The EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC), together with its partners, announce the successful implementation of a major multifaceted airspace restructure above the Netherlands and north-west Germany.
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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.
In addition, the project maximises the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) concept, enabling multiple smaller segments, rather than one large section, to be activated temporarily based on daily requirements. This brings several benefits including increased flight efficiency through enhanced airspace usage and improved real-time civil-military cooperation.
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. Mainly, the ZEBRA project is paving the way for the introduction of the new trajectory-based air traffic control system iCAS, which is foreseen for Q1 2028.