Update on Military dimension of the plan
No precise measurements are currently available to analyze the impact of military activities on the environment Key Performance Area (KPA). However, it is expected that the impact of sanctions due to the Ukraine war on air traffic flows is much greater than military activities alone.
In 2023. LGS provided services for 2.756 military aircraft flights en route, amounting to a total of 189,870.22 EUR. Additionally, terminal services were provided for 1,317 military aircraft flights, amounting to 81,555.15 EUR. Furthermore, LGS handled other flights exempt from en route and terminal charges: 937 en route flights amounting to 14,899.29 EUR and 2,744 terminal flights amounting to 24,837.49 EUR. In total, these services amounted to 311,162.20 EUR in 2023.
Role of Airspace Design
The design of airspace plays a crucial role in managing the environmental impact of military operations. The segregation of airspace for military use, while necessary for national security, often results in longer flight paths for civilian aircraft, leading to increased fuel consumption and emissions. Efforts to redesign airspace to facilitate more direct routing, while accommodating military requirements, can mitigate some of these environmental impacts.
Procedures Used in Airspace Reservation
Procedures for reserving airspace for military activities are designed to balance the needs of both military and civilian air traffic. Effective coordination and flexible use of airspace can minimize disruptions and reduce the environmental impact. For instance, the implementation of temporary segregated areas (TSAs) and flexible use of airspace (FUA) allows for the dynamic allocation of airspace based on real-time needs, thereby optimizing airspace usage and minimizing unnecessary deviations.
Interoperability of Systems
Interoperability between military and civilian air traffic management systems is essential for efficient airspace management. Improved interoperability facilitates seamless coordination, reducing delays and optimizing flight paths. This, in turn, leads to lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions. The integration of advanced technologies and systems enhances the ability to manage mixed traffic effectively, contributing to better environmental performance.
Information Management
Accurate and timely information management is vital for minimizing the environmental impact of military activities. Real-time data sharing between military and civilian air traffic controllers ensures that airspace reservations are managed efficiently, reducing the need for holding patterns and reroutes that increase fuel burn. Enhanced information management supports better planning and execution of flights, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability.
Specific Local Circumstances and Economic Impact
The specific local circumstances in Latvia, including its geographical location and the presence of military training areas, significantly influence the impact of military activities on the environment. The proximity to conflict zones and the increased military presence due to geopolitical tensions necessitate more frequent and extensive military operations. This, combined with the need to accommodate rerouted civilian flights avoiding conflict zones, exacerbates the environmental impact.
The economic landscape in 2023 was marked by reduced air traffic due to the geopolitical situation and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduction in traffic, combined with the high costs of inflation, created very unstable and unpredictable conditions for LGS. The lower income from decreased civilian air traffic and the increased costs due to inflation made financial planning extremely challenging. The provision of services to military flights, while necessary, did not fully compensate for the lost revenue from commercial flights, highlighting the financial strain on LGS.
Conclusion
While precise measurements of the environmental impact of military activities are not available, the combination of strategic airspace design, flexible airspace reservation procedures, improved system interoperability, and effective information management can significantly mitigate this impact. LGS’s role in balancing military and civilian airspace needs, particularly in the context of heightened geopolitical tensions, underscores the importance of these measures in promoting environmental sustainability. However, the reduced air traffic and the disastrous financial consequences of lower income and higher costs due to inflation create highly unstable and unpredictable conditions, rendering any planning and comparing to plans totally useless.
Military - related measures implemented or planned to improve capacity
No impact on the capacity has been observed. In order to avoid in the future any issues, assistance from Eurocontrol has been requested to optimize mil airspace design and airspace use procedures.
Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#6
Harmonization of civil military airspace use procedures within 3 Baltic states is going. For the development of new military FUA aeras, assessment of Eurocontrol has been requested in order to optimize the design and FUA airspace use procedures, to minimise air traffic rerouting from Riga FIR altogether and to avoid disruption of the Riga airport operations.
Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#7
FRA has been implemented in 2015.
Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#8
FRA has been implemented in 2015.