Sample State PBN Implementation Strategy

Because of the division of responsibility between States and ANSPs in the European context, the competent State Authority (NSA or NAA) often seeks to provide a clear direction to its ANSP, of which there could be several within a given State.  Even without such ‘direction’, the ANSPs are usually required to provide a PBN Implementation Plan.

The State may elect to explain why a PBN implementation/transition plan is to be developed.  It is possible that the State will want to highlight the drivers for change and what the expected benefits will be for the airspace users and the service provision.  The State may wish to link to its national policies, European regulatory obligations and international commitments under one umbrella.  The two European regulations impacting on this implementation plan are the PBN IR and the PCP IR.

Following steps could be considered in order to have a transition plan ready:

National aviation policy: here the State may elect to highlight what the national transport policy is for the aviation sector and what the high level drivers for change are.

Drivers for PBN implementation: here the State could identify the specific reasons why an airspace change is needed.

Analysis of current operations: here the State may decide that detailing the current operations would provide the Service Providers with the initial input to the PBN implementation.   This detailing of current operations known as the Reference Scenario is described in Activity 4 of the European Airspace Concept Handbook for PBN Implementation. The Reference Scenario includes all existing ATS Routes, SIDs/STARs, airspace volumes, ATC sectorisation, air traffic data and as well as all the existing coordination agreements. Description and analysis of the Reference Scenario is a crucial exercise

Strategic implementation objectives: an analysis of current operations could identify possible changes to the current airspace operations, which may be made to enable the State to comply with the regulations/targets/requirements or to achieve additional benefits.   These ‘drivers for change’ could then be translated into national objectives.

Process: here the State may then elect to detail the process by which they wish the Service Provider to undertake the PBN implementation and the evidence to be provided in support of the safety assessment.

Methodology: should the State have elected to detail the process it wishes the Service Provider to undertake, then the State could also wish to detail a methodology for PBN implementation.

Transition considerations: here the State may wish to direct the Service Provider in how the transition should be undertaken.

More information that is detailed can be found in the European PBN Implementation and Transition Planning Handbook (PBN HANDBOOK No. 5).