The primary objective of the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) in the realm of international cooperation is to achieve strategic, operational, and developmental goals through active participation in various international groups, initiatives, and associations.
Through membership in major international aviation organizations such as ICAO, EASA, CANSO, and EUROCONTROL, active collaboration with the European Commission and the Network Manager, efforts towards the development of the Single European Sky, and participation in SESAR Deployment Manager and SESAR Joint Undertaking projects, as well as involvement in key initiatives of air traffic management entities like the A6 Alliance, GATE ONE, B4 Consortium, and extensive bilateral contacts, PANSA significantly influences the current and future landscape of the European air traffic management sector.
EUROCONTROL
The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) was established by the International Convention on Cooperation for the Safety of Air Navigation, which came into force on March 1, 1963. It currently comprises 41 member states. Poland has been a member of EUROCONTROL since 2004. This regional, specialized civil-military international organization aims to support European aviation, ensure air navigation safety, and facilitate orderly and efficient air traffic flow. EUROCONTROL’s expanding role encompasses network management (Network Manager), civil-military cooperation (Civil-Military Cooperation Division), cross-border air navigation services (Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre), the Central Route Charges Office, research and development activities (EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub), and training (Aviation Learning Centre).
The governing bodies are the Permanent Commission of Eurocontrol and the Provisional Council. In both, Poland is represented by the President of the Civil Aviation Authority.
The Permanent Commission consists of ministers from the Eurocontrol member states. The Commission determines the overall policy of the organization and serves as its decision-making body, approving annual and five-year plans and the budget, as well as appointing directors and general directors of Eurocontrol.
In the Provisional Council, member states are represented by the Directors General of Civil Aviation (equivalent to the President of the Civil Aviation Authority). The European Union participates in the work of the Provisional Council as an observer. Its tasks include preparing the work of the Permanent Commission and overseeing the activities of EUROCONTROL.
More information: https://www.eurocontrol.int/
CANSO
The Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) is a global association of 96 ANSPs, established to share knowledge, develop best practices, and shape the development of air traffic management. CANSO is organized by geographic regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
CANSO Europe comprises 35 ANSPs and works to promote best practices for institutional and regulatory frameworks, lobbying for ANSPs to EU institutions and organizations influencing the Single European Sky. The EC3 Committee, the executive authority of CANSO Europe, adopts the regional strategy and the main issues that are the subject of the regional CANSO’s work.
More information: https://canso.org/
A6 Alliance
The A6 Alliance was established in 2011 to coordinate research, development, and investments within the SESAR program. The alliance focuses on key strategic areas of common interest to its members, influencing transport and aviation regulations to support the development of the ATM industry. The A6 Alliance includes the largest air navigation service providers in Europe, responsible for managing over 80% of European air traffic. Members associated with A6 represent over 70% of investments in the latest technologies of European ATM infrastructure, which will benefit carriers, passengers, and the environment. The two most important decision-making bodies of the alliance are: the Steering Board, represented by the CEOs of ANSPs, and the Strategy Board, represented by directors responsible for strategy. PANSA has been actively involved in the alliance since its inception. In 2024 the work of the A6 Steering Board was chaired by PANSA.
More information: A6 Alliance | Working together to deploy SESAR
SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking
The Joint Undertaking for research in air traffic management in the Single European Sky 3 is responsible for coordinating and implementing R&D activities within the SESAR project as outlined in the ATM Masterplan, supporting a high level of automation and the development and validation of the Digital European Sky architecture (DES). PANSA participates in S3JU R&D projects with EU funding under the Horizon Europe program.
More information: https://www.sesarju.eu/
SESAR Deployment Manager
The SESAR Deployment Manager is responsible for the synchronized implementation of selected new air traffic management functionalities resulting from the SESAR program. Specifically, it is responsible for developing, proposing, maintaining, and implementing the SESAR Deployment Programme, matching stakeholders involved in operational activities who are required to implement common projects, establishing mechanisms and decision-making processes to ensure effective coordination of deployment projects and related investments in line with the deployment program, advising the Commission on issues related to implementation and the establishment of new projects. PANSA participates in SESAR Deployment Manager projects with EU funding under the Connecting Europe Facility program.
More information: https://www.sesardeploymentmanager.eu/
Baltic FAB
PANSA closely cooperates with its Lithuanian counterpart, Oro Navigacija, co-creating the Baltic Functional Airspace Block (Baltic FAB). Like other European FABs, Baltic FAB was established under European Union law. PANSA and Oro Navigacija engage in operational, technical, and communication cooperation with neighbouring countries and other European FABs within the InterFAB initiative.
Baltic FRA
Free Route Airspace (FRA) functionality was implemented in Polish airspace in February 2019, initially as POLFRA, and since February 2022, it has been operating under the name Baltic FRA.
Starting from February 2019, POLFRA began to operate 24/7 in FIR Warsaw above FL095, excluding TMA (terminal control area).
In February 2022, cross-border FRA operations were implemented between Poland and Lithuania in the form of a joint cross-border FRA area named Baltic FRA, including cross-border FRA operations between Poland and Slovakia (Baltic FRA and SEE FRA).
Further development of FRA occurred on November 28, 2024, through the implementation of FRA between Poland (Baltic FRA), the Czech Republic (SEE FRA), and Sweden (DK-SE FAB FRA).
PANSA’s implementation of FRA projects aligns with the requirements of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/116 on the establishment of the Common Project 1 supporting the implementation of the ATM Masterplan – ATM functionality 3: Flexible Airspace Management and Free Route Airspace, ATM sub-functionality 3.1.2 on Free Route Airspace.
Detailed information and rules regarding Baltic FRA are available in: AIP POLAND, RAD NOP.
FRA operations, initially under POLFRA and now under Baltic FRA, have been carried out since February 2019, and the benefits in terms of route length indicators have been evident from the beginning.
The extension of cross-border FRA operations to Lithuania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden (airspace future along with other countries/functional airspace blocks) will contribute to achieving environmental indicators within the performance scheme.
