Sabre becomes part of project to develop next generation air traffic control

Sabre Airline Solutions has joined a group examining whether Europe can move to a “single sky” system for controlling movement of aircraft around the continent.

The Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research (SESAR) project has actually been up and running officially since 2007, when the European community members and the continent-wide ATC group Eurocontrol were mandated to modernise the overstretched and diverse range of systems.

But the project has now reached a new phase with officials appointing strategic partners, as part of the so-called Fly4D consortium, to help steer implementation of the programme.

Sabre has joined the likes of aircraft manufacturer Airbus in this latest wave.

The initiative, dubbed “one of the most ambitious research and development projects ever launched by the European Union”, has the target of integrating all existing air traffic control and management systems into a single system, primarily to replace the myriad of different technology, processes and procedures for passage of aircraft throughout Europe.

A “single sky” for ATC will be expected to reduce flight cancellations and delays by 50% as well as reduce carbon emissions by 50 million tonnes annually.