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  1. Environment
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  • Environment
    • PRB monitoring
    • En route performance
      • Horizontal flight efficiency
    • Terminal performance
      • AXOT & ASMA
      • CDO
    • CIV-MIL

  • Capacity
    • PRB monitoring
    • En route performance
      • En route ATFM delay
      • Other indicators
    • Terminal performance
      • Arrival ATFM delay
      • Other performance indicators

  • Cost-efficiency
    • PRB monitoring
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Environment - Switzerland

Download Report

PRB monitoring

▪ Switzerland achieved a KEA performance of 4.43% compared to its target of 3.95% and did not contribute positively towards achieving the Union-wide target.

▪ The NSA states that most inefficiencies are due to the network being impacted by ATC strikes or flight planning.

▪ Both SCR and KEP improved in 2023 compared to 2022. Despite the KEA target being missed, the improvement in SCR shows that Switzerland has improved the environmental efficiency of its airspace when accounting for impacts outside of its control.

▪ The share of CDO flights increased marginally from 17.42% to 17.86% in 2023.

▪ During 2023, additional time in terminal airspace increased from 1.64 to 1.92 min/flight, while additional taxi out time increased from 2.22 to 2.72 min/flight.

En route performance

Horizontal flight efficiency of the actual trajectory (KEA) (KPI#1), of the last filed flight plan (KEP) (PI#1) & shortest constrained route (SCR) (PI#2)

Terminal performance

Additional taxi-out time (AXOT) (PI#3) & Arrival Sequencing and Metering Area (ASMA) time (PI#4)

Focus on ASMA & AXOT

AXOT

Additional taxi-out times at both Swiss airports increased in 2023. In particular Zurich (LSZH; 2019: 3,65 min/dep.; 2020: 2,23 min/dep.; 2021: 1,93 min/dep.; 2022: 2,49 min/dep.; 2023: 2,94 min/dep.) exceeded the SES average of 2.81 min/dep.
According to the Swiss monitoring report: Ground efficiency suffered from traffic increased during summer 2023. Further improvements will stem from CP1 Airport Operation Plan deployment. It should be noted that taxi-out time depends on weather conditions, especially when de-icing is required.

ASMA

Additional times in the terminal area increased mainly at Zurich (LSZH; 2019: 2.91 min/arr.; 2020: 1.28 min/arr.; 2021: 1.29 min/arr.; 2022: 1.84 min/arr.; 2023: 2.27 min/arr.) resulted in the highest additional time among the SES monitored airports in 2023, even if its performance was still better than in 2019.
According to the Swiss monitoring report: Efficiency within the last 40NM (additional time in descent flight phase) around LSZH and LSGG decreased in 2023 due to traffic increase. XMAN and Leading Optimised Runway Delivery (LORD) projects should help improving performance.

Share of arrivals applying continuous descent operations (CDOs) (PI#5)

Focus CDOs

The share of CDO flights have increased by 1.1 percentage points for Zurich and decreased 0.3 percentage points for Geneva. Both airports have shares of CDO flights which are below the overall RP3 value in 2023 (28.8%).
For Zurich, the share of CDO flight is lower from March to October.
According to the Swiss monitoring report: Vertical flight efficiency from Top of Descent remained stable in 2023 despite traffic increase. CDOs can be flown only when traffic is reduced.
Skyguide was audited in 2023 and 2024 by CANSO for CCO/CDO practices in ZRH and GVA as part of its GreenATM accreditation. Room for improvement is identified and corrective actions will be taken.

Airport level
Airport Name
Additional taxi-out time (PI#3)
Additional ASMA time (PI#4)
Share of arrivals applying CDO (PI#5)
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Geneva 2.06 1.71 1.88 2.40 NA 1.27 0.95 1.37 1.43 NA NA 19% 17% 17% NA
Zurich 2.23 1.93 2.49 2.94 NA 1.28 1.29 1.84 2.27 NA NA 20% 18% 19% NA

