Recent technological innovation has enabled the development of new vehicles with new missions which will need to be integrated with traditional aviation operations. These new higher airspace operations will be conducted generally above flight level (FL) 550 and are expected to be deployed globally. For the European region, with the complexity of the multiple air traffic management (ATM) systems currently deployed in the Network Manager area, the development of solutions to accommodate new entrants will also need to take into account both national and regional State responsibilities.

This solution introduces a procedural package allowing air navigation service providers (ANSPs) to enable a progressive integration of supersonic, hypersonic and suborbital operations in the European ATM system, considering the characteristics of each type of operation. Building upon the ECHO concept of operations (CONOPS), the solution develops local-level procedures to facilitate the progressive integration of supersonic, hypersonic and suborbital operations, with the aim of minimising the effects on surrounding traditional traffic and the network’s performance. This will enable the growth of high-speed higher airspace operations (HAO) traffic volumes in Europe while ensuring safety.

The procedural package, validated in the operational environment of Grottaglie spaceport, takes into account the characteristics and performance of this novel class of aerospace vehicles, focusing on the integration in the controlled airspace. The solution also encompasses procedures for contingency and emergency management, considering potential trajectory deviation of supersonic and hypersonic aircraft, and catastrophic failure causing the explosion and falling debris of the suborbital vehicles.

Efficient airspace utilisation, along with effective contingency and emergency management, are key elements to enable a safe and efficient implementation of supersonic, hypersonic and suborbital operations in Europe. The solution will contribute to ensuring operational consistency and harmonisation at local and network level, in order to support integration of HAO in the European ATM system.

The integration of supersonic, hypersonic and suborbital operations into European ATM generates the need for new standards and regulations, as well as amendments in the existing standards and regulations in aviation where applicable. Various relevant existing standards and regulations may need to be amended in multiple areas to allow a safe and efficient integration of certain high-speed HAO in the European network (e.g. rules of the air, air navigation services (ANS) provision, environmental protection, and contingency management). Moreover, there may be a need for new harmonised standards and regulations to address new operational and safety aspects. The available national regulation (e.g. UK and Italy) on spaceports and suborbital operations may contribute to the future development of a harmonised European regulatory framework for the integration of suborbital operations.

BENEFITS
- Safe higher airspace operations integration 
- Support innovative and commercial concepts
- Efficient airspace utilisation
- Effective contingency and emergency management
- Reduced cost efficiency
- Optimised capacity
- Reduced fuel consumption and noise emissions