What is FF-ICE?
FF-ICE (Flight and Flow Information for a Collaborative Environment) is a key component of the EU CP1 Mandate. Under this mandate, EU member states — including Norway and Switzerland — are required to adopt the eFPL service by January 1, 2026. NABLUE is now ready to send eFPLs to meet this deadline but only for the R1 Filing Service.
There is a wealth of information available from ICAO, SESAR, and Eurocontrol. If you are new to the concept, please watch this brief video for further information and see the available links below for additional resources.
FF-ICE Releases
- FF-ICE/Release 1 (R1) introduces six pre-departure services supported by harmonized procedures and standardized messaging. These services allow stakeholders to plan, file, update, or cancel Flight Plans, provide data on certain flight events, and request or receive Flight Plan data.
i. Filing Service, allowing the submission, update and cancellation of FF-ICE flight plans (eFPLs) that include 4D trajectory information, flight specific performance data, and other FF-ICE data elements, such as the GUFI;
ii. Trial Service, that enables airspace users to determine the acceptability/validity of their flight plan and the ATM feedback without actually filing the plan;
iii. Flight Data Request Service, which can be used to obtain information about a flight such as the complete flight plan, supplementary flight plan data or the filing status for a flight plan already submitted;
iv. Notification Service, allowing users to pass departure and arrival information;
v.Data Publication Service, providing flight data to subscribed users such as flight plans, flight plan updates, flight plan cancellations and so on.
- FF-ICE/Release 1 (R2) will focus on post-departure negotiation between airspace users and Air Traffic Management (ATM) service providers, the mandate for R2 has not been released yet.
Who is Affected by the FF-ICE Mandate?
All operators planning a flight departing from, overflying, and arriving to the EUROCONTROL/IFPS Zone (IFPZ) (NM) Network Manager Airspace are affected.
What is Required to Comply?
In order to file an FF-ICE (FIXM formatted) eFPL to Eurocontrol, a NM B2B connection with Eurocontrol is required as a FF-ICE compliant / FIXM formatted Flight Plan can only be submitted through the NM B2B Network.
The filing of an FF-ICE Flight Plan is not possible through AFTN or SITA.
In order to have a B2B connection, an NM B2B Ops Certificate must be obtained either by the Computerized Flight Plan Service Provider (CFSP - NAVBLUE), or aircraft operator (AO - NAVBLUE Customer), or both depending on the requirements.
What is B2B?
The NM B2B Services is an interface provided by the EUROCONTROL Network Manager (NM) for system-to-system access to its services and data, allowing users to retrieve and use the information in their own systems.
These services are central to the NM Interoperability Strategy, aligning with Single European Sky Aviation Research (SESAR) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) System-Wide Information Management (SWIM) principles to achieve global real-time information exchange and to implement collaborative air traffic flow and capacity management (ATFCM).
N-FP is configured to submit both Flight Plans (FPLs) and FF-ICE (eFPLs) through the B2B network connection, and to receive status updates (service messages from NM) on submitted Flight Plans.
Is NAVBLUE an NM B2B Ops Certificate holder?
Yes, NAVBLUE holds a B2B Ops Certificate. However, to avoid filing quota limits due to overuse or 'rating' thresholds by NM, customers are advised to apply for their own B2B Ops Certificate.
NAVBLUE is actively coordinating with NM to secure FF-ICE approval for the NAVBLUE B2B Ops Certificate. This will require Pre-Operational validation testing with NM as well. Please refer to the updates below for the current status of this testing.
As mentioned above, the FF-ICE Mandate is for January 1, 2026.
CFSPS, and Operators however are able to file eFPLs immediately, provided the necessary certification has been approved by NM, there is no need to wait until January 1, 2026.
What Services Are Supported for FF-ICE by N-FP?
FF-ICE supports the same Flight Plan types (Filing Services Only) as the legacy B2B service (FPL, CNL, CHG, DLA, DEP), but consolidates them into three actions:
- Filing
- Updating
- Canceling.
Flight Plan validation (e.g., "IFPS Validate" in the N-FP Reports screen) will also be processed through FF-ICE services.
Note: Currently, NAVBLUE supports Filing Services only, which is one of the six services NM is introducing with FF-ICE.
Mixed Mode Operation
NM has confirmed that mixed mode operation will continue until the implementation of FF-ICE Flight Planning. Also, its adoption within the IFPZ involves an extensive transition period, during which mixed modes of operation have to be supported.
This transition period is foreseen to last until all NM stakeholders including airspace users and ANSPs have migrated to FF-ICE.
What this means, is for specific countries and/or Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) within the NM network who are not ready to adopt FF-ICE, will have a converted ICAO 2012 (aFPL) forwarded to them by NM via the AFTN/SITA.
Filed Message & Response
When an eFPL (FF-ICE FIXM formatted flight plan) is submitted to NM (Eurocontrol) the filed message, and response will appear as the following, visible on the INFO screen of N-FP.
Development & Minimum N-FP System Requirement
Development was formally announced at the User Forum in Bangkok in 2024, and completed for the 24.5 release, followed by critical upgrades in the 25.1 release.
N-FP customers must update their production servers to release 25.1 to comply with the January 1st, 2026 mandate for the capability to file an FF-ICE/FIXM formatted (eFPL) Flight Plan to Eurocontrol.
Changes to the Text Flight Plan or EFF
No changes at this time.
Webinar
Since the webinar on August 28th, 2025, NAVBLUE has met with the B2B team and other stakeholders at Eurocontrol (Network Manager, NM) to clarify some requirements.
While not mandatory for aircraft operators, such as N-FP Customers (AOs) to have their own NM B2B Ops certificate, NM encourages all AOs, especially those with heavy filing requirements in Europe to apply for their own B2B Ops certificate.
