Definition

Functional Airspace Block (FAB) means an airspace block based on operational requirements and established regardless of State boundaries, where the provision of air navigation services and related functions are performance-driven and optimized with a view to introducing, in each functional airspace block, enhanced cooperation among air navigation service providers or, where appropriate, an integrated provider. (SES Framework Regulation)

Regulatory Requirements

The Single European Sky Service Provision Regulation requires that by 4 December 2012, Member States shall take all necessary measures in order to ensure the implementation of functional airspace blocks with a view to achieving the required capacity and efficiency of the air traffic management network within the Single European Sky and maintaining a high level of safety and contributing to the overall performance of the air transport system and a reduced environmental impact.

The requirements for the establishment of Functional Airspace Blocks (FAB) are defined in the EUROCONTROL Report on the European Commission’s Mandate on the subject. It identifies improvements in flight-efficiency within each FAB which provides significant opportunities for savings to operators and benefits for the environment. According to EUROCONTROL, one quarter of European route extension issues can only be solved across FABs and Europe-wide, a strong and effective network management and design function at European level is necessary.

FAB Initiatives

Overall nine FAB initiatives have been declared to the European Commission:

The table below indicates the Member States who have declared their involvement in FAB development:

FAB Common Objectives

The FABs share common strategic objectives:

• Safety: ensure an improved safety level despite civilian traffic growth;
• Capacity: meet the demand of civil air traffic foreseen to increase;
• Cost-effectiveness: balance the cost of operations within FABs by establishing more effective route structure and ATC service;
• Flight efficiency: improve flight efficiency through improvements in routes, flight profiles and distances flown;
• Environment: reduce the impact on the environment through improvements in routes, flight profiles and distances flown.
• Military mission effectiveness: improve military mission effectiveness through improved training capabilities and readiness postures as required by States.

Related Articles

• Single European Sky (SES) II
• Regulation 551/2004 - Organisation and Use of the Airspace in SES
• Regulation 552/2004 - Interoperability of the European ATM Network
• Regulation 1070/2009 - Improving the Performance of European Aviation System
• ATM Master Plan

Further Reading

European Commission

• Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air navigation services in the Single European Sky
• Organisation and start of peer reviews of NSAs - EC Letter to NSAs

EUROCONTROL

• EUROCONTROL PRC - Evaluation of Functional Airspace Block (FAB) initiatives and their contribution to performance Improvement
• Towards Establishment of FABs September, 2011