GM1 Article 3(8) Provision of ATM/ANS and design of airspace structures

GENERAL — PROCESS DESIGN OF AIRSPACE STRUCTURES AND FLIGHT PROCEDURES CONTAINED THEREIN

(a)     An airspace change is a change to an airspace structure.

(b)     The process for the airspace change should include the following elements:

(1)     Initiation for an airspace change, including briefing by an initiator

                   DRIVERS FOR AIRSPACE CHANGES

                   Drivers for airspace changes include, but are not limited to, business, technological, legal and social aspects, such as:

(i)      enhancing operational safety and/or efficiency;

(ii)     meeting airspace capacity requirements;

(iii)     reducing the environmental impacts of aircraft operations;

(iv)     enabling changes to the CNS infrastructure; or

(v)      correcting identified deficiencies.

                   INITIATION

                   Initiator may be, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(i)      the Member State;

(ii)     the competent authority;

(iii)     an aerodrome operator;

(iv)     an ATM/ANS provider; or

(v)      an airspace user.

                   In undertaking an airspace change, the initiator:

(i)      proposes an airspace modification whilst ensuring that the airspace change satisfies and/or enhances safety, improves capacity and mitigates, as far as practicable, any environmental impacts in line with the applicable requirements and design criteria;

(ii)     follows the national airspace change processes, where specified; and

(iii)     identifies relevant stakeholders and conducts consultation(s).

(2)     Data collection

(3)     Initial proposal development

(4)     Consultation with affected stakeholders

                   Affected stakeholders should be considered to be, but not limited to:

(i)      ATM/ANS providers;

(ii)     airspace users (including military);

(iii)     aerodrome operators;

(iv)     State’s authorities;

(v)      other groups affected by the airspace change (e.g. local municipalities, environmental organisations, adjacent States, etc.).

                   The initiator should ensure that an assessment is carried out before deploying the airspace change.

                   If a change to the airspace results in a change to the functional system(s) of the ATS providers serving the affected airspace, those affected ATS providers need to perform a safety assessment as per ATS.OR.205 of this Regulation.

(5)     Design and documentation

(6)     Validation

                   The airspace change may be validated using one or more of the following methodologies:

(i)      airspace modelling;

(ii)     ATC simulation;

(iii)     live trials;

(iv)     flight simulation;

(v)      data analytical tools;

(vi)     statistical analysis;

(vii)    collision risk modelling; and

(viii)   noise and emissions modelling.

(7)     State’s approval,

                   The airspace change proposal should be submitted to the State’s authority for assessment addressing the following, as applicable:

(i)      Operational requirements

(A)     Justification for the change;

(B)     Technical description of the change:

(a)      airspace description;

(b)     traffic forecasts;

(c)      supporting infrastructure/resources;

(d)     operational impact;

(e)     supporting maps, charts and diagrams; and

(f)      airspace and infrastructure requirements; and

(C)     Validation report.

(ii)     Assessment report

(iii)     Environmental report

(iv)     Consultation report

(v)      Implementation plan

(A)     Target implementation date and alternative date (or dates), taking due account of the predetermined agreed AIRAC dates in addition to the time needed by the AIS provider for the preparation, production and issuance of relevant material for promulgation; and

(B)     Planned awareness and education activities.

(vi)     Economic impact.

(8)     Implementation of the airspace change

                   The initiator should implement those aspects of the airspace change that are under its remit; however, the implementation of the airspace change may require other stakeholders implementing changes in their services.

                   The implementation of the airspace change could include amendment in the aeronautical information publication (AIP), changes in the procedures of the ATS providers, etc.

(9)     Post implementation review

(10)    Maintenance and periodic review