Funkcjonalne bloki przestrzeni powietrznej jako instrument polityki regionalizacji zarządzania ruchem lotniczym w Europie

The aim of the article is to explain the nature of Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs), to present the process of their creation in Europe and to provide a brief presentation of ATM various military aspects. The establishment of (FABs) is one of the main means of Single European Sky (SES) regulations to improve European air traffic management (ATM) performance. In this paper the author evaluates the FAB concept proposed in the SES I and SES II legislative packages. The SES I regulation stated that airspace should be reconfigured on the operational basis regardless of existing boundaries. However, the integration of service provision within FABs has not delivered the expected results so far. The modified SES II legislation reinforces the FAB concept, the objective of which is to optimize and integrate the provision of air navigation services (ANS) and related ancillary functions. The article discusses also the FAB initiatives which were declared by EU Member States to the European Commission in 2008. All FABs should be in line with the SES legislative requirements and SESAR programme to achieve operational improvements for European airspace use. Nevertheless, in their progress there are significant differences in scope of activity, timescale and arrangements for implementation. Finally, the author analyses military users’ requirements towards the air traffic management functions at FAB level.