Starting January 1, 2026, for all flights departing from, arriving in, or overflying the European Integrated Flight Planning Zone (IFPZ), operators must file an FF-ICE compliant / FIXM formatted Flight Plan with the Network Manager (NM, Eurocontrol) to meet the mandated requirements..
Note: This can only be done through a B2B network connection.
A Declaration Of Use form must be submitted to NM by NAVBLUE to inform them of which customers (AOs) are using the NAVBLUE B2B Ops certificate for FF-ICE filing. This will be done on a secure site with NM by Navblue.
Correction
In regards to the webinar from August 28th, 2025, a correction needs to be added. The discussion surrounding the requirement for existing B2B Ops certificate holders to request an FF-ICE upgrade on their existing NM B2B Ops certificate was not explicitly implied.
Regardless of whether you are an existing NM B2B Operations certificate holder or a first-time applicant, the request for FF-ICE approval must be made with Network Manager (NM).
Please see the instructions below. In addition, an additional page has been added to the attached webinar document.
The process is similar for those applying for their Ops certificate for the first time. However in the process, NM can be notified you are applying for validation on your existing Ops certificate.
For Existing, and New B2B Ops Certificate Holders
1. For AOs (NAVBLUE N-FLIGHT PLANNING CUSTOMERS) with previously existing NM B2B Ops certificates, you must apply for an FF-ICE approval on your certificate and for those requesting an NM B2B Ops certificate for the first time, please follow the steps below, the process is the same for both new and existing requests.
2. Please refer to the following link, NM REQUESTS. The webpage appears similar to the image shown below.
3. Follow all steps as outlined on the webpage. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact NAVBLUE Support (support@navblue.aero) or Jason (jason.stilwell@navblue.aero).
4. The Business Use Case (BUC) form for most new customers typically pertains to FF-ICE services only, as previously communicated to Network Manager (NM). However, if your company uses additional B2B services that are not FF-ICE related, please indicate this when submitting your application. For assistance or more information regarding these additional services, please contact NAVBLUE Support.
5. When returning the BUC, and/or the NM / Aircraft Operator Agreement, please indicate that you are using NAVBLUE as your CFSP, and will be delegating your certificate to NAVBLUE for FF-ICE filing purposes.
6. Final FF-ICE certification is completed when the NAVBLUE Ops certificate, and Lead Customer certificate is approved.
7. Contact your CSM or NAVBLUE Support, and provide them with your B2B Certificate number, for both Ops and PreOps.
8. Indicate to your CSM if you wish to have your PreOps certificate added to your UAT.
9. Inform Network Manager (Eurocontrol) that you are delegating your Ops certificate to your CFSP, and include NAVBLUE in that communication.
Updates as of December 1st, 2025
NAVBLUE received the final approval for the NAVBLUE NM B2B Ops certificate with FF-ICE on November 28th.
Customers applying for their own NM B2B Ops certificates with FF-ICE approval, as well as those with existing certificates pending FF-ICE approval, will be granted them shortly.
Note: The Eurocontrol B2B team is working diligently to grant approvals as quickly as possible and recognizes the critical timing involved
A StatusCast communication was sent on December 1st to inform customers of the next required steps, which are also outlined below.
FINAL STEPS REQUIRED
To configure your system for FF-ICE, two sets are required ddepending on you setup. Each step requires a separate ticket with NAVBLUE Support team—these can be submitted simultaneously
1. Ad-hoc Upgrade for 25.1 to your N-FP system. To be FF-ICE compliant, the 25.1 release is required on your production server. Also, as of December 1st, an additional Ad-hoc upgrade is required prior to FF-ICE configuration.
- For customers on a dedicated server (ticket required), a support ticket is required to request this latest upgrade.
- For customers on a hosted server (ticket not required), the upgrade will be completed on December 8th; a separate StatusCast communication will be sent to all applicable customers to notify them.
2. FF-ICE Configuration to your N-FP system. All customers needing FF-ICE compliance (their system configured for FF-ICE) must submit a support ticket to configure their system.
a. Customers applying for their own NM B2B Ops certificates must include the digital file copy, certificate number, login ID, and password, once received from NM in their NAVBLUE Support Portal ticket .
Note: your certificate must be delegated to NAVBLUE with NM as your CFSP
Note: any additional AO using your certificate to file a Flight Plan through N-FP or your own intermediary must also be declared to Eurocontrol, as required by your User Agreement.
b. For customers using the NAVBLUE B2B Ops certificate, they must submit a NAVBLUE Support Portal ticket to request the FF-ICE configuration.
Note: a declaration of use will be filed to Eurocontrol notifying them of all customers using the NAVBLUE Ops certificate; with the company name, IATA code, and contact information.
For either option, once the FF-ICE configuration is completed by our Enterprise Hosting team, the NAVBLUE Support team will notify customers of its progress via the ticket in the NAVBLUE Support Portal.
Light Monitoring by Eurocontrol
Once systems are configured, Eurocontrol performs light monitoring of all Ops certificates to ensure there are no issues.
User Guides:
B2B
NAVBLUE has published a step-by-step process guide for customers interested in applying for an NM B2B Ops or Pre-Ops certificate. Click the link below for more details.
FF-ICE
A supplemental FF-ICE filing guide for N-FP Dispatchers and users will be published soon to ensure the correct steps are followed when submitting an FF-ICE compliant Flight Plan to Eurocontrol. Please stay tuned for this update.
Further information will be posted here once it is available.
Additional Links and Resources for FF-ICE
If you do not have access to the linked documentation, please contact: nm.b2boffice@eurocontrol.int