A6 Alliance widens SESAR collaboration to include Switzerland’s skyguide

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The A6 Alliance of European air navigation service providers (ANSP) has signed an agreement for closer cooperation with the Swiss ANSP skyguide on the modernisation of Europe’s airspace.

The agreement provides a framework for collaboration on efforts in support of the Single European Sky ATM Research programme (SESAR), the technology strand of the European Commission’s flagship aviation policy to create a Single European Sky and improve the way Europe’s airspace is managed to make it safer, cheaper and more environmentally friendly.

The A6 Alliance and skyguide will cooperate on research and development to be undertaken as part of SESAR 2020, the next phase of Europe’s ATM modernisation programme. Skyguide will join the A6 Working Group on Research and Development, which takes decisions about R&D activities in service of SESAR on the basis of consensus across Members.

Klaus-Dieter Scheurle, Chairman and Chief Executive of DFS and Chair of the A6 Alliance Steering Board, said: “I am delighted to welcome skyguide to our collaboration. It is important that, as an industry, we work together with a wide range of partners from across Europe to help ensure SESAR continues to be driven by operational and business needs that will ultimately benefit Europe’s airspace users and their passengers. The A6 Alliance is pleased to have skyguide join us as a partner in this important area.”

Daniel Weder, Chief Executive Officer of skyguide, added: “In SESAR 2020 and especially in the cooperation with our A6 Alliance partners, we find a driving force to open new dimensions in European air navigation services through real innovation. We see this as the best opportunity to make a leap forward and to provide customers and partners with the services needed to face the future.”

The Agreement sets out the terms under which the two parties will work together to support European ATM Research and Development as part of SESAR 2020.