With the amendment of the European Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 by the new Regulation (EC) No 1108/2009 (into force since 14 December 2009), the area of competency of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is progressively extended towards a “total system approach” including ATM, ANS as well as airport safety and interoperability. This new regulation allows airport operators to continue with providing apron management service – but they have to “declare their capability“ for offering this service within the certification process of the aerodrome.
An advanced surface movement guidance and control system is one important tool for providing this service at large and complex airports. With the implementation of an advanced surface movement guidance and control system (A-SMGCS), the airport contributes to the precise surface guidance of aircraft to and from a runway while maintaining safe distance to each other as well as to obstacles and vehicles. The system is aimed to assist the ground controllers in managing the traffic situation on the movement area in all weather conditions. Due to advanced surveillance technology, the ground movement controllers are able to continue operations with an A-SMGCS even in low visibility conditions (e.g. due to fog) and maintaining nearly the same capacity as with no visibility restrictions.
The focus of this master thesis is not on the operational and technical details of the system, which are profoundly analyzed and elaborated on by R&D projects, e.g. by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), European research projects and the industry. However, the second chapter will provide those details required to fully understand the legal and administrative aspects of an A-SMGCS.
If ANSP are using a system like A- SMGCS under safety aspects, they have to undergo a licensing process according to SES-regulations and are licenced by the national supervisory authority. The airport itself is licenced by the appropriate approving authority of the federal state. For Germany’s biggest airport, Frankfurt International Airport, it’s the ministry of transport of Hesse, the HMWVL. This ministry licences the airport as such as well as the safe provision of apron management service including the use of procedures and technical systems like A-SMGCS.
The conditions for this approval are subject of the Master's Thesis.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Statement of the problem
1.2. Approach
2. Elaboration on A-SMGCS
2.1. Development towards A-SMGCS
2.2. A-SMGCS Benefits
2.3. A-SMGCS functional criteria
2.3.1. Surveillance
2.3.2. Control
2.3.3. Routing/Planning
2.3.4. Guidance
2.4. The Four Levels of Implementation
2.4.1. A-SMGCS Level 1 & 2
2.4.2. A-SMGCS Level 3 & 4
2.4.3. Further documents
3. Relevance for the ANSP
3.1. Legal Basis: ICAO
3.2. Legal Basis: European Union
3.3. SES regulation and requirements for licensing
3.3.1. EC No 549/2004: the framework Regulation
3.3.2. EC No 550/2004: the service provision Regulation
3.3.3. EC No 551/2004: the airspace Regulation
3.3.4. EC No 552/2004: the interoperability Regulation
3.3.5. EC No 1070/2009: amendments to SES I Legislative Package
3.4. National Supervisory Authority in Germany
3.5. Requirements for certification
4. Relevance for the airport operator
4.1. Legal Basis ICAO: Apron Management Services
4.2. Legal Basis in Europe: SES regulations
4.2.1. Remit of EASA
4.2.2. EC No 216/2008: common rules in the field of civil aviation
4.2.3. EC No 1108/2009: Aerodromes, ATM, ANS, ATC
4.3. Regulatory structure in Germany
4.3.1. Political Hierarchy: The Federalism in Germany
4.3.2. German Aviation Law: LuftVG
4.3.3. German Aviation Regulation: LuftVZO
4.3.4. Chart: Political hierarchy of aviation law in Germany
5. New challenges for the approval authority
5.1. The way to a “Declaration of Capability“
5.2. Experts position
5.2.1. Questionnaire
5.2.2. Responses
6. Recommendation for a “Declaration of Capability“
6.1. Personal Opinion
6.2. Particular situation at Frankfurt Airport
7. Conclusion
8. Fields for further study
Objectives & Core Themes
This master thesis investigates the regulatory and administrative conditions for airport operators to implement an Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) for apron management services. The central research question focuses on identifying the responsible authorities for authorizing such systems and determining the compliance requirements within the evolving framework of the Single European Sky (SES) and German aviation law.
- Regulatory framework for A-SMGCS implementation in Europe and Germany.
- Distinction between Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) responsibilities and airport operator tasks.
- The role of EASA and national supervisory authorities in the certification process.
- Challenges for airport operators regarding the “Declaration of Capability” under European regulations.
