Twenty second Meetings of the DANUBE FAB Governing Bodies

Twenty-second Meetings of the DANUBE FAB Governing Bodies

Published: Tuesday, 14 May 2024

On Monday, May 13th and Tuesday, May 14th, 2024, the governing bodies of DANUBE FAB met in Sofia for their 22nd meeting. This meeting was held in the context of the constantly evolving aviation industry, which is facing increasing demands in the region. The attendees shared a commitment to making the skies safer, more efficient, and greener.

22nd Meeting of the DANUBE FAB ANSP Board

Monday, 13 May 2024, Sofia

Yesterday, the DANUBE FAB ANSP Board held its 22nd bi-annual meeting, bringing together key decision-makers and experts from ROMATSA and BULATSA. The meeting aimed to review the progress of the latest round of DANUBE FAB strategic planning and reporting, with a focus on improving the contribution of air traffic management on a regional scale.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the status of FAB procurements and InterFAB coordination activities, as well as the progress of the FAB High Priority projects. This included reviewing the future development of the FAB in order to enhance its contribution to air traffic management in the region.

Moreover, the agenda covered several topics related to ongoing SES (Single European Sky) developments, including planned joint exercises in SESAR 3 projects ATC-TBO and NETWORK TBO. The ANSP Board also addressed operational and safety matters, discussing the pressing challenges and opportunities faced by the two ANSPs.

From a social perspective, the ANSP Board agreed to organise the next DANUBE FAB Social Consultation Forum in Romania in the autumn of 2024. This forum will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to share their views and discuss important issues related to air traffic management.

22nd Meeting of the DANUBE FAB Governing Council

Tuesday, 14 May 2024, Sofia

After the ANSP Board meeting, representatives from the Ministries of Transport, National Supervisory Authorities, military authorities, and ANSPs from Romania and the Republic of Bulgaria, came together to discuss within the 22nd meeting of the DANUBE FAB Governing Council, the future goals and objectives of DANUBE FAB. The Council representatives reviewed the activities carried out so far in 2024, with a specific focus on two crucial ongoing projects: Free Route Airspace and InterFAB Cooperation. These projects aim to enhance air navigation services, reduce flight times, and lower fuel consumption while ensuring safety.

During the meeting, the representatives also discussed the latest EU developments, including the new texts of the Single European Sky legislation agreed upon in the last trialogue held in March 2024. They discussed the possible impact of these new requirements on all stakeholders involved, including the ANSPs, airlines, and air traffic controllers.

The DANUBE FAB Governing Bodies plan to reconvene in Romania in autumn 2024 to continue advancing their shared vision for efficient and safe air navigation services. This meeting will provide an opportunity to review progress, address any challenges, and plan the way forward.

Note for editors:

DANUBE FAB is a functional airspace block that has been established between the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania. It comprises of two air navigation service providers: the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority (BULATSA) and the Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration (ROMATSA). DANUBE FAB plays an important role in the Single European Sky (SES) legislative framework, which aims to enhance the capacity of air traffic services across Europe. The SES framework prescribes a range of measures to ensure that there is enough capacity to service flights over Europe.

Contact:

Communication officer for BULATSA: Christina Dimitrova

• Tel: +359 2 937 1799
• E-mail: dimitrova@bulatsa.com

Communication officer for ROMATSA: Silviu Gheorghe

• Tel: +40 21 2083 512
• E-mail: gheorghe@romatsa.ro