SESAR

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The skies over Europe are growing closer together 

A flight through European airspace crosses borders without passengers noticing as the air navigation service providers involved work hand in hand. The technical systems are also becoming increasingly standardised, which is being ensured by a joint programme called SESAR. 

The Single European Sky in Europe is increasingly becoming a reality. Today, air navigation service providers in the EU Member States have already harmonised their operational procedures across borders. Now, step by step, they are standardising and modernising the technical systems required to control air traffic. This purpose is being served thanks to a large-scale research and development programme called Single European Sky ATM Research, or SESAR for short, in which DFS is playing a major role.   


Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) 

Air traffic in Europe has grown strongly in recent decades. This requires the use of modern and flexible systems, which also communicate with each other across national borders. 

This is precisely where the SESAR European research programme comes in and is advancing the path to what is known as the Digital European Sky. A modern infrastructure enables direct routes and thus helps to reduce emissions. It also supports the change towards more environmental protection in aviation. 

DFS has played a key role in the programme since its inception and is working together with other partners from the aviation industry to make transport smarter, more sustainable and more connected. Another aspect is to integrate other users, such as drones or air taxis, into airspace in addition to traditional aircraft.  

The projects and their implementation are partly funded by the European Union. The funds come from the Horizon Europe Fund, which is earmarked for research and innovation, and the Connecting Europe Fund, the European Union's infrastructure funding pot. 

DFS is currently involved in the following SESAR research projects: