European Airspace Users - Eurocontrol ATM Security Domain
Currently security costs are largely borne by airports, airlines and passengers. The Global Aviation Security Group's (GASAG) position is unequivocal and is shared and supported by all of Europe's airspace users; namely GASAG believes that governments have direct responsibility for aviation security and its funding.
1. Security:
Currently security costs are largely borne by airports, airlines and passengers. The Global Aviation Security Group's (GASAG) position is unequivocal and is shared and supported by all of Europe's airspace users; namely GASAG believes that governments have direct responsibility for aviation security and its funding.
This responsibility includes the protection of its citizens (in the air and on the ground). As the security threat against airlines is a manifestation of the threat against the State, the provision and cost of aviation security should be borne by the State from general revenues and not from taxes and user fees.
GASAG believes that States must work together in a co-operative manner, with input from the industry, to ensure the harmonized implementation of globally recognized standards based on ICAO Annex 17 - Security.
2. ATM and Air Space Security:
Of critical importance is a clear, unambigious agreed definition of what is meant by 'ATM' security and 'Airspace Security' and the scope of responsibilities proposed by the Eurocontrol ATM Security Domain.
Airspace users operating within EUROCONTROL airspace are faced with having to comply with anti-terrorist security requirements, regulations and associated costs from a myriad number of agencies (See attached annex). Security regimes are multi-layered aimed at preventing criminal or terrorist acts of interference to operators and ATM installations; the last layer being active security measures 'in flight'. Arguably this is too late and the reactive actions limited; measures should therefore seek to prevent acts of terrorism being perpetrated before an aircraft gets airborne.
Airspace users recognise the role of the European Commission as the single regulator for aviation security in Europe. Airspace users do not want to see unnecessary duplication of activities and therefore request EUROCONTROL to prioritize its planned activities on security, while recognizing the role of the EU and the recommendations made by the High Level Group.
The EUROCONTROL ATM Security Draft paper appears to concentrate on three main areas:
- Airspace (Sovereignty of National airspace)
- Facilitation (Protection of Ground Based ANSP facilities)
- Future Technology and Research & Development (e.g. ERRIDS, SAFEE and PATIN )
3. From the Airspace users' perspective:
3.1. ATM Security
- Protection of ATM assets is a state function and should not be funded by airspace user charges
- Clearly facilitation (protection of ground based ANSP facilities) is regulated by the EU (ref SES service provision regulations) and the implementation of those regulations is a responsibility of the individual service providers (including Maastricht UAC). The EUROCONTROL Agency should not assume responsibility on this issue.
- Protection of ATM equipment from intentional interference is closely linked to certification requirements for safety purposes. This is a role for the industry with the support of the European Aviation Safety Agency. EUROCONTROL should not be responsible for circumnavigating the established processes for equipment approval.
3.2. Airspace Security
- 'Air Policing' is a State function and is unlikely to be harmonised across all member sovereign states, however enhanced cooperation between CMIC (Civil / Military coordination at NEASCOG for 'air policing') and CMAC ( Civil / Military ATM co-ordination) is desirable without having to expand the existing ATM Security Domain
- SCG paper proposes that 'airspace security' (CMIC) should be concerned with the handling of suspected 'renegade' aircraft, but that this should also be a function of ATM security (CMAC).
- Specific proposals to improve procedures for 'in flight' threat assessment procedures (as experienced recently by a number of carriers operating in a member state) have been proposed to the ECAC Security Working Group for adoption by Directors general for Civil Aviation and ICAO and then to be promulgated in Annex 17 and ECAC Document 30.
- Current research and development on 'in flight' issues (current initiatives funded by the European Commission) are currently neither cost effective, nor are they directly related to the current levels of member states threat appreciation. EUROCONTROL should not be responsible for instigating R&D 'in flight measures', which are a matter for the EC and industry
- Many of the functions included in the Draft EUROCONTROL paper could therefore be enhanced with improving the existing CMAC and CMIC relationships and with better liaison between the Agency and with ECAC and SAGAS groups, without the need to increase the ATM Security Domain.
3.3. One stop security
Ultimately there is a need for global 'one stop' harmonised security measures, not just European solutions; airspace users would support harmonisation of ATM security but would suggest that this should rest with the European Commission and ECAC/ICAO.
4. Recommendations from Airspace Users
Any future regulation regarding ATM security should ultimately be under the control of the European Commission or mandadted to appropriate organisations (High Level Group recommendation). "Engage Defence Ministers in SES objectives: the European Commission in conjunction with member states should create a mechanism to ensure that Defense Ministers are involved in the SES process. Particular objectives are to:
-develop joint targets for the streamlined use of airspace
-identify and overcome bottlenecks to progress e.g. the need to equip military aircraft with civil equipment for then to use civilian controlled airspace”
- EUROCONTROL should enhance the relationships between CMAC and CMIC
- EUROCONTROL should enhance their relationship with the ECAC and SAGAS security working groups to ensure appropriate, non duplicative and harmonised activities.
- EUROCONTROL's role on ATM security should be limited to focus on civil/military coordination of airspace security issues
In conclusion, the European airspace users would question the need for a separate EUROCONTROL ATM Security Domain.The Agency's activities should be dealt with through the existing EUROCONTROL civil/military coordination function rather than creating a separate department for ATM security.
Signed by:
Gunter Martis, Director Safety Operations & Infrastructure, Europe, IATA (International Air Transport Association)
Nick Mower, General Manager Technical Services, ERA (European Regions Airline Association)
Erik Moyson, Director Technical & Operations, IACA (International Air Carrier Association)
Vincent De Vroey, General Manager Technical & Operations, AEA (Association of European Airlines)
Author:
Publication Date: 29 Oct 2007
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