An Analysis of Flight Routes and Considerations for Free Route Airspace Implementation in Fukuoka FIR

The Electronic Navigation Research Institute and Korea Aerospace University have proposed an initial Free Route Airspace (FRA) concept for the Fukuoka and Incheon Flight Information Regions (FIR) to improve air traffic flows and air traffic management in northeast Asia. We are now working to elaborate the concept, quantify benefits, and identify implementation issues. This paper examines two air traffic flows in Fukuoka FIR: (1) Japanese domestic flights between the highest traffic city pairs, and (2) overflight traffic between Korea and North America across radar-controlled airspace. From an analysis of operations based on flight plan and radar data for 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, FRA design and implementation issues are considered. Our analysis and findings are expected to contribute to the planning of FRA implementation in Northeast Asia.