SESAR is the European air traffic control infrastructure modernisation programme

On the occasion of a high‑level SESAR seminar organised by the Turkish Directorate General for Civil Aviation, EUROCONTROL and the SESAR Joint Undertaking together with the industry presented the most recent information about the European air traffic management modernisation programme ‘SESAR’ to the Turkish air transport stakeholders.

The seminar was attended by some 150 participants, from Turkish industry and academia, as well as the DGACs of Jordan, Georgia and Lebanon. Presentations were made by the Turkish DGCA, the SESAR Joint Undertaking, EUROCONTROL, ENAV, INDRA, Selex and THALES and the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Institute (TUBITAK).

The participants agreed on the following conclusions:

• SESAR is a pan-European programme in which Turkey has full participation through the EUROCONTROL Organisation.
• It is necessary to increase the level of awareness of SESAR in Turkey, in order to facilitate technical and operational participation from Turkish stakeholders in the SESAR work programme.
• The Turkish DGCA will appoint a SESAR focal point through which the SESAR Joint Undertaking will systematically communicate opportunities for the participation of Turkish industry in the programme.
• EUROCONTROL will facilitate access to information on the SESAR programme for the Turkish DGCA and the DHMI through its consultation mechanisms, including the EUROCONTROL Provisional Council.
• The Turkish DGCA and the SESAR Joint Undertaking agree to organise a regional forum in which information on SESAR can be shared with neighbouring countries.
• The participants agreed to facilitate matters for Turkish organisations in the SESAR programme by means of association schemes and relevant processes.

“This exchange of views with the Turkish authorities and with Turkish industry and academia has been very constructive. I expect a more active role of the Turkish players thanks to the coming calls for tenders within the SESAR programme. The modernisation of air traffic management is a global endeavour, and Turkey together with its neighbouring countries has to be at the forefront of this common challenge,” commented Patrick Ky, Executive Director of the SESAR Joint Undertaking.

“SESAR brings a new dimension to European ATM.  EUROCONTROL, through its consultation mechanisms, is committed to facilitating access to information on SESAR for the Turkish DGCA and the DHMI.  The success of SESAR is the success of its partnership." said Bo Redeborn, Director Cooperative Network Design, EUROCONTROL.

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The SESAR programme is the operational and technological answer to the major challenges of European air traffic growth. The aim of the SESAR Joint Undertaking is to ensure the modernisation of the European air traffic management system by coordinating and concentrating all relevant research and development efforts in the Community. Partnership, sustainability and user-drive are key concepts of the SESAR Joint Undertaking approach. Founded by the European Commission and by EUROCONTROL, fifteen companies are members of the SJU: AENA, Airbus, Alenia Aeronautica, the DFS, the DSNA, ENAV, Frequentis, Honeywell, INDRA, NATMIG, NATS (En Route) Limited, NORACON, SEAC, SELEX Sistemi Integrati and Thales.

EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has as its primary objective to develop a seamless, pan-European air traffic management (ATM) system that fully copes with the growth in air traffic, while maintaining a high level of safety, reducing costs and respecting the environment.

For further information, please contact:

Eric Platteau – Communications

Tel.: + 32 2 507 80 12   Mobile: + 32 493 51 09 46   eric.platteau@sesarju.eu

www.sesarju.eu

Kyla Evans/Catherine De Smedt, Tel: +32 2 729 50 95 Email: press@eurocontrol.int

For more information, visit the website: www.eurocontrol.int.