Geneva, March 28, 2006. The entry into operation of the Upper Area Control Center Switzerland (UAC-CH), the new centre which will monitor and manage all the upper airspace under skyguide's control, has been postponed indefinitely, because the new system has not yet received the requisite approval from the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA). Skyguide deeply regrets this development. A new date for the commencement of operations at the UAC-CH, which is located in Geneva, has not yet been fixed. The project's further planning and timetable will now be determined in the next few weeks, in consultation with the FOCA.

The last of eight phases leading to the commencement of UAC-CH operations was scheduled to be completed in March. Some 44 air traffic controllers have been relocated from Zurich to Geneva to staff the new centre. These employees will now continue to work in Zurich until further notice. Transport and accommodation will be provided by skyguide for the controllers concerned.

The impact which the decision will have on air traffic management capacity is currently unclear and will now be evaluated. Needless to say, the safety of flight operations remains assured.

UAC-CH - a project for Europe Switzerland's airspace above Flight Level 245 (7 500 metres above sea level) is currently divided into two areas, an eastern one controlled from Zurich and a western one controlled from Geneva. These should now be combined into a single upper area, which will be monitored and managed by a new Upper Area Control Center Switzerland (UAC-CH) located in Geneva. By amalgamating the two areas, skyguide expects to enhance the safety and the efficiency of its air traffic management operations. The creation of a single upper airspace area also concurs with the aims and endeavours of the European Commission to create a "Single European Sky" that will harmonise international air traffic management operations.

skyguide swiss air navigation services ltd media relations

contact (for media only): phone: +41 22 417 40 08 e-mail: [email protected] internet: www.skyguide.ch

The media release in three languages can be downloaded from the following link: