This Implementation Project will allow ENAV and MATS to enhance their respective Free Route airspaces by enlarging the scope outside their boundaries, closing the gap with 3.2.2 Family.

In particular, ENAV will extend its cross-border free route operations towards South East Enhanced Free Route Airspace (SECSI FRA) and Malta, covering Family 3.2.2 requirements ahead of the implementation of the new 4Flight ATM system, that will further boost the cross-border FRA implementation through additional automation. The Area Control Centres (ACCs) involved will be mainly those neighbouring SECSI FRA and Malta airspace (Padova, Brindisi and Roma), but some activities could affect also Milano due to the optimisation of flows. In addition, FRA vertical limit will be lowered from FL305 to FL195 to ensure TMA connectivity and cross-border FRA harmonisation among neighbouring States.

ENAV will ensure the full coordination and synchronisation with Italian Air Force (ITAF) about the airspace modifications and new flows.

For Malta, achieving Enhanced FRA will be the final milestone for the implementation of Free Route Airspace by meeting the legal obligations of the CP1 regulation. Since a free route network from Flight Level 195+ is already available in the Malta Flight Information Region (FIR), this project will feature a redesign of the Malta TMA with the implementation of new Radio Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Instrument Arrivals (STARs), that will meet the environmental obligations of providing continuous climb/continuous descent procedures.
These procedures will link directly with a free route network cross border with Italy. All Air Traffic Controllers will be trained on this new operational concept.

The expected results of the Implementation Project are:
- The airspace structure is re-designed.
- The Free Route Airspace vertical limit is lowered.
- The software of the Air Traffic Services system is upgraded.
- The Air traffic controllers are trained.

Based on simulations by Eurocontrol and the SESAR Deployment Manager, the following savings of a full Italy-Malta cross-border implementation are expected:
- 1,2 mln Nautical Miles flown per year (up to 4,173 Nautical Miles in a peak day)
- 167.000 minutes of flight per year (up to 600 minutes in a peak day)
- 10 mln of tons of jet fuel per year
- Above 31,5 mln of tons of CO2 per year

This project is interdependent with the following CEF awarded IPs:
- 2015_204_AF3_Phase I “4-Flight deployment in Italy 2016-2017” (ENAV)
- 2015_204_AF3_Phase II ““4-Flight deployment in Italy 2019-2020” (ENAV)
- 2016_110_AF3 “ENAV Automated ENV Data Interchange for FDP” (ENAV)
- 2016_115_AF3 “ENAV 4-Flight Deployment in Italy – Third stage 2017-2018” (ENAV)