Eurocontrol Says Its Air Traffic Safety Has Improved

Eurocontrol says a new survey it commissioned shows that air traffic safety has continued to improve in Europe since the accidents at Linate in 2001 and Uberlingen in 2002.

(Linate refers to a ground collision between a MD-87 and a Cessna Citation at Linate Airport in Milan, Italy, on October 8, 2001.  Uberlingen refers to midair collision between a B-757 and Tupolev-154 in Swiss airspace on July 1, 2002.)

The independent survey, carried out in 42 European countries, determined whether a state has a well-defined and mature framework for managing air traffic safety that meets the requirements set out in Eurocontrol's Safety Regulatory Requirements (ESARRs).  By this measure, Eurocontrol says safety has been "considerably strengthened" over the past four years.

Between 2002 and 2006, air navigation service providers improved their safety frameworks by almost 15% while the regulators improved by 12%.  As a result, the average level for air traffic management safety mechanisms in Europe is now 70% among service providers and 65% among regulators.  Almost one quarter of service providers have now reached levels above 90% and in some cases up to 98%, Eurocontrol says.  Seventy percent was set as the desired level in 2002 and was considered a "very ambitious target."

"This independent report demonstrates that both regulators and air navigation service providers have learnt the lessons from the terrible accidents of 2001 and 2002 and have implemented new systems and rules to improve safety in their countries," said Dr. Merckx, Eurocontrol's deputy director air traffic management programs.

Dr. Merckx said pan-European safety programs such as the Strategic Safety Action Plan (SSAP), as well as the more recent European Safety Action Plan for ATM (ESP) developed by Eurocontrol and its stakeholders "can have demonstrable results in a short period of time and that the ongoing support we give to air navigation service providers and States is paying off."

The SSAP identified a number of shortcomings in the fields of safety management and safety regulation, as well as an action plan to address them.  12-11-2006.

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