Implementing regulation 2013/409 - Definition of common projects, the establishment of governance and the identification of incentives supporting the implementation of the European Air Traffic Management Master Plan - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 123/1

The single European sky regulatory framework comprises the measures referred to in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2).

The application of single European sky regulatory framework shall be without prejudice to the Member States’ responsibilities in accordance with Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004.

In its Communication of 22 December 2011 (3), the Commission announced its intention to set out governance and incentive mechanisms for the deployment of SESAR (Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research and development) based on Article 15a of Regulation (EC) No 550/2004. These mechanisms include common projects, which should assist the successful implementation of the ATM Master Plan; guidance on common projects, which should establish a binding framework on how common projects can support such implementation; and governance mechanisms which should ensure timely, coordinated and synchronised deployment by setting out a clear allocation of responsibilities amongst stakeholders.

Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 aims to help airspace users and air navigation service providers improve collective air navigation infrastructure, the provision of air navigation services and the use of airspace by working together in common projects. The aim is also to speed up the deployment of the Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research and Development (SESAR) project.

SESAR is the project set up to modernise European air traffic management system. It is the technological pillar of the single European sky initiative.

SESAR is composed of three phases: the definition phase to define the content of the next generation of ATM systems; the development phase to develop and validate the new generation of technological systems, components and operational procedures; and the deployment phase that consists in the industrialisation and implementation of the new air traffic management systems.

The European Air Traffic Management (ATM) Master Plan (hereinafter referred to as the ATM Master Plan), produced during the definition phase of SESAR is the agreed roadmap to bring ATM research and development to the deployment phase.

The ATM Master Plan outlines the essential operational changes that are required to help achieve the Single European Sky (SES) performance objectives. It is a key tool for SESAR deployment and provides the basis for timely, coordinated and synchronised deployment of the new ATM functionalities.

Deployment objectives and priorities should take into account also aspects of Network operations defined in the Network Strategy Plan, which includes the performance targets consistent with the European Union-wide performance targets and the actions planned to meet the targets, and in the Network Operations plan defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 677/2011 (4).

A timely, coordinated and synchronised deployment of SESAR is essential to achieve the SES performance objectives and the overall economic benefits expected from ATM modernisation.

Common projects provided for in Article 15a of Regulation (EC) No 550/2004 should help boost the performance of the European ATM network (EATMN) and demonstrate overall positive cost-benefit analysis, mindful of any potential negative impacts for specific regions or stakeholders.

In order to ensure that common projects are implemented and monitored in a timely, coordinated and synchronised manner, making optimal use of the instruments and bodies identified in the single European sky regulatory framework, a governance of SESAR deployment should be established.

In order to govern SESAR deployment effectively and ensure credibility of the deployment process, the operational stakeholders accountable for the performance of the ATM system should be involved in deployment governance.

Operational stakeholders investing in SESAR deployment should play a leading role in managing and implementing deployment activities, preferably through a single entity, while avoiding any conflict of interest.

The manufacturing industry should play an advisory role in SESAR deployment to ensure consistency with industrialisation and timely availability of equipment.

The Commission should oversee deployment activities making sure they follow the SES objectives and safeguard the public interest, by establishing appropriate reporting and monitoring mechanisms making the best use of existing instruments such as the European and Local Single Sky ImPlementation (ESSIP Plan and Report and LSSIP documents).

The Commission should keep the Single Sky Committee fully informed on the process for the selection of the deployment manager, for the approval of the deployment programme and for the selection of implementation projects. The Single Sky Committee should be consulted on these issues without prejudice to the rules and procedures laid down in the relevant Union funding programmes.

The European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (Eurocae), which produces technical material and performs preliminary and ancillary work in connection with European standardisation, should assist the Commission in monitoring and facilitating standardisation processes and in promoting the use of European standards.

While the deployment of SESAR projects in relation to the military remains the responsibility of the States concerned, there should be coordination with the military to avoid any adverse impact on defence capabilities.

To encourage early investment from stakeholders and mitigate deployment aspects for which the cost-benefit analysis is less positive, implementation projects that aim to deploy common projects should be eligible for Union funding and other incentives, in accordance with the rules and procedures of Union funding programmes and incentive schemes.

As far as possible, synergies shall be sought between SESAR deployment and Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs).

