Safety Partnership Agreement Working Group Meeting 23rd September 2010, BMI Stockley Close
Attendees:
Conor Nolan – Aer Lingus Dave Curtis – NATS, Head of Swanwick Safety Spencer Norton – BMI Sharon McAuley – NATS Head of Prestwick Safety Jeremy Purry – bmibaby Mark Asquith – NATS, Head of Airspace Alan Sheldon – British Airways Steve Danson – NATS Union Representative Andy Jost – Continental Airlines Anne Isaac – NATS Principal Human Factors Expert Simon Williams – CAA Gillian Clark - NATS (NSL) Jacky Mills – Eastern Airways Sam Legg – NATS, Secretariat Rob Legg - Easyjet Martjin Schutte – Ryanair Nuno Adhgassi – Netjets Martin Goddard – Thomson Airways Karen Bolton - NATS, Chair Rich Jones – UK Flight Safety Committee David Harrison - NATS Director Safety
Apologies:
Alan Bradbury – Air New Zealand Dirke Bohme – DHL Chris Barrett - Astraeus Airlines John Alsford – Emirates Ian Mattimoe - BMI Garrett MacNamara – IAA Tim Price – British Airways Joost Vermeulen – KLM Miroslav Chalupnicek – Czech Airlines Robin Freeman – Loganair Denisa Kontarova – Czech Airlines Ken Hoy – Qatar Airways Jason Rogogna - Delta Bill Murphy – US Airways Steve Deverall – Flybe Simon Grace – Thomas Cook Ian Cheese - Flybe Rob Holliday – Virgin Andrew Badham - CAA
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Karen Bolton welcomed and thanked everyone for taking the time to attend. Special thanks were given to BMI for hosting the meeting.
ACTIONS
06/10: (PLOC issues) There was a long discussion about frequency 121.5 being used for practice PANS; creating distractions and leading some pilots to turn the volume down. This in turn can make it difficult or impossible to contact pilots on this frequency. However, it was noted that this issue is not the cause of a Prolonged Loss of Communication (PLOC) it just makes it more difficult to recover the situation. It was agreed that investigations into technological solutions should be started. The existing procedures to contact an aircraft in the event of a PLOC can be fairly time consuming. The CAA do not regard the use of 121.5 for practice PANS as a problem. Airlines experience most of these incidents when crossing from French to UK airspace. French controllers often forget to hand aircraft over to the UK because of the way they manage their sectors. ACTION (06.230910): Simon Williams will speak to the appropriate people in CAA to re-open the debate; leading to a formal response of the CAA position by 30/10/10. ACTION (07.230910): Mark Asquith to research possible technical fixes for 121.5 issue and update the SPA as appropriate by 30/10/10. ACTION (08.230910): Karen Bolton and Rich Jones to email their airline contacts to a) get a view for the SPA on what the different SOPs are for this situation and b) let the airlines know what NATS would do in this situation (where 121.5 fits in) 30/10/10. ACTION (09.230910): Sam Legg to find out if NATS is working on technological solutions to contact aircraft directly when they cannot be reached via the normal procedures and provide an update to the SPA by 30/10/10
1 Working together to identify and resolve safety issues whilst maximising the use of the airspace and airport capacity Safety Partnership Agreement Working Group Meeting 23rd September 2010, BMI Stockley Close
SHARE AND REVIEW INDIVIDUAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PLANS – NATS STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SAFETY
David Harrison presented an overview of the NATS Strategic Plan for Safety (SPfS), the NATS risk index and SSE Scheme (see ANNEX A). David Harrison advised the group that a large percentage of the risk of a collision was outside of NATS control; highlighting the importance of groups like the SPA where NATS can work collaboratively with its partners and customers to improve safety in the UK aviation industry.
DEVELOP A SHARED IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Karen Bolton reminded the meeting of the four agreed risk areas that the SPA safety improvement plan would focus on. The areas agreed were:-
Pilot/Controller Interface Airspace Safety Airborne and Approach Runway Safety
PILOT/CONTROLLER INTERFACE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Jacky Mills and Karen Bolton presented the Pilot/Controller Interface Safety Improvement Plan (attached at ANNEX B). There was a lengthy discussion about the plan that resulted in some changes being required.
