SESAR-DEMONSTRATORS Other SESAR Projects – works

The objective is to support projects that implement Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) ground and airborne infrastructure, route and procedures that are not addressed by the Common Project One (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/116), notably those mandated under Commission Implementing Regulations (EC) No 29/2009 (DLS Regulation), (EC) No 1207/2011 (SPI Regulation) and (EU) 2018/1048 (PBN Regulation).

Works related to any of the following projects will be supported:

1. Performance Based Navigation (PBN Regulation)

Projects in this domain must implement PBN routes and procedures by service providers in accordance with the requirements of point AUR.PBN.2005 of the Annex of the PBN Regulation, whose deadline for implementation has not expired by the date on which this call is published. In particular, projects should support TMA airspace optimisation, implementing SIDS and STARS using PBN specifications, not only as an additional overlay of existing procedures, but as an integral part of the airspace re-design to increase efficiency, optimize noise footprint and/or reduce radar vectoring operations. Projects may include equipping aircraft with SBAS capable avionics and rationalising the ground navigation infrastructure without compromising safety and security. Plans for decommissioning legacy ground infrastructure must be defined in a specific milestone of the project. However, the costs for decommissioning legacy ground infrastructure are not eligible for funding.

1. Datalink Services (DLS Regulation)

Projects in this domain support the deployment of avionics upgrades to resolve identified interoperability issues (e.g., avionics identified in the recommendations that EASA has issued in the SIBs related to VDF deafness). Projects may cover additional avionics updates that enable airspace users, who are already equipped with datalink avionics compliant with the DLS regulation, to take full advantage of the operational datalink service without any restriction (as, for example, the limitations imposed by the log on list). The avionics upgrades should be included in the list of implementation projects^[1] for operators established by the Datalink Support Group^[2]. Applicants must provide evidence that the avionics upgrades are fully interoperable with currently deployed datalink systems by all Communication Service Providers and air navigation service providers. Applicants are encouraged to team up and submit a single proposal that covers several aircraft grouped and coordinated by a single coordinating entity.

1. ADS-B (SPI Regulation)

Projects in this domain support the synchronised evolution of airborne and ground surveillance infrastructure aiming to enhance surveillance services by using ADS-B technology to reduce costs, improve spectrum usage and reduce risk of over interrogations.

These projects may include:

• achieving an optimal combination of new types of ground surveillance infrastructure by air navigation service providers that make operational use of ADS-B data that will enable decommissioning existing radar infrastructure. Plans for decommissioning existing infrastructure must be defined in a specific milestone of the project. However, the costs for decommissioning this infrastructure are not eligible for funding.
• Equipping aircraft with avionics with ADS-B out or equivalent performance by airspace users that are exempted to comply with the requirements in the SPI Regulation (e.g., military and General Aviation) when it facilitates ANSPs to achieve an optimal combination of surveillance infrastructure.

Priority will be given to projects:

• proposed by consortia grouping air navigation providers and airspace users, including general aviation, operating within the same local environment;
• that include the decommissioning of legacy infrastructure.

Funding will not be granted for projects mandated under Union Law, in particular relating to the single European sky legislation, whose deadline for implementation has expired by the date on which this call is published. Costs incurred after the deadlines established in the above mentioned legislation will not be eligible for funding.

Proposals for the above mentioned projects must include a milestone requiring the submission of requests to the competent authorities for the certification/approval of the relevant CNS avionics, infrastructure, route or procedures (e.g., airworthiness approval or publication in AIP) if they are necessary for operational implementation.

[1] https://ext.eurocontrol.int/WikiLink/images/8/89/Datalink_Deployment_Actions_-_Recs_for_Operators.pdf

[2] Datalink Support Group (DSG) is a group established by the Network Manager (NM), jointly with EASA and SDM, that actively pursues the resolution of technical issues in the European datalink system. The group promotes discussion between affected stakeholders (aircraft operators, ACSPs, ANSPs and manufacturers), analyses technical and operational issues, and proposes technical and/or operational solutions to the relevant stakeholders. DSG has identified a list of deployment projects for operators to upgrade their avionics with patches that resolved known and verified interoperability issues, including those linked with EASA SIBs. Find DSG on: https://ext.eurocontrol.int/WikiLink/index.php/Data_link_Support_Group