Aeronautical data and information quality

The aviation sector needs new technologies and concepts powered by high-quality data to accommodate higher traffic demands, while keeping airspace operations safe.

At the same time, establishing new standards and practices to provide aeronautical information is a complex process since the aeronautical data chain involves numerous actors and transaction points, all of which play a critical role in producing and transmitting data of appropriate quality and format to the meet the requirements of the next intended user.

At EUROCONTROL, we support our stakeholders in the implementation of several European Commission regulations with the aim to ensure the availability of optimum quality aeronautical data and aeronautical information in Europe. We take specifically account to changes applied to global (ICAO) and regional (EASA and EC) regulations, standards and recommended practices.

We actively share our technical knowhow on the broader change process in aeronautical data exchange with a wide range of users through stakeholder meetings, workshops, training courses or events dedicated to wider audience.

The following regulations and regulatory developments are important in the context of aeronautical data quality in Europe:

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/469  of 14 February 2020 amending Regulation (EU) No 923/2012, Regulation  (EU) No 139/2014 and Regulation (EU) 2017/373 as regards requirements for air traffic management/air navigation services, design of airspace structures and data quality, runway safety and repealing Regulation (EC) No 73/2010;
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1177  of 7 August 2020 amending Regulation (EU) 2020/469 as regards postponing dates of application of certain measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/373  of 1 March 2017 laying down common requirements for providers of air traffic management/air navigation services and other air traffic management network functions and their oversight, repealing Regulation (EC) No 482/2008, Implementing Regulations (EU) No 1034/2011, (EU) No 1035/2011 and (EU) 2016/1377 and amending Regulation (EU) No 677/2011;
  The latest consolidated text including a list of all amendments is available here 
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2148  amending Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 as regards runway safety and aeronautical data;
• Regulation (EC) 552/2004  of 10/03/2004 on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network (the interoperability Regulation;
• Regulation (EC) 1070/2009  of 21/10/2009 Amending Regulations (EC) No 549/2004, (EC) No 550/2004, (EC) No 551/2004 and (EC) No 552/2004 in order to improve the performance and sustainability of the European aviation system;
• Easy Access Rules for Air Traffic Management/Air Navigation Services (Regulation (EU) 2017/373) 

We believe the following examples of methods, processes and activities successfully implemented by our stakeholders represent best practices contributing to the implementation of ADQ.

United Kingdom CAA

The CAA's airspace change process published in this guidance sets out how CAA gives effect to the role to approve changes to airspace design and to the law and policy which govern this role. This guidance sets out the framework for the stages of the process and activities from conception through consulting to regulatory decision. Additionally, this guidance covers implementation and subsequent review of that change.

CAP 1616 Airspace Design: Guidance on the regulatory process for changing airspace design including community engagement requirements 

This CAP provides guidance for the origination, management, transmission and distribution of aeronautical data and aeronautical information published in the Integrated Aeronautical Information Package (IAIP).

CAP 1054 Aeronautical Information Management 

This CAP provides additional guidance for aerodrome operators and other data originators (including contracted activities) to support compliance with Regulations and relevant ICAO SARPS including AMC and GM.

CAP 1732 Aerodrome Survey Guidance 

Switzerland

Swiss national data catalogue. Click here to learn more 

FABEC

Presentation of the FABEC MIA agreement for cross-border coordination of aeronautical information. Click here to learn more 

Latvia

Digital aeronautical data viewer from LGS. Click here to learn more 

Netherlands

VFR chart viewer from LVNL. Click here to learn more 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - USA

Noteworthy good practices include:

• establishment of an Enterprise Data Management Program to promote a common understanding of the data sets and data standardisation;
• involving all actors in a Data Governance Board;
• introduction of the concept of data stewardship;
• specifications for the collection of airport critical data;
• explanation on how to submit this data to the FAA.

Please contact us via the contact form on this page to learn more about the above. Publicly available resources are listed here:

150/5300-18B - General Guidance And Specifications For Submission Of Aeronautical Surveys to NGS