EUROCONTROL MUAC Major Airspace Restructure in NW Europe

The EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC), together with its partners, today announced the successful implementation of a major multifaceted airspace restructure above the Netherlands and north-west Germany.

The new design, which is the result of several years of collaborative effort, will improve operational efficiency and optimise airspace usage for all users, whether civil or military, in what is one of Europe’s busiest and most complex areas.

The purpose of the restructure is to prepare for future air traffic demand and to accommodate the evolving requirements of both military and civil airspace users. A key element of the new design is a new dual-route structure along re-shaped military training area boundaries which separates opposite traffic flows. This allows for more efficient continuous climb and descent flight profiles, even when the training areas are in use, offering a reduction in fuel burn.

“This represents one of the most comprehensive airspace redesign projects to take place in MUAC’s airspace for many years. As Europe’s only cross-border civil-military air navigation service provider (ANSP), the new design will cater to the future requirements of all our airspace users including our military partners in terms of training areas as well as our civil customers with growing flight schedules. We are proud to have delivered this project in the core of Europe, and I extend my thanks to all project partners for the concerted effort,” said Peggy Devestel, Director of the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC).

EUROCONTROL MUAC Landmark Milestone

MUAC, a fully integrated civil-military ANSP, led a multi-agency initiative to achieve this landmark milestone. Since 2017, MUAC has controlled military air traffic in the upper airspace of Germany and the Netherlands. They collaborated with Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL), DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, the German Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and neighboring ANSPs and military partners to realize this achievement.

“We look back on a successful collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, MUAC and our German partners DFS and the German Air Force. Together, we have succeeded in realising a design that accommodates the modernisation of military airspace in Germany. At the same time, it improves the overall efficiency of the civil route network in the north-west European airspace reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Furthermore, the changes in the route network in the Netherlands will limit the impact of the military exercises on civil traffic flows,” said Maartje van der Helm, General Manager Performance & Development at Air Traffic Control the Netherlands.

“The comprehensive airspace restructuring has been implemented together with all partners across borders and is another milestone that shows our great collaboration with MUAC. The airspace redesign will contribute to an even more seamless sky for the benefit of the airspace users and the whole European network,” said Dirk Mahns, Chief Operating Officer at DFS.

FUA Concept

In addition, the project maximizes the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) concept by enabling the temporary activation of multiple smaller segments, rather than one large section, based on daily requirements.

This brings several benefits including increased flight efficiency through enhanced airspace usage and improved real-time civil-military cooperation.

“The airspace restructure project that has been implemented today provides larger and modular military training areas, which enhance effectiveness of military training missions by applying techniques, tactics and procedures suited to state-of-the-art military aircraft, especially of the new F35 fleets of both countries. The new structures and procedures also allow for closer collaboration between the German Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force in cross border operations, paving the way for larger military exercises in the future. This significant milestone is the result of many years of hard work between all project partners, and it serves as the perfect example of civil-military cooperation in a core area of Europe; well done to all involved,” said Colonel Mario Herzer, Branch Head Flight Operations Branch, German Air Force.

This project coincides with one of the largest airspace design reorganisations by DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung to enhance traffic flows over northern Germany, precisely the western part of Bremen ACC’s airspace over the North Sea, airspaces over Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and Hannover. The aim is to reduce complexity, optimise interfaces and create even more capacity for military and civil customers.

The ZEBRA project, which stands for the sustainable renewal of Bremen’s ATS sectors, primarily paves the way for introducing the new trajectory-based air traffic control system, iCAS, expected in the first quarter of 2028.