Eurocontrol Reveals Air-Ground Communications Safety Initiatives
June 23, 2006
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Eurocontrol introduced a series of new air-ground safety initiatives. The actions, according to the European air navigation safety organization, are designed to address a range of communications issues that contribute to hazardous situations, including:
- Runway incursions.
- Level bust.
- Call-sign confusion.
- Undetected simultaneous transmissions.
- Radio interference.
- Use of standard phraseology.
- Prolonged loss of communications.
Eurocontrol plans to adopt what it calls key actions over the coming months, which will include:
- National authorities ensuring regular flight crew proficiency checks cover air-ground communications safety issues.
- Increasing the reliability of the frequency change process by the aircraft operators and air navigation service providers.
- Adherence to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard phraseology, procedures and best practices for flight crews and air traffic controllers.
All safety improvements should be in place by the end of 2007, Eurocontrol said.
The initiatives were launched with a group of stakeholders including:
- The International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- The European Cockpit Association (ECA).
- The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF).
- The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA).
- The European Regional Airlines Association (ERA).
The safety improvements are designed as plug-ins to the current aircraft and air traffic control operations, Eurocontrol safety expert Tzvetomir Blajev said.
The safety actions are available on the Eurocontrol web site at www.eurocontrol.int/safety.
Source: Eurocontrol.