On February 21, 2024, marked a significant milestone in the airspace management domain, as two additional Free Route cells were introduced within the airspaces managed by Reims and Marseille Area Control Centres (ACCs) in France. This expansion catapulted the coverage of Free Route Airspace above FL 195 (6,000 meters) to an impressive 70%, signaling a paradigm shift in air traffic management practices.
Enhancing Flexibility and Sustainability
This latest phase of expansion, conducted for the first time in a 4-FLIGHT environment, underscores DSNA’s unwavering commitment to aligning with European regulations by implementing Free Route throughout its upper airspace. Beyond regulatory compliance, this new system offers airlines unprecedented flexibility in selecting optimal routes, while simultaneously fostering a reduction in the average length of planned routes. This not only streamlines operations but also contributes to the overarching goal of fostering more environmentally sustainable flights.
Optimization and Fuel Savings
In tandem with the deployment of Free Route Airspace, teams have undergone comprehensive training in optimizing trajectories. Leveraging this newfound expertise, they have embarked on a mission to enhance existing flight paths. The integration of these optimized routes into the airspaces managed by Brest, Paris, and Reims ACCs has been executed seamlessly. This strategic initiative is anticipated to yield substantial fuel savings, estimated at approximately 7 tons of kerosene per day. Over the course of a year, this translates into a commendable reduction of 9,000 tons of CO2 emissions for airspace users.
“Free Route Airspace (FRA) is a key milestone in implementing free routing throughout European airspace as part of the progression towards business trajectories operations (TBO) and 4D profiles”, DSNA CEO Florian Guillermet highlighted. This innovative approach to airspace management will play a significant role in enhancing environmental flight efficiency.
In conclusion, the expansion of Free Route Airspace in France marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of air traffic management, epitomizing DSNA’s proactive stance towards innovation and sustainability. As DSNA continues to harness the potential of Free Route technologies, DSNA remains steadfast in it commitment to fostering efficiency, flexibility, and environmental responsibility within the aviation industry.
