A family normally gets new members through marriage, birth, adoption… In SESAR this happens via the less glamorous sounding “association” process. As it has just been announced, SESAR now boasts 13 associate partners who were taken on board on the basis of the recommendations of organizations already part of SESAR. The list of new partners (see the list below) includes some naturals like Boeing and AVTECH (why were they missing in the first place???), three that are in fact distant relatives of existing members (THALES and NATS) and one, the Moroccan Airports Authority that is a truly new face which can potentially open a window on new horizons towards Africa.
Partnership with all relevant aviation players in the modernization of the European air traffic management is the key principle of SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research). As a consequence, the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) endorsed 13 associate partners to contribute to the SESAR work programme. Among others, the Boeing Company, Thales Australia, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency and the Moroccan Airports Authority (ONDA) will from now on participate in the work programme. Associate partners were proposed by SJU members which will remain their primary point of contact.
SESAR’s aim is to bring about an evolution in air traffic management systems, eliminating the fragmented approach of European air traffic management (ATM), bringing both public and private stakeholders together. Since its set-up, the SJU secured the additional involvement of airspace users, staff associations, air forces and the scientific world. With this latest enrichment, the SJU not only broadens the number of stakeholders but includes more organizations from third countries in Europe’s ambitious ATM modernization programme.
“Our new associate partners will bring in their specific experience and know-how. We now have 21 air navigation service providers participating in the EU ATM modernization programme. We are particularly delighted to also welcome non-EU members on board of the SESAR ship; this demonstrates our commitment to developing interoperable solutions”, says Patrick Ky, Executive Director of the SESAR Joint Undertaking.
SJU members were invited to propose candidate associate partners to assist in the execution of the member’s tasks. The creation of this new category of stakeholders in the SESAR work programme answers to the need to secure the additional input and added value of critical partners in the ATM research and development activities.
Out of the 13 selected associate partners, seven are air navigation service providers and five industry partners; one is an airport operator:
NAV Portugal, AVTECH Sweden, The BOEING Company, Consortium LVNL, SKYGUIDE, ONDA (Moroccan Airports Authority), BELGOCONTROL,
LOCKHEED MARTIN UK LIMITED ( UK ), POLISH AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES AGENCY (PANSA), NATS SERVICES, SEA Aeroporti di Milano S.p.A.,
THALES AUSTRALIA and THALES RAYTHEON Systems (TRS).
The acceptance of the proposed associate members by the SJU is the first step towards the conclusion of an agreement between the interested member and its respective associate partner(s). This process is expected to be finalized during the last quarter of 2010.
Having more partners on board is of course always a good thing though the coordination burden will not become any easier. Many a European ATM project failed in the past because the various partners could not agree on the details and there was no real, effective leadership on the European level to make them act in unison. That the SJU has its job cut out for it is sure. Now they will need the right carrot… and the right stick to succeed.