FAA, Europe Sign NextGen Research Agreement

March 3–The FAA and the European Union formally signed an agreement today to work together on research aimed at providing seamless air traffic service to aircraft flying between the United States and Europe.

The agreement, signed in Budapest, calls for both sides to research the interoperability of avionics, communication protocols and procedures, as well as operational methods under NextGen and its European counterpart, the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR). Carey Fagan, the FAA’s executive director for international affairs, signed for the U.S. Pal Volner, state secretary for transport for Hungary, and Siim Kallas, EU vice president and commissioner for transport and mobility, signed on behalf of the EU.

The agreement encourages industry participation on both sides of the Atlantic, ensuring the development, harmonization and use of the best technologies available. The collaborative arrangement will lay the foundation for expanding air traffic modernization around the world.