Compatible specifications for air traffic management equipment
A Commission proposal for a Council Directive on the definition and use of compatible technical and operating specifications for the procurement of air traffic management equipment and systems (COM(92) 342 of 28.7.1992) aims to introduce Community standards into this area, to apply to communications systems, surveillance systems, systems providing automated assistance to air control, and navigation systems. It is proposed that Member States shall take the steps necessary to modify their existing air traffic management equipment so that it guarantees: Automatic data transmission between air control centres by 1998; complete radar coverage by 1996 using interoperable radar equipment which provides full, organized surveillance; computer assisted execution of air traffic management tasks as from 1996; harmonization of the capability of different types of radar equipment to allow uniform en route separation of aircraft by 1996 (5 or 10 NM standard as appropriate); optimization of the network of ATS routes and airspace structure, backed by the widespread use of area navigation as from 1994. The Commission, assisted by an advisory committee composed of representatives of the Member States shall identify which of the technical specifications adopted by Eurocontrol shall be made mandatory. In particular these shall relate to: Flight plan related data exchange; radar data exchange; ATS telephone systems; online data exchange; automated SSR code assignment systems; RNAV; radar separation; short-term conflict alert; airspace delegation; surveillance specifications; shared use of radar facilities.