ACTION (10.230910): Pilot/Controller Interface group to update the plan to a) include an explanation of table abbreviations on page 8 (TCAS) b) review actions ensuring they are explicit about what is to be achieved and which actions will lead to the desired outcomes c) consider reducing the number of actions d) ensure that work that is deemed to fall under another area is highlighted by 30/10/10 ACTION (11.230910): Karen Bolton to re-issue Pilot/Controller Plan at the end of October to SPA members for review and approval.
There was also a discussion about TRUCE and the benefit of pilot attendance. Rich Jones offered to publicise the TRUCE dates in the UKFSC magazine. Rich Jones also suggested that an article around pilot expectations versus ATCO expectations would fit in nicely with TRUCE advert. Anne Isaac offered her input into the article.
ACTION (12.230910): Karen Bolton to pass on Netjet contact details for TRUCE distribution list by 01/10/10. ACTION (13.230910): Sam Legg to contact Garth Harbison and Jodie McMenamin about the possibility of publishing TRUCE dates in FOCUS by 04/10/10 ACTION (14.230910): Steve Danson to write an article on pilot expectations versus ATCO expectations with input from Anne Isaac by 30/10/10.
AIRSPACE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Mark Asquith gave a presentation providing an overview of strategic activity being undertaken by NATS (attached at ANNEX C). Areas covered were:- • Irish/UK FAB and NEAP • Regulation • SESAR • Civil/Military cohesion • Data Management • Aligning concept of operations across borders
2 Working together to identify and resolve safety issues whilst maximising the use of the airspace and airport capacity Safety Partnership Agreement Working Group Meeting 23rd September 2010, BMI Stockley Close
Sharon McAuley gave a presentation on Oceanic Operations (attached at ANNEX D), followed by a question and answer session. Areas covered were:- • Areas of Operation • Separation standards • Current safety issues
The group discussed the best way to progress the Airspace Safety Improvement Plan. Rob Legg and Dave Curtis agreed to jointly lead the work. The following people agreed that they would like to be involved in the working group:-
Rob Legg – Easyjet (Lead) Dave Curtis – NATS (Lead) Tim Price (tbc) – British Airways Jeremy Purry – bmibaby Martin Goddard – Thomson
ACTION (15.230910): Sam Legg to provide previous risk area output in relation to Airspace Safety from the extraordinary SPA meeting on 24th June for consideration and incorporation into the Airspace Safety Improvement Plan by 01/10/10. ACTION (16.230910): Airspace Safety Improvement Plan group to provide a draft plan/charter and progress update at the next SPA meeting on 01/12/10.
COMMUNICATION
Sam Legg provided a progress update on SPA communication (attached at ANNEX E). The group endorsed the SPA Communications Strategy and agreed that the strategy would form the foundation to develop an SPA Communication Plan. The importance of creating a visual identity for the SPA was raised; the group agreed that a logo would go some way to provide this.
ACTION (17.230910): All to provide ideas for a logo to Sam Legg by 30/10/10.
Sam Legg presented an overview of the SPA website. The website would be going live in parallel with the new NATS Customer website at the end of October. After discussions the group requested that a facility for members to register interest in participating in particular SPA work groups be incorporated into the website. The group also agreed that for the launch, the website should have an overview of the SPA and achievements to date.
ACTION (18.230910): Sam Legg to incorporate a facility on the SPA website for members to register interest in participating in SPA work groups by 15/11/10. ACTION (19.230910): Sam Legg to prepare the SPA website for launch by 30/10/10.
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE SETTING ADVISORY TOOL – (BAT)
Dave Curtis presented an overview of the new BAT tool (attached at ANNEX F). The group requested an electronic version of the BAT information sheet and AIC.
