Europe seeks “Single European Sky” program sooner than expected after ash cloud shut down airports . After most of European skies were shut down for a week after the Iceland volcano erupted and created a massive ash cloud over the skies, Europe has decided that the "Single European Sky" is desperately needed. The project is scheduled for 2012, but EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said that this crisis has shown that "we cannot afford to wait that long."
"The absence of a single European regulator for air traffic control made it very difficult to respond to this crisis. We needed a fast, coordinated European response .... instead we had a fragmented patchwork of 27 national airspaces," Kallas said.
The European Union has 27 national air traffic control networks and 60 air traffic centers, according to the Associated Press. The United States has two times as many flights and uses about 20 control centers. Many flights burn extra fuel in zigzag routes.
"Without a central regulator, Europe was operating with one hand tied behind its back," he said.
The "Single European Sky" project would straighten out air routes in Europe and reduce the amount of fuel used.
Airline and airport employees disagree with the new project fearing job cuts and have already gone on strike over it.
About 10 days ago the Iceland volcanic eruption created a massive ash cloud that has hung over Europe for the past six days. The volcano occurred below the glacial ice in Iceland and the cold water chilled the lava very quickly and created small pieces of glass that were carried up into the ash cloud. It is dangerous for airplanes to fly in these conditions, so tens of thousands of flights in and out of Europe were cancelled over the last week. Friday, the skies above Europe were almost clear of any ash cloud and most airports were open.
To see incredible photos of the massive Iceland ash cloud, click here.
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Source: The Associated Press
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