The ATM Network Strategic Plan
Part of the Network Manager tasks is to “develop, maintain and implement a Network Strategy Plan”. The Network Strategy Plan is a new tool for managing the European ATM network.
The aim of this new plan is to respond to the Performance objectives and the Business requirements expressed by the different stakeholders using the ATM. It focusses in particular on the objectives described in the Performance IR.
A new approach for improving ATM
The Network Strategy Plan is not a plan like many were developed for ATM in the past. Its level of approbation gives it a strength that no other plan had in the past. Taking benefit of it, will allow improving ATM from a network perspective and in a structured way. The future will tell us how this plan contributed to a better ATM in Europe.
- Provide a common understanding on the way the ATM network as a whole will achieve the 2014 performance targets. It is essential for defining the roles of each of the stakeholders in implementing the changes, and in identifying the expected contribution from the Network Manager. This contribution will be framed within the NSP in a Network Manager Performance Plan, similar to the one already prepared by States or FABs.
- Clarify what the Network requires from the technology evolution to achieve its performance objectives. The ATM Master plan will take on board these requirements as part of its update to come in 2012, and to some extent the NSP will serve a platform to dialogue between the SESAR R&D and the Network Operations.
- Identify the issues that need to be pushed to the entities adopting the plan. Several problems might require solutions outside the ATM operations world. Clarifying the most important of them will allow a better understanding between the States and EU on one side, and the operational stakeholders on the other side.
The Network Strategic Plan covers two performance reference periods.
The first period runs until 2019. However, this plan is being driven by the current performance of ATM operations, and addresses the future challenges in two steps
- What do we need to achieve in the next 3 to 5 years to achieve the requirements? This covers the technology changes but also the human and resources aspects, the governance and possibly the need for regulatory changes. It will in particular identify who does what to achieve these objectives and what would be the role of the Network Manager in these activities.
- What do we do next? This period runs over the next 8 years and looks at ways to pursue performance improvement. It takes account of the R&D aspect needed, but also at the non-technological changes needed.
These changes are structured around strategic objectives which are prioritised in a high level plan.
The Network Strategy Plan will be endorsed by the Network Management Board prior to a proposal for adoption by the European Commission and in line with the Single Sky Committee.
The Network Strategy Plan will be monitored and it can be updated “as and when appropriate”, allowing some flexibility in its content to make sure performance targets are met.
The Network Operations Plan translates the objectives of the Network Strategic Plan into concrete actions for operational stakeholders. It looks at what is needed from 3 years ahead down to the day of operations.
The Network Strategy Plan is a new tool for managing the network, and therefore it requires some time to be matured and adopted.
The intention is to have a first version at end of 2012, allowing covering until 2020. Initial work is just starting through the Network Management Board.
