace partners.