As of November 10th, Austro Control and Slovenia Control have successfully implemented the first crossborder “Free Route”-Airspace without any vertical and time-based restrictions in Europe.
Austro Control began the phased introduction of free route airspace in 2012 in line with the requirements set out under the Single European Sky framework and in cooperation with its FAB CE partners. The first phase involved the establishment of several direct routes (DCTs) for night-time transit flights between predetermined entry and exit points. This network of direct flight links was subsequently applied to the daytime and extended upwards to include the entire upper airspace and parts of Vienna’s approach and departure space.
SAXFRA (Slovenian Austrian Cross Border Free Route Airspace)
'As of November 10th, Austro Control and Slovenia Control have successfully implemented the first cross-border “Free Route”-Airspace without any vertical and time-based restrictions in Europe.
The Slovenian Austrian Cross-border Free Route Airspace (SAXFRA) successfully went operational on November 10, 2016, being the first cross-border free route airspace without vertical or time-based restrictions. Virtually all airways (ATS routes) in the SAXFRA airspace will disappear.
SAXFRA offers airspace users the opportunity to fly between predefined entry and exit points using the most direct route possible. Airspace users will also be able to select the optimum route and vertical profile for their requirements via intermediate points. Enabling free route flying options in this complex and already highly optimized environment offers an estimated savings of 13.000 kg of fuel daily and helps to reduce the CO2 emissions by 43.000 kg per day. Free route is due to be implemented in the whole of FAB CE airspace (Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina) by 2019.
SAXFRA, with its cross-border concept, time and vertical availability, represents a major step forward in regard to the European ATM Master Plan for free route operations and follows the roadmap to a successful implementation of Single European Sky.
