Post-operations performance adjustment

Our post-operations performance adjustment process allows operational stakeholders to notify national and European authorities of problems related to air traffic flow management (ATFM) delay measurement, classification and assignment.

It is a means of enhancing operational ATFM delay data used in the performance scheme (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 390/2013) and as a means of compliance with Article 21.3. Implementing the adjustment process will provide a better understanding of network constraints. In addition, it encourages positive network behaviour and innovative procedures.

The main output of this process is a separate performance dataset, which will include the approved changes. This dataset is available for performance scheme and local management reporting. The latest version of the 2020 dataset, and the final 2019 dataset, are accessible below. All the definitions of the fields used in the dataset are available on the first tab of the spreadsheet. You can check your cases by filtering the files at the top of each column. If you spot any errors please contact us.

The adjustment process is restricted to changes to data related to ATFM delay. It also includes the option to reassign delay to a third party.

There are five process steps to manage changes.

• Problem identification
  Stakeholders identify valid delay problems and initiate contact with the NM via a nominated ATFM Performance Focal Point using a defined change template. We will only accept formal change requests received by the end of the month following the occurrence of the delay problem. We will decide whether there is a valid problem, inform the requester and maintain and update a change register;
• Collaborative decision
  In collaboration with the focal point, we decide whether the controlled regulation delay data should be changed and record the decision in a change register. A decision on each case is expected by the end of the month following submission. If there is no consensus, the NM proposes a decision.
• Data update
  The controlled regulation delay data (i.e. the performance dataset) used for the performance scheme is updated depending on the decision. The NM informs the focal point of the result of the adjustment process. We will update the controlled regulation delay data and the change register and notify the stakeholders of completion by the end of the week following a decision.
• Escalation
  An ATFM Performance Focal Point may challenge NM decisions through the NSA or Network Management Board (NMB).
• Year end close

The national supervisory authorities have reviewed the process in May 2020 and agreed to some changes to the adjustment process document.

The main changes are:

• NM will publish four controlled regulation delay datasets for a specific year (Y). Three draft datasets for the year: in mid-May for first four months, in mid-September for eight months and in mid-January (of Y+1) for twelve months;
• NM will publish a final version of the controlled regulation delay dataset by end April (of Y+1).

The updated process has immediate effect. We welcome operational stakeholders who believe that there is a problem with archived ATFM data and would like it corrected to read the process and subsequent advice.

We would advise stakeholders to follow the instructions below when making use of the performance adjustment process.

Communicating problems

An air traffic control (ATC) unit may identify a delay problem. The person responsible for the unit's performance should judge the validity of the delay problem (you can find delay problem assessment criteria as part of the post-operations performance adjustment process).

That person raises the delay problem with us using the post-operations performance adjustment process change request form (available for download below). Once the form is filled in, please provide (upload) the scanned copy via the form below.

We expect that the person responsible for the ATC unit performance or a nominee will submit ATFM delay problems. We will only recognise one individual, plus an alternate, per ATC unit (airport/ANSP). For a very first submission, the unit must inform us which persons are responsible via a formal letter. We will log these contact points and only accept submissions from these individuals. The letter should be from a senior manager of the organisation.

Contact us if you need an update, but we expect to be actively liaising with you on the case, so normally you should be aware. Bear in mind the timings for each step in the process:

• Acknowledgement – three days
• Decision – expected by the end of the month following the submission

Handling submissions

Our operational analysis and reporting team will run the process. It will log the cases, change datasets and communicate with the stakeholders. Our post-operations team will analyse the cases and will contact you directly if there is need for further clarification of the case.

Contesting a decision on a submission

Given that the process is based on collaborative decision-making (CDM), we do not envisage that this will happen often. The CDM discussions should iron out most differences. We will need to agree a short report when escalation is required to the NSA or NMB (TBD).

Accessing the controlled dataset

We produce a dataset four times a year (in xls/xlsx format). It will only contain updated data which has passed the final process stage.