International Air Traffic Flow Harmonization

Air traffic within Asia and between Asia and North America is forecast to increase long term alongside economic growth, which will require improved air traffic management (ATM) system efficiency. Much of the traffic between Asia and North America traverses the Fukuoka Flight Information Region (FIR) and its adjacent FIRs and despite ATM improvements by each country, the achievable gains by improving each FIR alone remain limited.

The International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Asia-Pacific Region has therefore published a Seamless ANS Plan targeting harmonized air transport operations in the region. To help achieve this goal, we are investigating the concept of a Free Route Airspace (FRA) and Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) implementation that aims to streamline air traffic flows between Fukuoka FIR and its neighbors as far as possible. We are creating a model of FRA operations and will evaluate its benefits to aircraft operators as well as its potential impact on air traffic control operations. We are also investigating the information exchanges and mechanisms required for cross-boundary management of flights and traffic flows between Fukuoka FIR and its neighbors.

Current Traffic Flow

Aircraft fly on fixed airways and must cross FIR boundareies at fixed points, which concentrates traffic and causes congestion.

Future Seamless Traffinc Flow

In Free Route Airespace, aircraft no longer have to fly on fixed airways.With a seamless airspace environment between countries, there is no longer a need to cross FIR boundaries at fixed points.