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The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) are to commission a study into the issues associated with establishing a functional airspace block, seen as a key step in the development of a Single European Sky.

At a meeting in Dublin this week, the Chief Executives of the IAA and NATS, Eamonn Brennan and Paul Barron, agreed that a study should be conducted by an independent consultant and involve consultation with all their key stakeholders to consider the issues involved in establishing an Ireland/UK functional block of airspace. Preliminary findings are expected to be available in 2005.

The announcement comes on the eve of the first phase of work by the IAA and NATS, to provide a radar controlled air traffic control service from Shannon, into a new area to be known as NOTA - a Northern Oceanic Transition Area, situated to the north west of Ireland.

From January next year, the new NOTA radar service will allow aircraft to make earlier transitions to their optimum cruising levels and allow greater flexibility for alternative routings, climbs and descents. The move has the full support of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the representative association for airlines.

Notes to Editors:
The creation of Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs) as provided for by Single European Sky legislation, is seen by European air traffic control providers and airspace regulators alike as one of the key building blocks for the creation of a Single European Sky. This is an EU initiative aimed at creating a more efficient and harmonised air traffic management system.

The Single European Sky is an EU initiative aimed to reform the outdated architecture of the European air traffic control system and safely expand its capacity to manage increased traffic volumes.

In 2003, a major agreement on North Atlantic airspace was concluded between the Irish and UK Departments of Transport. Building on that agreement the IAA entered into a significant co-operation pact with its counterpart, the UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS). From January 2005, the IAA will provide air traffic control services in a new 95,000 sq. kms block of airspace - NOTA (Northern Oceanic Transition Area), off the north-west coast of Ireland. Control of NOTA extends the IAA's responsibilities to a total airspace block of some 450,000 sq. kms, the gateway for over 90 per cent of air traffic between Europe and North America.

Details of the European Single Sky Regulations can be found at:

www.eurocontrol.be and www.europa.eu.int