Consultation letter
Bruce Ridout
AAD Aviation Directorate
Zone 1/25
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Email: bruce.ridout@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Dear Sir/Madam,
Consultation on the transposition of Council directive 2006/23/EC on a Community Air Traffic Controller Licence into UK legislation
On 5 April 2006 Council Directive 2006/23/EC was formally published, setting out the requirements for establishing a common Community air traffic controller licence across the European Union. The Directive must now be transposed into UK legislation - the majority of the provisions by 17 May 2008, but the language proficiency requirements by May 2010.
It is proposed to transpose the provisions of the Directive by way of an amendment to Part 10 and Schedule 11 of the Air Navigation Order 2005 (ANO). However, before finalising the necessary amending Statutory Instrument the Department would welcome your views, and those of fellow stakeholders, on the proposed changes to the minimum educational standard, minimum age, language proficiency and new medical requirements for Air Traffic Control Officers. Accordingly the Department has prepared the attached Consultation paper (Annex A) which seeks comments on a number of key questions. I also attach copies of Council Directive 2006/23 (Annex B) and a draft amending Statutory Instrument (Annex C) for information.
What is the consultation about?
The rise in air traffic-related delays in the late 1990's prompted the European Commission to examine what should be done to overcome the growing problem. The result was the Single European Sky initiative. To assist the Commission in defining the actions required to take this work further, a high-level group of experts from Member States was convened and one of the issues it considered was the effect of a lack of a common air traffic controller licence in Europe. In its report, the group concluded there was a need to harmonise air traffic controller licences in order to ensure common safety and training standards, and to boost the low mobility level of controllers. The result was Council Directive 2006/23/EC.
As mentioned above, the UK is required to transpose the majority of the provisions of the Directive into UK domestic legislation by 17 May 2008. It is our intention to achieve this with the least possible change to existing UK ATC licensing processes, procedures and costs. The Civil Aviation Authority will separately be updating its Civil Aviation Publications, CAP 584 (Requirements for Initial Air Traffic Control Training) and CAP 744 (United Kingdom Manual of Personnel Licensing - Air Traffic Controllers).
Impact Assessment
In addition to the Consultation paper, the Department has prepared an initial Impact Assessment in which we have sought to analyse the costs and benefits of three potential options for transposition. A copy of the Impact Assessment is at Annex D, and we would also invite comments on this assessment, particularly if there are impacts, positive or negative, that you feel have not been addressed. Supporting evidence should be provided wherever possible.
Who is the consultation likely to be of interest to?
This consultation will be of particular interest to Air Navigation Service Providers, Air Traffic Controller Training Providers, Air Traffic Control Officers and Airport Operators.
A list of consultees to whom this paper has been sent, is provided at Annex E. If you have any suggestions about others who may wish to be involved in this consultation, please let us know.
If you require further copies of this consultation document please contact Bruce Ridout at the above address. This consultation has also been published on the DfT website at http://www.dft.gov.uk
Deadline for receipt of responses
In the consultation document we have set out the questions on which we are looking for particular comments. The deadline for reply to this consultation is Wednesday 19 March 2008.
How to respond
The consultation period begins on 12 December 2007 and will continue for 14 weeks until 19 March 2008. Please ensure your response reaches us by that date. Responses can be posted or emailed directly to:
Bruce Ridout
AAD Aviation Directorate
Zone 1/25
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Email: bruce.ridout@dft.gsi.gov.uk
When responding, please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. If responding on behalf of a larger organisation please make it clear who your organisation represents.
To assist us in the evaluation process, please set out the question to which you are responding, followed by your answer.
If you have any queries about the issues raised in the consultation paper please address them to Bruce Ridout or David Shephard at the address mentioned earlier. Alternatively you can e-mail them to Bruce Ridout at the address already mentioned or to David at david.shephard@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Freedom of Information Act
According to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (2000), all information contained in your response to this consultation may be subject to publication or disclosure. This may include personal information such as your name and address. If you want your response or your name and address to remain confidential, you should explain why confidentiality is necessary. Your request will be granted only if it is it is consistent with Freedom of Information obligations. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your e-mail system will not be regarded as binding on the Department.
Code of practice on consultations
This consultation has been produced in accordance with the principles of the Government’s "Code of Practice on Consultation" which are included at Annex F.
What will happen next?
At the close of the consultation period a summary of responses will be prepared and published on the DfT website at www.dft.gov.uk, by the end of March 2008. A copy of the summary will be sent to everyone responding to the consultation.
Yours faithfully,
Bruce Ridout
