§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Civil Aviation Authority have taken to ensure that(a) aerodrome operators and (b) air traffic service providers have the required expertise and resources to undertake (i) aerodrome safeguarding and (ii) design of instrument approach procedures. [103994]
§ Mr. JamiesonIn preparation for the transfer of responsibility for aerodrome safeguarding, the Civil Aviation Authority has run training and refresher 55W courses for airport operators and their air traffic control providers, and has encouraged them to build up their expertise through active involvement in the safeguarding process. It has published new safeguarding maps, a guidance document, technical advice notes and an information leaflet, and has made its database of safeguarding cases available to the operators. As part of its regulatory function it will conduct periodic audits of the safeguarding procedures and cases at individual airports.
Air traffic services providers have always performed the safeguarding of facilities and services within their interest (i.e. technical sites) and continue to do so.
To date the CAA has not taken any formal action to transfer responsibility for the design of instrument approach procedures, other than initiating consultation on a proposal. The recently issued "Regulatory Impact Assessment For The Purpose To Amend The Air Navigation Order 2000 To Permit The Transfer Of Instrument Flight Procedure Design To Industry" outlines a list of potential requirements for third party designers against which the CAA would assess an individual's or an organisation's competence to engage in the task of instrument approach procedure design.