History

Europe’s current air traffic control systems have reached their capacity limits. Additionally, flight movements in Europe are expected to double by 2030 and an increased environmental awareness calls for more efficient operations and better technology.

The SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) was created under European Community law on 27 February 2007, with Eurocontrol and the European Community as founding members, in order to ensure the modernisation of the European air traffic management system by coordinating and concentrating all relevant research and development efforts in the Community.

More about SESAR on Wikipedia

Timeline

See animated timeline in multimedia gallery.

  • 5 October 2011

    ATM Master Plan Update officially kicked-off
  • 3 August 2011

    10 consortia join SESAR as new Associate Partners
  • 1 July 2011

    Macroeconomic Study shows positive impact of SESAR in EU Member States and beyond
  • 24 June 2011

    OPTIMI proposes cost effective short & medium terms solutions
  • 27 April 2011

    Airspace users' office established at SESAR JU
  • 15 April 2011

    Airspace users' office established at SESAR JU
  • 11 April 2011

    SESAR JU and State Aviation Administration of Ukraine sign Memorandum of Understanding
  • 8 March 2011

    The first SESAR Release 2011 is officially presented during the SESAR Forum at ATC Global 2011.
  • 7 March 2011

    SESAR Awards in three categories distributed for the first time
  • 3 March 2011

    EU/US Memorandum of Cooperation in aviation research signed
  • 28 January 2011

    OPTIMI presents recommendations for better aircraft tracking
  • 1 January 2011

    SJU launches ATC Global minisite
  • 10 December 2010

    European Defence Ministers discuss SES and SESAR
  • 10 November 2010

    EASA and SESAR seal cooperation agreements
  • 3 November 2010

    Belgian EU Presidency aviation summit: Declaration makes reference to SESAR deployment
  • 8 October 2010

    Memorandum of understanding with Mexico signed
  • 17 September 2010

    AIRE 2010/11: Successful start of new green aviation trials
  • 2 August 2010

    First call for WP-E research projects launched
  • 19 July 2010

    Associate partners join SESAR family
  • 13 July 2010

    40 AIRE partners are selected for green demonstrations in 2010/2011
  • 18 June 2010

    Europe/US agree to cooperate on SESAR and NextGen
  • 3 June 2010

    SESAR work programme celebrates first anniversay
  • 31 May 2010

    First 100 SESAR projects in execution
  • 18 May 2010

    Low fares airlines join SESAR
  • 8 April 2010

    AIRE: first complete (gate-to-gate) transatlantic flights
  • 9 March 2010

    SESAR JU at ATC Global with booth and conferences on the programme and AIRE
  • 4 January 2010

    1,000th engineer working on SESAR
  • 14 December 2009

    First four SESAR projects start research
  • 25 November 2009

    AIRE project MINT demonstrates savings of 165 kg fuel and 500kg CO2 emissions
  • 15 September 2009

    Major airlines, business & general aviation, associations on board of SESAR to modernise the European sky
  • 18 August 2009

    Set-up of SESAR Scientific Committee
  • 12 June 2009

    SESAR Joint Undertaking signs agreements with 16 partners totalling 1.9 billion euros for the creation of Europe’s future ATM system
  • 3 June 2009

    SESAR programme kick-off meeting in Brussels with all members and partners
  • 1 June 2009

    SESAR Joint Undertaking moves to its new premises in avenue de Cortenbergh 100
  • 30 March 2009

    Signature of administrative agreement between the SESAR Joint Undertaking and the Kingdom of Belgium / Endorsement of the European Air Traffic Management Master Plan by the Council
  • 17 December 2008

    Release of the Work Programme defining projects and activities to be undertaken from 2008 to 2014
  • 16 December 2008

    Adoption of the amended Council regulation recognising the SESAR Joint Undertaking as a community body
  • 8 December 2008

    Official inauguration of the Joint Undertaking
  • 1 December 2008

    Initiation of the last phase for accession to the SESAR Joint Undertaking
  • 17 November 2008

    First AIRE contracts signed
  • 9 September 2008

    First ICAO forum dedicated to SESAR and NextGen
  • 6 May 2008

    Public release of the SESAR Master Plan
  • 21 February 2008

    Start of the negotiations with 15 pre-selected members
  • 15 November 2007

    Temporary offices in Brussels, rue du Luxembourg 3
  • 12 October 2007

    Appointment of the Executive Director
  • 27 June 2007

    First call for expressions of interest to become a member of the SESAR Joint Undertaking
  • 15 June 2007

    First formal Administrative Board Meeting
  • 27 February 2007

    SESAR Joint Undertaking created under European Community law, founded by the European Community and Eurocontrol