GATCO has secured a seat at the Future Airspace Strategy Industry Implementation Group (FASIIG), where a GATCO rep will be present from now on. This important milestone is one more step in GATCO’s continuing effort to make sure the views of its members are listened to and taken into account at the highest levels within the ATC and ATM industry in the UK and beyond.

The UK’s Future Airspace Strategy (FAS) and its Deployment Plan was developed by the UK CAA, with contributions from the Department for Transport (DfT), Ministry of Defence (MoD) and NATS. The Deployment Plan is a programme of industry-led investment designed to modernise the UK’s airspace and air transport route network. It is an important part of the UK Government’s transport policy and involves the airlines, airports, air traffic controllers and many other aviation stakeholders. Current partners are:

  • Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
  • Department for Transport (DfT)
  • Ministry of Defence (MoD)
  • NATS
  • International Air Transport Association (IATA)
  • Airport Operators Association (AOA)
  • Airlines UK
  • Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BARUK)
  • Sustainable Aviation

The FAS programme also forms part of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative, which sets out implementing rules, backed by legislation, to drive the reform of airspace and air traffic management across all European States. Similar modernisation initiatives are taking place across the globe, coordinated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Within FAS, FASIIG was formed in 2011, co-chaired by British Airways and NATS, to coordinate the activities required across the aviation sector to implement the first phase of the strategy from 2013 to 2020. Overall, FAS aims to develop, by 2030, an efficient UK airspace that has the capacity to meet changes in demand for UK airspace, while at the same time balancing the needs of all stakeholders, maintaining the levels of safety and reducing the environmental impact of the aviation sector.

GATCO is very pleased to have been accepted to this key group, given the importance and influence FASIIG has in the future of the UK aviation industry and its implementation.

You can find out more about FAS and FASIIG on their website.