engleski

European airspace fragmentation assessment model

Since the establishment of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative in 2004, “fragmentation” has been a key reference point and policy driver of strategic planning and development of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system in Europe. However, even though the issue of the European airspace fragmentation has been recognized back in the 1990s, yet terminological, conceptual and methodological determinants and frameworks by which the notion of the European airspace fragmentation could be unambiguously defined and measured have not yet been set. Therefore, even nowadays it frequently remains unclear when airspace can be considered as “fragmented” or “defragmented”. Accordingly, as there are many unanswered questions and assumptions associated with the issue of the European airspace fragmentation, this paper presents findings that increase knowledge and understanding in the field of research. The main objective of this research is development of the European airspace fragmentation assessment model. The purpose of its development is to enable determination of the performance-based airspace fragmentation (one of several European airspace fragmentation types). In that regard, this paper presents the conceptual and methodological frameworks of a novel model that can be used to obtain answers to hypothetical questions of where, when, how, and whether it is possible to achieve performance-based airspace defragmentation. After its development, the model was validated through its application. Model applicability was validated based on the applicability of the case study carried out for the purpose of obtaining simple answers to complex questions of how European airspace is fragmented and where and whether it is possible to achieve airspace defragmentation from the aspect of airspace capacity. As such, this paper contributes to a more inclusive, smart, environmentally- friendly and spatially oriented strategic planning and development of the ATM system in Europe.

Air Traffic Management system ; strategic planning and development ; airspace fragmentation ; performance-based airspace model ; capacity-based assessment

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