It is almost boring these days how every possible forum, from LinkedIn to Air Traffic Management Magazine, is full of awe-struck articles about the Functional Airspace Blocks (FAB) and ANSP alliances. Subtly or not so subtly they all seem to suggest that this is now what ATM needs and this is how problems will be solved.
Unanswered is of course the question: why could the very same ANSPs not work together in this wonderful new way while they had the chance under the leadership of EUROCONTROL? EATCHIP and ATM2000+ were about the same aims as these new fangled arrangements except that those programs were European while FABs and ANSP alliances are creating the kind of European fragmentation we have not seen since the 70s.
But there is more. At ATC Global in Amsterdam a short while ago, Davind McMillen, EUROCONTROL’s Director General was of the opinion that, all things considered, this looked like a bad summer for delay in Europe.
Excuse me???
In an article extolling the virtues of ANSP alliances, one of the benefits quoted was the examination of the potential for synergies and closer cooperation. Yes, you heard right!
So, after 15 years of EATCHIP and ATM2000+ and 3 years of relatively low traffic caused by the economic crisis we discover that ANSPs have wasted most of the time trying to figure out things and they have still not come to the all important conclusions… Castrating EUROCONTROL in the form of making it the “network manager”, ANSPs are now busy forming alliances and examining the potential for synergies. Oh yes, and they are also creating fragmentation on a level never seen before in the form of the FABs just to make sure things do not get away from them on the European level.
Putting your hopes in EUROCOPNTROL as the network manager is also something one should be careful with. It took forever for European member states to vote on this matter but when they finally did, they did not give EUROCONTROL powers to dictate orders to ANSPs. What did you think?
What EUROCONTROL will do is figure out actions that can improve the European network and then recommend changes to the ANSPs and states… Sounds familiar? This is what EURCONTROL was trying to do in the past albeit the buzzword “network” was not being used back then. According to Mr. McMillan, they now will have a little more authority to push for a network approach. That buzzword again…
You see where the problem is and why the FABs and the alliances are things one should brag less about?
In the past, ANSPs and States were basically unable to work together in EUROCONTROL to realize the aims and targets of EATCHIP and ATM2000+. If they had, we would not be looking forward to a summer of delays just because traffic is returning to pre-crisis levels.
At the same time, ANSPs are regrouping under the FAB banner and the new alliances while making EUROCONTROL into a toothless tiger so there will be exactly zero leadership on the European level. Using the buzzword “network approach” is an empty slogan in this context. Without the proper authority, EUROCONTROL will not be able to make changes happen and having to face the FABs and the alliances, they will have an even more difficult time than in the past. The good thing? Well, when this whole thing collapses (as it will as delays once again go through the roof) at least it will no longer be possible to blame EUROCONTROL for the failure.
May be, just may be, another horrible summer or two and even the EC will realize that air traffic management in Europe cannot be improved by killing off EUROCONTROL and passing the reins to a bunch of local interests. This approach will also be the death sentence for SESAR.
What is needed is true leadership to bring about the necessary political and operational changes on the European level and to do this, if necessary, over the dead bodies of some organizations who have successfully prevented change in the past. This may be bitter medicine for some, but there can be no doubt about its healing powers.
Throwing in meaningless buzzwords (like network management…) and standing in awe before the new fragmentation in Europe will not help anyone. It will only waste more time and money, both of which are things this industry has very little of.
Cleo well done, reading your analysis Icouldn’t suppress a smile on my face because it was written as being copied from the bottom of my heart. Just to strenghten the healing powers for the “post-Sesar-time” I am missing 2 aspects:
1: it would have been nice to address the directly involved winners and loosers view (really weird but even the long run loosers are supporters) as well as
2: the parties who are currently paying the bill for this maze.