DANUBE FAB PROJECT

The project is a common project between the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, with the collaboration of the two service providers – BULATSA and ROMATSA - with the role of Implementing Bodies under the name DANUBE FAB. The objective of the DANUBE FAB, in the airspace under the responsibility of Romania and the Republic of Bulgaria, is to improve capacity, cost-efficiency and environmental protection by harmonising and optimising provision of ANS and civil-military cooperation in a process of sustainable development, while maintaining or increasing the level of safety. This objective has the highest level of political commitment in both States and forms part of the legal basis of FAB establishment (Article 4 of the State Agreement). Implementation Plan By the 4th of December 2012 all the necessary steps to ensure that the governance structures and supporting material are in place to begin operations were completed. In particular, the entry into force of the State Level Agreement represented a major milestone and enabled the Governing Council to take over from the Steering Committee and to begin their task to oversee the implementation phase through the NSA and ANSP Boards. Key features and benefits of the DANUBE FAB The aim during the development of the DANUBE FAB was, for lower, upper and terminal airspace, to: • Consider, propose and assess the extent to which cooperation in the FAB was feasible and beneficial • Develop the feasible cooperation initiatives to the point of implementation • Enable the gradual reduction of the number of ACCs (initiated at the early stages of the FAB) from seven in 2003 to two by the end of 2012 (completed). This also responds to contingency needs at FAB level. Key to achieving this has been the common development of a DANUBE FAB operational concept (ConOps). This document has been developed by civil and military operational experts as a major output of the operational working group. It describes the operational principles agreed by the Partners and provides a high-level presentation of the target concept meant to support enhanced performance of the ATM network in the region in terms of safety, capacity, efficiency and protection of the environment. It also considers the future developments at European level both up to and after 2015, and is developed in line with the European ATM Master Plan, the ICAO Global Plan and SESAR Target Concept. The ConOps considers military requirements in the context of the implementation of functional airspace blocks and EUROCONTROL guidance material on this subject.

Free Route: DANUBE FAB successfully implemented Phase 1 - Night Free Route Airspace (FRA) operations within national boundaries. This first phase of DANUBE FAB’s FRA project was completed on 14 November 2013. Cross-Border Sectors: The two partner States of Romania and Bulgaria implemented two cross-border sectors on 11 December 2014, the first time that cross-border sectors have been implemented under a FAB framework. Technical Rationalisation: A voice communications system delivering VoIP has been jointly procured by DANUBE FAB partners in June 2014 – the first example of a common procurement of a system. TEN-T funding: DANUBE FAB submitted one of the few successful applications for Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) funding in the field of air traffic management (ATM). Inter-FAB Cooperation: An agreement between DANUBE FAB and FAB CE was signed in October 2015 to establish regular cooperation, especially in the operations, technical, training, performance and safety areas. Lessons learned: - Functional airspace blocks require a long term vision to understand how benefits are accrued. - Stakeholders need time to consider and assess the feasibility and benefits of common projects. - Guidance and support at European Union level is needed to help functional airspace blocks to implement innovative initiatives. - Successful functional airspace blocks projects to date have been those which utilise close geographical proximity i.e. upper airspace projects (cross-border provision of services and free route airspace) and rationalisation of communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS). - ‘Hands-on’, proactive approach to project management necessary to drive a ‘functional airspace blocks culture’, so sufficient areas of overlap are recognised between air navigation service providers, projects identified and implemented effectively. - Good communication, working relationships and understanding of the cultures involved between all stakeholders is vital. - Safety must always be number one priority. - The social dimension is important.