12 February 2025: With the deadline for FF-ICE (Release 1) implementation fast approaching on 31 December 2025, the latest SDM update meeting gave us a clearer picture of what’s happening, what’s needed, and what comes next.

As a reminder, FF-ICE/R1 is required under EU Regulation 2021/116 (Common Project One - CP1) and applies to EU27, Switzerland, Norway and Maastricht Upper Area Control (MUAC). Although the UK isn’t subject to the legislation, it plans to stay aligned with its goals.

Compliance is mandatory for Airspace Users (AUs), including military General Air Traffic (GAT), and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs).

Implementation progress is currently a mixed bag across the different stakeholders; more detail can be found in the presentation and summary from the meeting.

Testing and certification is underway with the Network Manager (NM) is testing FF-ICE/R1 with all the main computer flight plan service providers (CFSPs), several airlines, ground system suppliers and air navigation service providers.

Since the outset, ERA has been concerned about the testing requirements, particularly where it was thought that each airline would need to apply for B2B operational certificate.

However, during the meeting, it was confirmed by the NM that CFSPs can handle validation and certification on behalf of their customers, thankfully mitigating the need for each airline to do so. It should be noted that a formal agreement between the CFSP and the airline will be required. Those airlines that already possess an NM B2B certificate can go through the validation process themselves.

ERA member airlines are therefore strongly encouraged to finalise their implemention planning process with their CFSPs and feedback to the Network Manager accordingly.

As noted above, the presentation and summary from the meeting (locked for members only) can be found in the downloads section in the top right corner of this page.

For more info, please contact  ffice@eurocontrol.int [1] directly.