Sectorless ATM and advanced SESAR concepts: Complement not contradiction

With SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) there is a program well on the way to developing and implementing advanced ATM (Air Traffic Management) concepts. Beyond the scope of the SESAR programme in the LRM2020 project there are investigations on sectorless ATM taking place, which would mean not an evolution but a revolution of current ATM. This discussion paper argues that sectorless ATM can not only be integrated and exploited within the SESAR innovations framework but also continues SESAR´s shift towards a more aircraft-centered view. The paper elaborates on the possibilities of bringing together the two concepts and thus conjointly meeting the goals of SESAR and mastering the challenges of future ATM.