CANSO welcomes High Level Group report
6 July 2007
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July 6th, 2007
Schiphol, the Netherlands
CANSO, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation, welcomes the recommendations submitted to EU Vice-President Jacques Barrot by the High Level Group (HLG) on the Future of the European Aviation Regulatory Framework.
In the first of ten recommendations the HLG calls for strengthening the role of the European Community and the use of the Community method as the sole instrument to set the regulatory agenda. CANSO strongly welcomes this recommendation as European aviation will finally be based on a harmonised regulatory framework at the national and regional level – creating a true Common Aviation Area. This single regulatory framework is a prerequisite for the delivery of an efficient integrated aviation market for airlines, airports and air navigation service providers across Europe.
CANSO is also pleased to note the HLG overall system’s approach to aviation, which recognises that optimal system performance can only result from transferring more responsibilities to industry. HLG acknowledgement that strict separation between regulation and provision supported by an alignment of the governance of all operational functions serves to optimise system performance is strongly supported by CANSO.
CANSO welcomes the HLG’s recognition that the challenge for European aviation is not to embark on major changes, but to focus on accelerating the effective delivery of the existing Single European Sky initiative, while at the same time strengthening the capabilities of the key aviation players. Specifically, CANSO welcomes the HLG recommendation that EU Members states commit to deliver their existing commitments on Functional Airspace Blocks to resolve the fragmentation of European airspace. The earliest possible implementation of these measures will support more efficient and environmentally friendly airspace management in Europe.
CANSO strongly supports the HLG’s recommendation for the European Commission to develop an integrated environmental strategy for aviation carefully balancing the economic, environmental, safety and cost aspects of air transport. This strategy should focus on the three main aviation pillars; airspace management, technology suppliers and airline operations.
CANSO fully agrees that additional airspace capacity is of no consequence if this is not matched by adequate airport capacity. CANSO welcomes the HLG recommendation requesting the European Commission to raise awareness of the emerging bottleneck resulting from a lack of European airport capacity.
The recommendation to empower EASA as the single EU instrument for aviation safety regulation clearly supports the harmonised system’s approach and will lead to safer aviation in Europe.
CANSO also welcomes the recommendation to commence development of proposals for the pan-European ATM governance structure post the 2013 SESAR deployment phase. The earliest possible development of this new European ATM governance structure will strengthen a harmonised system’s approach to Air Traffic Management planning and deployment.
CANSO is ready to work with the European Commission, the European Parliament and Eurocontrol’s Provisional Council to translate the HLG recommendations into a solid implementation plan for the benefit of all European aviation.
For further information please contact:
Philip Butterworth-Hayes
Strategy & Communications
CANSO
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