13 January 2010

Austro Control has become the fifth member of the COOPANS association, joining the Irish Aviation Authority, the LFV Group (Sweden), Naviair (Denmark) and air traffic management (ATM) system supplier Thales ATM.

COOPANS is a cooperative agreement between ANSPs and industry whose purpose is to harmonise completely the existing Eurocat ATM systems and to agree, reduce and share the costs of further system upgrades.

The first of these system upgrades is due to go live in the IAA, Naviair and LFV Group in 2011 and in Austro Control in 2013. Total costs, which are shared between the ANSPs, amount to €125 million to date. This represents savings of approximately 30% compared to each ANSP performing the necessary evolution on an individual basis. Also, the risks associated with the introduction of completely new ATM systems are reduced through this new incremental approach.

The COOPANS agreement also caters for any essential requirements necessitated by the Single European Sky initiative. It demonstrates the intent of IAA, Naviair, the LFV Group and Austro Control to collaborate with each other and the manufacturing industry in a way which will bring real benefits to airlines whilst embracing the spirit of the Single European Sky move towards interoperability and harmonised ATM systems.

Bo Pedersen

Director PR & Communications
+45 3247 7900

info@naviair.dk