FABEC National Supervisory Authorities New level of cooperation

FABEC National Supervisory Authorities (NSAs) decided to increase the level of their cooperation by unifying their national oversight methods which have been in place since 2004, the date of the publication of the first SES Regulations. The aim is to ensure a high level of oversight and to facilitate the cooperation between FABEC air navigation service providers (ANSPs). As of 2014, cross-border audits are scheduled with the participation of observers coming from all FABEC NSAs. Thereafter it is foreseen to set up procedures to exchange auditors. These steps can be realised in the current SES2 Regulation. It is a voluntary approach that goes far beyond the legal requirements. It can, in particular, be conducted without modifying each NSA’s responsibilities.

This cooperation is based on an agreement to establish collaboration and harmonisation of the oversight methods between the NSAs signed on 27 January 2011 by the NSAs of the Member States of FAB Europe Central. The agreement complies with the need to coordinate the oversight of the activities that ANSPs in FABEC Member States jointly realise. Within this cooperation, common working groups have been established to enhance performance monitoring and reporting, training, changes review processes and common procedures and manuals. One main deliverable is a manual containing detailed procedures for the cooperation of the FABEC NSAs signed by the Heads of NSAs on 12 June 2014. It allows realising uniform and efficient oversight of all activities related to common or cross-border projects that require coordination between the NSAs concerned. In addition, regarding safety performance, monitoring, reporting and publication are conducted at FABEC level.

The cooperation of FABEC NSAs was recognised by several European bodies and has served as an example for other FABs.