FLIGHT INFORMATION REGIONS (FIRs) IN EUROPE

All airspace around the world is divided into Flight Information Regions (FIRs). Each FIR is managed by a controlling authority that has responsibility for ensuring that air traffic services are provided to the aircraft flying within it. FIRs vary in size.  Smaller countries may have one FIR in the airspace above them and larger countries may have several. Airspace over the ocean is typically divided into two or more FIRs and delegated to controlling authorities within countries that border it. In some cases, FIRs are split vertically into lower and upper sections. The lower section remains referred to as a FIR, but the upper portion is referred to as an Upper Information Region (or ‘UIR’). Airspace within a FIR (and UIR) is usually divided into pieces that vary in function, size and classification. Classifications determine the rules for flying within a piece of airspace and whether it is ‘controlled’ or ‘uncontrolled’.  Aircraft flying in controlled airspace must follow instructions from Air Traffic Controllers. Aircraft flying in uncontrolled airspace are not mandated to take air traffic control services but can call on them if and when required (e.g. flight information, alerting and distress services).

LIST OF FIRs IN EUROPE/ACC AREA CONTROL CENTERS

1. Albania: Tirana ACC
2. Austria: Wien ACC
3. Belarus: Minsk ACC
4. Belgium, Germany, Netherlands: Maastricht ACC
5. Belgium: Eurocontrol, Brussels ACC
6. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo ACC
7. Bulgaria: Sofia ACC, Varna ACC
8. Croatia : Zagreb ACC
9. Cyprus : Nicosia ACC
10. Czech Republic: Praha ACC
11. Denmark: Copenhagen ACC
12. Estonia: Tallinn ACC
13. Finland: Helsinki ACC
14. France: Bordeaux ACC, Reims ACC, Paris ACC, Marseille ACC, Brest ACC
15. Georgia: Tbilisi ACC
16. Germany: Langen ACC, Munich ACC, Rhein ACC, Hannover ACC, Bremen ACC
17. Greece : Athens ACC
18. Hungary : Budapest ACC
19. Iceland: Reykjavik ACC
20. Ireland: Shannon ACC
21. Italy : Brindisi ACC, Milano ACC, Roma ACC
22. Latvia: Riga ACC
23. Lithuania: Vilnius ACC
24. Malta: Malta ACC
25. Moldova: Chisinau ACC
26. Netherlands: Amsterdam ACC
27. North Macedonia: Skopje ACC
28. Norway: Bodo Oceanic OCA, Polaris ACC
29. Poland; Warszawa ACC
30. Portugal: Santa Maria Oceanic ACC
31. Romania: Bucuresti ACC
32. Russia: Tyoply Klyuch ACC, Nyurba ACC, Chersky ACC, Zyryanka ACC, Gigansk ACC, Yerevan/Zvartnots ACC, Magdagachi ACC, Mys Schmidta ACC, Pevek ACC, Nikolayevsk-na-Amure ACC, Tilichiki ACC, Ust-Khairyyozovo ACC, Okha ACC, Bodaybo ACC, Kirensk ACC, Simferopol ACC, Sankt Petersburg ACC, Velikiye Luki ACC, Kazan ACC, Kolpashevo ACC, Turukhansk ACC, Rostov-Na-Donu ACC; Mys Kamenny ACC, Beryozovo ACC, Khanty-Mansiysk ACC, Mosdcow ACC, Vorkuta ACC, Syktyvkar ACC
33. Serbia: Beograd ACC
34. Slovakia: Bratislava ACC
35. Slovenia; Ljubljana ACC
36. Spain: Canarias ACC, Barcelona ACC, Madrid ACC, Sevilla ACC
37. Sweden: Suecia ACC, Malmo ACC, Stockholm ACC
38. Switzerland: Geneve ACC, Switzerland ACC, Zurich ACC
39. Turkey: Ankara ACC, Istanbul ACC
40. Ukraine: Kyiv ACC, Donestsk ACC, Dnepropetrovsk ACC, Kharkiv ACC, Lviv ACC, Odesa ACC
41. United Kingdom: Shandwick Oceanic OCA, Scottish ACC, Scottish (Mil) ACC, London ACC