EUROCONTROL wants to foster the connectivity of Regional Airports

EUROCONTROL has successfully launched a programme to foster the connectivity of European Small and Regional Airports in collaboration with Fraport Greece, the Hellenic CAA and the Atos – Cronos consortium.

Known as ECRA – European Connected Regional Airports – EUROCONTROL wants to foster the connectivity of Regional Airports, accounting for around 50% of the European Traffic. The initiative is part of EUROCONTROL’s digital transformation agenda to improve the operational performance of the European ATM Network and collaborative processes with the Stakeholders.

On September 27th, Kos Airport finalised the process to integrate their operational systems with Network Management systems. The project is a proof of concept funded by SESAR PJ04 programme exploring cost efficient ways to connect regional and small airports to the Network with a win-win approach for all the operational stakeholders. The Network Manager is enriched with more accurate traffic data and airports are provided with cost-effective network consolidated data and services.

ECRA is a paradigm shift of the role that Regional Airports have on the European ATM Network allowing them to have a more proactive role and pushing them to the Champions League of airports in terms of Airport-Network connectivity and data exchange.

The project enables the synchronisation of the Airport Operations Plan with the Network Operations Plan and allows the aircraft ground surveillance based on the use of ADS-B receivers installed at the airports.

Airports who wish to take part of the ECRA programme should contact Eurocontrol at ecra@eurocontrol.int.