1.1  This Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) provides advance notification to aircraft operators (AOs) concerning the introduction of Hungarian Free Route Airspace (HUFRA) in the Area of Responsibility of Budapest ACC (here and after: AoR of Budapest ACC).

2.1  In line with the European Route Network Improvement Plan (ERNIP) and in accordance with the FAB CENTRAL EUROPE (FAB CE) airspace design improvement objectives, HungaroControl (the Hungarian ANSP) has committed to make available free route operations. This is expected to bring significant benefits to AOs, including increased flight efficiency, improved trajectory predictability and reduced environmental impact.

2.2  Start of Free route operations is planned for 05. February 2015.

2.3  The HUFRA will be available for AOs H24/7.

3.1  The AoR of Budapest ACC represents the airspace encompassed by the lateral limits of Budapest FIR including some areas where the ATS service provision has been delegated to Budapest ACC, but excluding those areas where the ATS provision has been delegated to adjacent ATS units.

The vertical extension of HUFRA is from 9500 feet to FL660.

3.2  Within HUFRA airspace AOs will be able to plan user-preferred trajectories using the five letter Name Code of waypoints, and/or the Radio Navigation Aids. Segments between waypoints will be indicated by means of “DCT” instruction.

Overflight traffic is also allowed to plan directly from HUFRA entry point to HUFRA exit point.

Flight planning within HUFRA should accomplish with adjacent ATS Route Network orientation.

AOs will be requested to flight plan not closer than 3 NM clear of the Hungarian boundary. Re-entering flight plans will not be accepted.

In case of arriving traffic to an airport where standard instrument arrival procedures (STARs) have been developed AOs should plan directly from HUFRA entry point to the STAR initial waypoint.

In case of departing traffic from an airport where standard instrument departures procedures (SIDs) have been developed AOs should plan directly from SID final point to HUFRA exit point. AOs will be allowed also to plan their trajectories inside HUFRA disregarding all Temporary Reserved Areas (TRAs). When crossing of the TRAs will not be available, it is expected that the average flight extension to be considered by AOs will be approximately 5 NM, in exceptional occasions 10 NM. In these cases radar vectors shall be provided by ATC.

Restriction on the maximum DCT distance inserted in the flight plan will not be enforced.

All aircraft operating in HUFRA must comply with the aircraft equipment requirements as published in AIP of Hungary, subsection GEN 1.5.

4.1  For further information concerning this AIC and the introduction of HUFRA please contact HungaroControl.