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Single Sky Committee,

‘SESAR Joint Undertaking’ means the body, established by Council Regulation (EC) No 219/2007 (5), entrusted with the task of managing and coordinating the development phase of the SESAR project;

‘charging scheme’ means the scheme established by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1794/2006 (6);

‘ATM functionality’ means a group of ATM operational functions or services related to trajectory, airspace and surface management or to information sharing within the en-route, terminal, airport or network operating environments;

‘SESAR deployment’ means the activities and processes relating to the industrialisation and implementation of ATM functionalities identified in the ATM Master Plan;

‘industrialisation’ of ATM functionalities means the activities and processes, following their validation that include standardisation, certification and production by the manufacturing industry (ground and airborne equipment manufacturers);

‘implementation’ of ATM functionalities means the procurement, installation and putting into service of equipment and systems, including associated operational procedures, carried out by operational stakeholders;

‘essential operational change’ means an Air Traffic Management (ATM) operational change that provides significant network performance improvements to the operational stakeholders, as referred to in the ATM Master Plan;

‘performance scheme’ means a scheme established by Commission Regulation (EU) No 691/2010 (7);

‘European Union-wide performance targets’ means the targets referred to in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 691/2010;

‘operational stakeholders’ means civil and military: airspace users, air navigation service providers and airport operators.

having reached the appropriate level of industrialisation, are mature for implementation;

require synchronised deployment.

a definition of their geographical scope and planning, including deployment target dates;

an identification of the operational stakeholders required to deploy them;

transitional measures for their progressive deployment.

demonstrate a positive business case for the EATMN, based on an independent cost-benefit analysis, and identify any potential local or regional negative impact for any specific category of operational stakeholders;

identify incentives for deployment, referred to in Section 3 of Chapter III, in particular to mitigate negative impacts on a specific geographical area or category of operational stakeholders;

refer to the implementing rules for interoperability and safety under Regulation (EC) No 552/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8) and Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9). In particular, reference shall be made to Community specifications under Regulation (EC) No 552/2004 and to acceptable means of compliance and certification specifications under Regulation (EC) No 216/2008;

identify any need for new implementing rules for interoperability and safety, Community specifications and civil standards to support their deployment and their applicability to the military taking into consideration civil and military systems’ equivalence; and

take account of the relevant deployment elements specified in the Network Strategy Plan and the Network Operations Plan of the Network Manager.

setting up and adopting common projects in accordance with Article 5;

selecting the deployment manager, approving the deployment programme and selecting the implementation projects;

managing the Union funds supporting the deployment manager and the implementation projects;

identifying incentives for SESAR deployment and enforcing the framework partnership agreement concluded with the deployment manager in accordance with Article 9(5) and any relevant agreements for implementation projects;

promoting the participation of the civil and military stakeholders;

developing cooperation and coordination with third countries;

establishing coordination with standardisation and certification organisations and bodies to facilitate industrialisation and promote interoperability of ATM functionalities;

monitoring the deployment of common projects and their contribution to achieving the European Union-wide performance targets;

issuing recommendations to operational stakeholders and Member States.

Eurocontrol, through cooperative arrangements between Eurocontrol and the Union, to take full advantage of its expertise and its civil-military and pan-European competencies;

the European Defence Agency, to facilitate the coordination of military views from and in support of the Member States and the relevant international military organisations on SESAR deployment and inform military planning mechanisms of the requirements stemming from SESAR deployment;

the European Aviation Safety Agency, to ensure that safety issues are integrated into the implementation of common projects, in particular when developing the required technical rules, such as those relating to the design, production and maintenance of systems and constituents for air traffic management and air navigation services, as well as for the personnel and organisations involved therein;

the SESAR Joint Undertaking, to ensure continuous connection between SESAR research, development, innovation and validation activities and SESAR deployment and to ensure that common projects and the deployment programme are in line with the ATM Master Plan;

The European Standardisation Organisations and Eurocae, the latter in particular to facilitate and monitor industrial standardisation processes and the use of the resulting standards.

developing, proposing, maintaining and implementing the deployment programme, in accordance with Section 2;

associating the operational stakeholders that are required to implement common projects;

establishing mechanisms and decision-making processes that ensure efficient synchronisation and overall coordination of the implementation projects and the related investment in line with the deployment programme;

ensuring effective management of risks and conflict of interest;

advising the Commission on issues related to the implementation of common projects and to the setting up new common projects;

implementing Commission decisions and ensuring and monitoring their implementation by the implementation level;

identifying the most appropriate financing mechanisms combining public and private funding;

monitoring implementation of the deployment programme;

reporting to the Commission;

ensuring appropriate coordination with National Supervisory Authorities.

represent operational stakeholders that are required to implement common projects;

manage multi-national implementation programmes;

understand funding and financing mechanisms and financial programme management; and

use existing structures to involve all operational stakeholders.

the deployment manager and the Network Manager shall cooperate to ensure their tasks are fulfilled without any form of duplication or competition, in particular, for the deployment aspects that have an impact on the network infrastructure, airspace organisation and performance as well as coherence with the Network Strategy Plan and the Network Operations Plan; the Network Manager shall also support, within its mandate, the members of the deployment manager in accordance with Articles 4(1)(i) and 4(3)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 677/2011;

the deployment manager shall cooperate with the SESAR Joint Undertaking to ensure the necessary connections between SESAR research, development, innovation and validation activities and SESAR deployment and shall consult with the SESAR Joint Undertaking on the priorities and the progress made during the development phase on issues related to industrialisation and to ensure consistency with the ATM Master Plan;

the deployment manager shall coordinate with the military to avoid any adverse impact on national and collective defence capabilities.