In a meeting with Vittorio Morassi, chairman of the European Helicopter Association (EHA), representing helicopter operators and Sir Christopher Coville, Chairman of the Rotorcraft sectoral group at ASD (AeroSpace and Defence industries association of Europe ), Patrick Ky underlined the importance of helicopter operations in global mobility: “SESAR will enable new technologies in precision navigation that, combined with new and optimised air traffic management procedures (such as SNI – Simultaneous Non-interfering Operations), will dramatically improve the efficiency, safety and reliability of rotorcraft operations.”

Vittorio Morassi was equally enthusiastic and stressed the importance of a fully integrated approach between all stakeholders: “The Operators’ participation as members of the Airspace Users community in SESAR is vital to ensure that the Rotorcraft sector gains full access to future Single European Sky”.

To better explain to a wider audience the benefits enabled by new technologies and procedures, SESAR JU, EHA and ASD will organise a high level conference in the coming months to showcase e.g. in transportation between main hubs and city centres, low level IFR, access to busy airports, medical services, … hence demonstrating the full potential of modern helicopters.

"Combining the advances in Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) technologies and the new Air Traffic Management concepts, thanks to SESAR rotorcraft can become a substantial enabler of total mobility", Sir Christopher Coville concluded.