Civil-Military dimension

Focus on Civil-Military dimension

Update on Military dimension of the plan

For obvious flight safety reasons, military activities must be segregated from civil flows which has an impact on both horizontal (HFE) and vertical flight efficiency (VFE).
Because ASM manageable areas form an integral part of the nominal system, military airspace reservations shall be considered as part of the performance baseline rather than a key factor degrading environmental KPIs.
As a result of implementation of the FUA concept the impact of military activities using Restricted Airspace (RSA) on civil performance is highly minored when associated with an efficient ASM process:
- At strategic level (HLAPB) by designing areas in accordance with A-FUA concept (MVPA/VGA structures), especially for congested airspaces.
- At pre-tactical level (AMC), by managing these areas in a dynamic way, with an associated level 2 CDM process, validated by HLAPB.
- At tactical level (ACC/Regional Military Control Centre) by activating/deactivating areas as close as possible to actual use and allowing crossing or direct routes when possible (in accordance with TRA status), with an associated level 3 CDM process validated by HLAPB.
- At each level, HLAPB, AMC or ACC/Regional Military Control Centre, a key factor of efficiency is a trust-driven civil-military cooperation. As a counterpart, AOs and CFSPs must be reactive and take efficiently into account available or released airspaces. At last, ANSP have also to adapt the route network to create more DCTs within military areas.
Finally, local circumstances (e.g. constrained airspace, proximity of international hubs, etc…) as well as a large number of military missions that differ from one State to another must be taken into account. Therefore, airspace needs (e.g. airspace requirements for the 5th generation fighters) and related ASM procedures of the States differ and standardized objectives cannot be defined.

Military - related measures implemented or planned to improve capacity

FABEC States are working on mid-term improvements regarding implementation of ASM level 1. 2. and 3 procedures. Some local initiatives regarding ASM/ATFCM convergence, like the traffic Light Scheme concept in France are promoted at FABEC level, as well as at ECAC level in the EUROCONTROL OEP framework.
Another major improvement is the interconnection of the existing ASM tools (e.g. LARA, STANLY_ACOS) at FABEC Level, to enhance regional coordination among FABEC AMCs as well as with the NM.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#6

Remark
The Rolling UUP and Procedure 3 were introduced in Switzerland on 01.01.2016.
Monitoring of effectiveness
Since introduction of Rolling UUP and Procedure 3 in 2016. the PI#6 ratio improved and remained high and stable over years implying more reliable flight planning possibilities by AUs across Swiss airspace.
Ongoing national civil-military initiatives
Additional improvements are foreseen at the mid/long term such as introduction of VPA, improved CDM-ATFCM, improved civ-mil ASM Tools, etc. that shall give even more direct routing options to the Airspace Users. In addition, CH NSA is in the process of defining specific national PIs and/or ““Use cases”” in order to better assess (and improve, if necessary) the effectiveness of national FUA processes.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#7

Remark
In the figures provided by Eurocontrol (PRISMIL) until 2021 (included), there was no way of knowing whether the flights that filed through the available RSA are indeed a subset of the flights that could have filed through the available RSA. This correction is now available and has been computed retroactively for all years.
Ongoing national civil-military initiatives
Promoting a more proactive flight planning process (considering the last published airspace status) by the Airspace Users. Additional improvements are foreseen at the mid/long term such as introduction of VPA, improved CDM-ATFCM, improved civ-mil ASM Tools, etc. that shall give even more direct routing options to the Airspace Users.
Monitoring of effectiveness
Military mission planning remained stable at a high level over years implying more reliable flight planning by AUs across Swiss airspace. CH NSA is in the process of defining specific national PIs and/or ““Use cases”” in order to better assess (and improve, if necessary) the effectiveness of national FUA processes.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#8

Remark
In the figures provided by Eurocontrol (PRISMIL) until 2021 (included), there was no way of knowing whether the flights that flew through the available RSA are indeed a subset of the flights that could have filed through the available RSA. This correction is now available and has been computed retroactively for all years.
Ongoing national civil-military initiatives
Promoting a more proactive flight planning process (considering the last published airspace status) by the Airspace Users. Additional improvements are foreseen at the mid/long term such as introduction of VPA, improved CDM-ATFCM, improved civ-mil ASM Tools, etc. that shall give even more direct routing options to the Airspace Users.
Monitoring of effectiveness
Military mission planning remained stable at a high level over years implying more reliable flight planning by AUs across Swiss airspace. CH NSA is in the process of defining specific national PIs and/or ““Use cases”” in order to better assess (and improve, if necessary) the effectiveness of national FUA processes.

 
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