FABEC route charges study

Customer

Functional Airspace Block Europe Central – FABEC (through Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC)

Context

FABEC covers the lower and upper airspace of six States (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland), its airspace is one of the busiest and most complex in the world.

FABEC required a set of options and recommendations for a new financial framework to support the cross-border optimisation of airspace among the FABEC member states. The financial and political implications of change on ANSPs, airspace users and government had to be identified and managed under the proposed options.

Role of Helios

Helios developed a set of financial framework options for the collection and distribution of air navigation revenues among national providers. The options ranged from easy cost compensation mechanisms to complex cost and revenue distribution systems based on a common charging zone.

The analysis needed to identify an approach and formula that would facilitate performance enhancements, while at the same time distributing revenues among ANSPs in an equitable and acceptable manner. It also needed to take into account the complexities of the economic and political implications on ANSPs, airspace users and the government.

Each of the solutions was analysed, modelled and discussed with regulators and stakeholders from participating Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs).

Results

The output of the project was a proposal of several financial options at different ambition levels for the medium and long-term future, describing their impact on each stakeholder and discussing associated challenges that would need to be addressed in the future, including:

• Capital expenditure planning
• Cost recovery
• Accounting
• Legal implications
• Performance monitoring
• Regulatory oversight, at European and State level

The work required a thorough understanding of the existing regulatory context of ANS provision, including the requirements of the Performance and Charging Scheme. The team also needed to be aware of trends and constraints that point towards long-term scenarios in the provision of air navigation services for RP3 and beyond, including the principles of ATM policy of the European Commission.

For further information on this project please contact Jan-Bjorn Schomann.