Introduction new Flight Data Processing System
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Mr McMillan, Mr Mayor, Mr Kloos, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you Mr McMillan, for your enthusiastic words. It is good to be here in Maastricht and to hear about your ambitions for Eurocontrol and MUAC. And to get to know the new system that is going to help us realise these ambitions.
When one talks about ‘Eurocontrol’ one is talking about ‘Europe’.
In two and a half months, elections for the European Parliament will be held. The public discussion about the need for European cooperation will flare up again in the time ahead.
As a former member of the European Parliament, I am aware that it is not always easy to make the benefits of European cooperation understood. Achievements tend to be taken for granted. In the eyes of many people, dangers seem more important than opportunities.
I believe this scepticism is not justified.
Take for example the important theme of European aviation. It is of great importance to all of us. To businessmen. To the military that needs airspace for exercises. And certainly to ordinary citizens. Thanks to good air links, the rest of world is within easy reach for us. We should safeguard this achievement for the future.
It is perfectly clear that we as individual European countries are not capable of responding to the challenges of these times.
Each on our own, we cannot make our aviation sector more competitive.
Each on our own, we cannot make our aviation sector safer.
Each on our own, we cannot make our aviation sector cleaner and more economical.
Our scope as separate countries is too small for this. We need to think in European and global terms. Especially in these times when the economic crisis is severely battering the aviation sector. Every large airport and network carrier in Europe is closely following the developments in Dubai, that is emerging as a serious competitor. And that is only one example.
If we wish to continue to optimally serve European travellers, we need to join forces as European partners. That is why the Netherlands is a firm supporter of more far-reaching cooperation.
Maastricht Airport is a fine example of such cooperation. It is my aim to strengthen the economic development of Maastricht Airport as a regional hub. It is important that we seize the opportunities to attract more European low-cost carriers and all-cargo carriers such as Ryanair and Cargolux as well as carriers from third countries to operate services from Maastricht Airport.
Another fine example of cooperation, is MUAC. I am proud that at the time, the Netherlands, together with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, took the initiative of establishing the first multinational air traffic control centre in Europe. And I am proud that with MUAC the Netherlands has within its borders a forerunner of the Single European Sky.
The Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre has been a leader in its field for decades. It controls 5000 flights a day in the upper airspace above the Benelux and north-western Germany. One of the busiest airspaces in the world. Over the past ten years, air traffic here has risen by 55 per cent. This demonstrates the challenges you are facing.
I have great respect for the way in which you perform your work. MUAC can stand up to any benchmark. Here, quality and quantity are combined.
In my view, you are a successful example of the power of European cooperation. As long as an ambitious goal is consistently realised. MUAC is actually a Functional Airspace Block before its time.
You know why it is important that we make progress in the creation of a Single European Sky. Mr McMillan, you already briefly touched on this. It is necessary in order to increase our capacity and efficiency and to realise our safety ambitions. It is also necessary for a better environment.
Today, flights are on average 50 kilometres longer than they need to be due to the fragmentation of European airspace and the inefficient design of civilian and military areas. Harmonisation will deliver a reduction in aircraft emissions of ten percent.
A Single European Sky will allow us more room for innovation. For example, Continuous Descent Approaches that result in less noise and lower fuel consumption when landing. Each Continuous Descent Approach has the potential to cut CO2 emissions by nearly half a ton. The large-scale application of this concept requires large-scale airspace redesigning, which can only be accommodated if FABs are successful.
The route to a Single European Sky is not simple. We will have to resolve complex problems.
For example, we will have to develop a common vision of the way in which participating countries will steer their air traffic control organisations. Currently, there are large differences between our countries.
Eurocontrol too will have to be restructured within the context of SES. Mr McMillan, this is a great challenge that will demand much of your time.
We also have to agree on performance targets.
And we will need to work on a single safety framework and on the harmonisation of information systems.
In that field, MUAC is a front runner. And this is demonstrated today by the new flight data processing system. The first system that, in accordance with European specifications, contributes to a European airspace without internal borders.
Mr McMillan, you outlined for us the benefits that will be delivered for safety, flexibility, the environment (shorter flight paths!) and customer friendliness (fewer delays for passengers!).
We all know that great changes lie before us, in the years ahead. These changes will affect you as well. With our Benelux partners, and Germany, France and Switzerland we have decided to establish a Functional Airspace Block Europe Central (FABEC). FABEC covers the centre of gravity of European air traffic.
While developing FABEC, we must also look at MUAC as a pivotal point in that airspace. Any statement about the future development and positioning of MUAC in relation to FABEC is premature and would be speculation. For now, it should suffice that we all respect and value the knowledge, expertise and operational excellence of your organisation.
The experience gained here over the past quarter of a century is extraordinarily valuable, now and for the future as well. You are showing us that the desire to cooperate carries us forward.
This also applies to the National Supervisory Authorities that together carried out the inspection of the new system. A milestone. Together you delivered fine work. A good, common system of certification and assessment is essential for the establishment of a Single European Sky. I am proud that together with three other countries, we are taking the lead in this here in Maastricht.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your core business here at MUAC is safety.
Last month we once again experienced how great the impact is when things go wrong. Nine dead and a large number of severely injured in an accident at Schiphol.
The accident took place during landing, far from the upper airspaces that are your domain. But I am certain that this accident affected you strongly as well and that it has been the subject of many discussions. It confronts us again with the fact that your work is of vital importance.
The faith of passengers that they will be brought safely from A to B, is largely dependent on the work you do here. Day in and day out.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your tremendous effort. I wish you the best of luck in your work!
And my warmest congratulations on this new system that will make your work even better.