What is the geographical scope of the PBN IR? In what airspace does the Regulation apply?
Answer
The PBN IR introduces the gradual implementation of PBN flight procedures to support safer, greener, and more efficient aircraft operations. The Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all European Union (EU) Member States. More concretely, it applies in the airspace described in points (a) and (b) of Article 1(2), i.e.:
- over the territory where the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) applies;
- in any other airspace where Member States are responsible for the provision of air traffic services (ATS) within the ICAO EUR and AFI regions.
Member States may also apply the PBN IR in other ICAO regions, on condition that they inform the Commission and the other Member States.
The PBN IR may already apply or become applicable in other States with which the EU has signed binding agreements that require compliance with EU legislation in the field of civil aviation or its transposition into national law, e.g., European Economic Area (EEA), European Free Trade Area (EFTA), and the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Agreements. In this regard, the PBN is already binding in all EASA Member States and will equally apply in the Western Balkans, i.e., Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo (without prejudice to positions on status, which is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244(1999) and the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence).
In addition, the PBN IR applies in several overseas territories (see the TFEU) and in a number of other overseas territories where special arrangements for association apply. To find out more about the status of applicability in a particular airspace, it is recommended to contact the Aviation Authorities of the State concerned.