ACTION (20.230910): Sam Legg to distribute electronic version of BAT information sheet and AIC to SPA members by 01/10/2010
3 Working together to identify and resolve safety issues whilst maximising the use of the airspace and airport capacity Safety Partnership Agreement Working Group Meeting 23rd September 2010, BMI Stockley Close
MCRM DATES
Anne Isaac announced the dates for MCRM at Prestwick.
8th February 2010 16th February 2010 24th February 2010 23rd March 2010
SPA MEETING DATES 2011
The group agreed that two meetings would be hosted by NATS and that the remaining two meetings would be hosted by other members.
NEXT MEETING DATE
December 1st 2010 NATS, CTC, Whiteley, Fareham
2011 MEETING DATES
16th March 2011 NATS, CTC, Whiteley, Fareham 15th June 2011 Flybe, Exeter 21st September 2011 tbc 7th December 2011 NATS, CTC, Whiteley, Fareham
4 Working together to identify and resolve safety issues whilst maximising the use of the airspace and airport capacity Safety Partnership Agreement Working Group Meeting 23rd September 2010, BMI Stockley Close
SPA ACTIONS
Action No. Meeting Action By When Completed/ Lead Date Comments 02/10 02/03/10 Disseminate Class D airspace awareness material to the 01/06/10 Dave Curtis airlines 06/10 02/03/10 Take PLOC issues to the military and feedback to the SPA 01/06/10 Andrew Badham 06.230910 Speak to the appropriate people in CAA to re-open the 01/12/10 Simon debate on the use of 121.5; leading to a formal response Williams of the CAA position
07.230910 Research possible technical fixes for 121.5 issue and 30/10/10 Mark Asquith update the SPA as appropriate
08.230910 Email airline contacts to a) get a view for the SPA on what 30/10/10 Karen the different SOPs are for this situation and b) let the Bolton/Rich airlines know what NATS would do in this situation (where Jones 121.5 fits in)
09.230910 Find out if NATS is working on technological solutions to 30/10/10 Sam Legg contact aircraft directly when they cannot be reached via the normal procedures and provide an update to the SPA
10.230910 Pilot/Controller Interface work group to update the plan to 30/10/10 Karen Bolton a) include an explanation of table abbreviations on page 8 (TCAS) b) review actions ensuring they are explicit about what is to be achieved and which actions will lead to the desired outcomes c) consider reducing the number of actions d) ensure that work that is deemed to fall under another area is highlighted
11.230910 Re-issue Pilot/Controller Plan at the end of October to SPA 30/10/10 Karen Bolton members for review and approval.
12.230910 Pass on Netjet contact details for TRUCE distribution list 01/10/10 Karen Bolton
5 Working together to identify and resolve safety issues whilst maximising the use of the airspace and airport capacity Safety Partnership Agreement Working Group Meeting 23rd September 2010, BMI Stockley Close
Action No. Meeting Action By When Completed/ Lead Date Comments 13.230910 Contact Garth Harbison and Jodie McMenamin about the 04/10/10 Sam Legg possibility of publishing TRUCE dates in FOCUS
14.230910 Write an article on pilot expectations versus ATCO 30/10/10 Steve expectations with input from Anne Isaac Danson/Anne Isaac 15.230910 Provide previous risk area output in relation to Airspace 01/10/10 Sam Legg Safety from the extraordinary SPA meeting on 24th June for consideration and incorporation into the Airspace Safety Improvement Plan
16.230910 Airspace Safety Improvement Plan group to provide a draft 01/12/10 Dave Curtis/ plan/charter and progress update at the next SPA meeting Rob Legg
17.230910 Provide ideas for an SPA logo to Sam Legg 30/10/10 ALL/Sam Legg
18.230910 Incorporate a facility on the SPA website for members to 15/11/10 Sam Legg register interest in participating in SPA work groups
19.230910 Prepare the SPA website for launch 30/10/10 Sam Legg
20.230910 Distribute electronic version of BAT information sheet and 01/10/10 Complete – sent out with Sam Legg AIC to SPA members minutes
6 Working together to identify and resolve safety issues whilst maximising the use of the airspace and airport capacity