The Regional Government welcomed the fact that the Flight Information Region of Santa Maria (FIR) was left out of the Single European Sky (SES). Operated by NAV (Portuguese Air Navigation Services), this body has jurisdiction over the archipelago of the Azores and part of the North Atlantic.

The decision to safeguard the autonomy of Santa Maria FIR evidences, once again, the important role played by the Oceanic Air Control Centre based on this island. This body will not be subject to EU standards.

By ensuring that the Santa Maria FIR will continue to control the airspace, the Oceanic Air Control Centre will be able to safeguard its future, which represents an important achievement not only to Santa Maria, but also to the Azores and Mainland Portugal.

Recently published in the Official Gazette, this decision confirms, once more, the geostrategic importance of the Azores and acknowledges the important work that has been developed on the island of Santa Maria.