This unit is in charge for Europe assuming executive responsibilities of ATFM which consists of strategic, pretactical and tactical flow measures.
The CFMU is responsible for:
In order to do this the CFMU applies procedures which:
Flights which do not adhere to their slots shall be denied start up clearance by the ground contoller. However, ATC shall make all efforts to enable departing flights to comply with the slot and flights shall not be prevented from departing due to small taxiing delays.
AOs shall inform themselves of and adhere to:
Specifically they shall adhere to departure slots issued by the ATFM Service.
The general ATFM procedures for the ICAO European Region are published in ICAO Doc 7030/4,the Regional Supplementary Procedures, Europe and in ICAO Doc 003, the ATFM Handbook.
Detailed CFMU Procedures can be found in the CFMU Handbook. It is obtainable from the
EUROCONTROL Library
Rue de la Fusée 96. Bruxelles.
Tel:+32 2 729 3639
Fax:+32 2 729 9109.
ATFM measures are issued and forwarded by the CFMU via ATFM Notification Messages (ANMs). Information relating to them are notified via ATFM Information Messages (AIMs).
These messages are issued generally late afternoon before the day of operation.
These messages are received at the Aircraft Operators’ offices which have direct contact with the CFMU either via SITA or a CFMU Terminal.
For those AOs who do not contact directly with the CFMU, information on current ATFM measures (ANMs and AIMs) are normally available at the FMP Budapest. These information are also available at the ATS Reporting Office (ARO).
This slot is available in the form of Calculated Take-Off Time (CTOT) 2 hours prior to EOBT. The slot is defined by a period of 15 minutes (-5/+10 minutes around CTOT).
Note: Wrongful use of abbreviations for special handling requirement in the flight plan, which result in most cases an exemption from flow regulation is regarded as a serious breach of procedures and will be dealt accordingly.
From the CFMU:
SAM | Slot Allocation Message |
SRM | Slot Revision Message |
SLC | Slot Requirement Cancellation Message |
SIP | Slot Improvement Proposal |
FLS | Flight Suspension Message |
ERR | Error Message |
RRP | Rerouteing Proposal Message |
From the users:
SRR | Slot Revision Request |
SMM | Slot Missed Message |
SPA | Slot Proposal Acceptance Message |
SRJ | Slot Proposal Rejection |
FCM | Flight Confirmation Message |
REA | Ready Message |
RFI | Ready for (direct) Improvement Message |
RJT | Rerouteing Rejection Message |
SWM | SIP Wanted Message |
Details concerning use and format of the above messages are published in the CFMU Handbook.
Aircraft Operators, who want to establish a direct dialogue with the CFMU must fix an AFTN and/or SITA address with the CFMU or may require the installation of a CFMU terminal. In this way, all ATFM messages will be sent to the respective AO, who is then responsible for the whole message dialogue with the CFMU in the context of ATFM.
Those AOs, who cannot communicate directly with the CFMU, can file and receive all ATFM messages with the help of the ARO staff or the FMP located in ACC Budapest.
The following procedures shall be observed:
If the delay is caused by ATFM measures, this must be pointed out to the ARO so that the delay message (DLA) can be transmitted correctly.
After having received a SAM, whenever an aircraft indicates that its flight is in a ready situation, may ask the TWR to send a Ready Message (RDY) to the CFMU. Any potential improvement which could be given to this flight will be made by the CFMU through the transmission of a Slot Revision Message (SRM). The TWR will pass the SRM to the pilot as soon as it has been received from the CFMU. The CFMU will stop the process if the indicated MINLINEUP time is not long enough for the flight to be amended.
Note: This revision will not be given a higher priority than for another flight normally eligible for an improvement through the normal procedure SIP.
Hours of Operation: H24
Tel:361) 296-9183
Fax:(361) 296-9152
Hours of Operation: H24
Tel:(361) 291-1085
Fax:(361) 296-6925