Context
The measures taken by Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the scope of air traffic management and air navigation services. Currently, most Air Traffic Service (ATS) units across Europe and beyond are operating with very limited configurations, often managing only a few air traffic control (ATC) sectors. This is largely due to a notable drop in traffic demand. Consequently, the operational and engineering staff have seen their duty hours cut back. Training and maintenance schedules may not have been adhered to because of physical distancing rules. Some facilities may even be in ‘sleep’ mode due to a lack of operational need or available staff. Since mid-April 2020, the European Network Manager (NM) and various operational stakeholders have collaborated to ensure a safe and coordinated recovery of European ATM network operations following the lockdown restrictions. This collective effort is guided by the European NOP 2020 Recovery plan. To facilitate this process, the NM, along with the EUROCONTROL Safety Team and SAFOPS group, has developed a safety argument and a list of potential hazards to help ANSPs plan and execute a safe return to normal operations. This safety argument and hazard list will be regularly updated based on feedback from operational stakeholders, including ANSPs, aerodrome operators, and aircraft operators.
Transition Safety Argument
The Safety Argument serves as a checklist to assist ANSPs in safely transitioning back to normal operations. It provides a detailed reference to the components of the ANSP’s functional system that might have been impacted during the lockdown and need careful management when planning for a return to normalcy. The argument focuses on three main elements: operational and engineering staff, procedures, and equipment. It identifies which properties of these elements have been affected by reduced operations. These properties include, but are not limited to, the competence and medical fitness of staff, equipment configuration, and changes to procedures made during the crisis. The safety argument underscores the importance of establishing a solid transition planning, monitoring, and management process. Key components of this process include:
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Collaborative forecasting of traffic demand
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Monitoring and planning of ATC sector configurations and pre-tactical Air Traffic Flow and Capacity Management (ATFCM) scenarios
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Flexible ATCO scheduling in line with traffic outlook and demand
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Coordination with all transition stakeholders (NM, ANSPs, AOs, airport operators, CAs)
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Targeted safety monitoring to quickly identify and address transition issues
Transition Hazards
To aid in the risk assessment portion of the Safety Argument, a generic hazard identification for ATM/ANS provision during the recovery phase was conducted. This resulted in a list of potential hazards that could arise during the extended transition to normal operations due to factors related to the COVID-19 aviation lockdown. These hazards are not confined to a specific level within the ATM system; rather, they represent potential safety issues that may be interconnected. Some items in the list could also be viewed as disruptors that might influence higher-level operational hazards. The hazard list includes descriptions of each hazard, COVID-19 related causal factors, and suggested mitigation measures to reduce the likelihood or impact of these hazards. While it is not exhaustive, the list reflects current knowledge and anticipations. When utilized at a local level, this list should be reviewed and adjusted according to the specific operational environment and the lockdown’s impact on the ANSP’s functional system. The identified hazards fall into several categories:
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Demand-capacity balancing
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Staff skills, training, and human factors
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Equipment and infrastructure
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Aeronautical information management
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Runway operations
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Aircraft navigation and flight operation
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Air-ground communication
The significance of identifying, monitoring, and mitigating risks associated with the anticipated surge in travel demand was emphasized by EASA SIB 2023-05 (see Further Reading below).
Vaccination of ATCOs and Operational Staff
In May 2021, EASA and EUROCONTROL jointly published guidelines regarding the COVID-19 vaccination for air traffic controllers (ATCOs) and operational staff. Documentation provided by the European Medicines Agency during the vaccine assessment process, along with various studies on vaccines approved for use in Europe, indicate that while some side effects may occur, they do not compromise the overall safety of the vaccines. Although most reported side effects are mild, they could be relevant to the safety of ATCO tasks. The guidelines recommend that ANSPs conduct a risk assessment aligned with their safety management systems to determine if the recommendations in the EASA-EUROCONTROL guidelines should also apply to their operational personnel engaged in safety-critical roles. Given that these vaccines are new pharmacological products, EASA and EUROCONTROL have provided recommendations for National Competent Authorities (NCAs), ANSPs, and ATCOs to ensure that any side effects do not interfere with the performance of safety-related tasks.
