Introduction to DSNA FRA (Free Route Airspace) and Scottish FRA
On the 2nd of December 2021, the French sectors of LFRR, LFFF and LFBB, and the northern UK Sector EGPX implemented the Free Route Airspace (FRA).
FRA is part of the European Route Network Improvement Protocol (ERNIP) strategy that is aiming for a Single European Sky, which will improve ATM capacity, Flight efficiency and environmental performance. It will make it possible for Europe to meet the demands for future airspace users over the next 50 years. It is a volume of airspace within which users can plan a route, free of the ATS Route Structure, between Entry and Exit waypoints, and via intermediate waypoints if necessary. Flights remain under the Air Traffic Control.
What makes Scottish D1 and DSNA FRA important?
The ATS network within the volume of airspace has been deleted, and replaced by direct routings, 24 hours a day. Additionally, for DSNA FRA, the authority, has created an extensive list of Route Availability Document (RAD) entries.
A view of European FRA at the end of 2021.
RocketRoute's route generating engines, which dynamically generate fresh routes with every request, needed to be updated and tested to be prepared for these RAD entries. This is what our Route Generator team have been hard at work on for the past 2 months. The Route Generator team have been in close collaboration with the ANSPs, Eurocontrol and have taken part in numerous collaboration calls and events.
These new route possibilities now feed directly and seamlessly our routing engines, meaning RocketRoute Autorouter is fully capable of finding valid and efficient routes through DSNA FRA and Scottish FRA. This includes entering the FRA from an airfield below, laterally or arriving at an airfield below the FRA. RocketRoute’s Autorouter will generate a route in seconds, that can be validated and filed for immediate use.
How it works
Prepare a route in your account as usual. If it overflies the DSNA airspace or Scottish D1 airspace, RocketRoute will offer a DCT over the free route airspaces.
The example below shows a route from LSZH to LFBL before the introduction of DSNA FRA and a route from LSGG to LFBO after the introduction.
A route from LSZH to LFBL before the introduction of DSNA FRA.
A route from LSGG to LFBO after the introduction of DSNA FRA, with RocketRoute utilizing new direct routing options.
Further Support and Information
Should you need any assistance while routing through these airspaces, our Support Team is always available 24/7.
Resources/References (Scottish FRA):
Eurocontrol: Free Route Airspace
OPS Group: UK Free Route Airspace
NATS Aero: The biggest airspace change ever implemented in the UK
DGAC DSNA Portal: FRA view for DSNA