- Case studies on the operational and administrative status at major German airports like Frankfurt and Munich.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
Presently, airports are expected to become the restricting bottleneck to the overall Air Traffic Management (ATM) system.1 Latest results from EUROCONTROL's Central Office of Delay Analysis (CODA) reveal that airlines are responsible for nearly half of the departure delay causes on ground (49%, e.g. due to passenger, cargo or aircraft handling), while airports accounted for 18%, weather for 13% followed by ATC and miscellaneous reasons with 10% each. Having a closer look to one chapter of this delay data analysis, the airport's component of Air Traffic Flow and Capacity Management (ATFCM) reveals that “weather was the main cause of the airport ATFCM delay with 46% and was followed by Airport Capacity with 28%, ATC Capacity with 11%, other with 5%, ATC Staffing with 4% and ATC Equipment with 2% of the delay:“2
In 2007, the Commission of the European Union identified an upcoming ‘capacity crunch’ at airports in Europe, meaning a gap between capacity and demand of both runway and ground infrastructure. Estimates indicated that by 2025 over 60 European airports will be heavily congested and the top 20 airports will be saturated at least 8 to 10 hours per day, which led the EU to communicate an action plan for airport capacity:
“The capacity crunch at airports poses a threat to the safety, efficiency and competitiveness of all actors involved in the air transport supply chain.“3 Notwithstanding the recent air travel crisis, air traffic is still expected to grow within the next decade and airport capacity shortages have been identified as a serious obstacle and limiting factor to the future growth of the European air transport industry.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Highlights the increasing bottleneck of airport capacity in Europe and introduces A-SMGCS as a strategic tool to improve efficiency while maintaining safety standards.
2. Elaboration on A-SMGCS: Describes the technical functions of surveillance, control, routing/planning, and guidance, and outlines the implementation levels developed by EUROCONTROL.
3. Relevance for the ANSP: Examines the legal foundations from ICAO to the SES legislative packages and discusses the role of National Supervisory Authorities and certification requirements.
4. Relevance for the airport operator: Focuses on the legal challenges for airport operators, specifically regarding the expansion of EASA's remit to include aerodromes and apron management.
5. New challenges for the approval authority: Discusses the transition to a “Declaration of Capability” and presents expert responses from major German airport operators.
6. Recommendation for a “Declaration of Capability“: Offers a personal recommendation on how to structure the approval process for A-SMGCS when used by airport operators.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, emphasizing that while technical implementation is advanced, regulatory frameworks for airport-run apron management remain in an evolving state.
8. Fields for further study: Suggests future research regarding the transferability of the German federalism model to other EU states and the evolution of controller tasks through automation.
Keywords
A-SMGCS, Airport Operations, Apron Management Service, Air Traffic Management, European Aviation Safety Agency, Single European Sky, SESAR, Certification, Airport Capacity, Aerodrome Regulation, Surveillance, Germany, EASA, EUROCONTROL, Declaration of Capability
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The thesis examines the legal and administrative requirements for airport operators to utilize Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS) for apron management services within the regulatory environment of the Single European Sky.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key topics include the technical capabilities of A-SMGCS, the legislative evolution of European ATM regulations (SES I & II), the role of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the specific complexities of German aviation law.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The study aims to define the regulatory framework for an airport operator to legally provide apron management services using A-SMGCS and identify which authorities are responsible for granting operational approval.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses legal and policy analysis, relying on regulations, official ICAO/EUROCONTROL documentation, and primary qualitative data obtained through a questionnaire distributed to aviation stakeholders.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main part covers the technical description of A-SMGCS, the legal foundations (ICAO, EU Regulations), the specific role of the German National Supervisory Authority (BAF), and the current challenges regarding the "Declaration of Capability".
Which keywords best characterize this work?
A-SMGCS, Apron Management Service, Single European Sky (SES), EASA, Certification, and Aerodrome Regulation.
How does the federal structure of Germany complicate the certification process?
The German federal system delegates administrative authority for aerodromes to 16 individual state-level ministries, leading to a fragmented landscape of regulators compared to the centralized oversight of the ANSP by the Federal Supervisory Authority (BAF).
What is the status of apron controllers regarding official licensing?
Unlike Air Traffic Controllers who require a formal license and medical certificate, EASA has indicated that apron controllers do not currently fall under the same mandatory licensing requirements, instead coming under the airport operator's "Declaration of Capability".
- Citation du texte
- Diplom-Staatswissenschaftler (Univ.), Master of Aviation Management Sascha Hissler (Auteur), 2010, Conditions for an airport operator to make use of an advanced surface movement guidance and control system (A-SMGCS) for the provision of apron management service, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/168238
