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Message from Victor M. Aguado, Director General EUROCONTROL |
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Safety should be afforded the highest priority over commercial, operational, environmental and social pressures. Safety must always be foremost in our thinking and Air Traffic Management (ATM) is at the heart of aviation safety - in the air and on the ground.
We have an excellent record in Europe, but as the fatal accidents in 2001 and 2002 showed, there is no room for complacency. In response to those tragic accidents EUROCONTROL developed the Strategic Safety Action Plan (SSAP), which was implemented between 2003 and early 2006. That programme significantly raised awareness of the requirements for ATM safety and helped raise the maturity levels of safety frameworks across Europe. It is now time to look to the future and ensure that the safety challenges of the Single European Sky are met.
This is why EUROCONTROL has developed this European Safety Programme (ESP) to follow-up the success of the Strategic Safety Action Plan (SSAP). The SSAP implementation was intended to be the first phase in a long-term ATM safety enhancement programme. It is now time to be proactive and consider what safety actions are needed to ensure that the Single European Sky (SES) is developed and implemented in a safe environment.
This new safety programme is a challenge for all of us. It provides a unique opportunity to build on the progress made in enhancing safety through the SSAP. It again brings together the components of ATM safety, including human
resources, training, equipment and procedures, and looks systematically at safety regulation and safety management with a view to ensuring that the improvements already achieved are maintained and further enhanced.
I was impressed with the commitment we got from all our stakeholders during SSAP implementation and without that support we would have not, together, succeeded in raising standards. So no matter whether you are an ATM regulator, a service provider or are involved in the safety programmes within EUROCONTROL, I look to you all to continue your efforts to ensure that our European Sky is ready for the changes that face it over the next few years. This is a collaborative action and during the development of this programme we have consulted our stakeholders extensively.
We all own the Programme and it is in all of our interests to ensure that it is implemented successfully, so your continued commitment to ATM safety enhancement is needed.
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Víctor M. AGUADO
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Director General EUROCONTROL
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Last validation: 30/03/2006
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