The European Commission is currently going ahead with the formal adoption process of two implementing rules with regard to the transponder codes used in identifying aircraft and to harmonise the performance and interoperability of surveillance systems. These regulations will make a positive contribution to the efficiency and safety goals of the Single European Sky (SES).

The SES (Single European Sky) Committee recently gave its positive opinion to two new regulations the Surveillance Performance and Interoperability (SPI) and Aircraft Identification (ACID) implementing rules which have been developed by Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety or Air Navigation. Now, the European Commission has started the formal adoption process.

The Surveillance Performance and Interoperability (SPI) implementing rule spells out the requirements for the European Air Traffic Management Network. The rule will facilitate the transition to new surveillance technologies and applications which will improve overall safety and efficiency in Europe’s Air Traffic Management system. The Aircraft Identification (ACID) new rule will require ANSPs to use downlinked aircraft identification for identifying aircraft, without having to use the discrete Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) codes alone. This regulation is needed because the problem with the four-digit SSR codes currently used to identify aircraft is that there are only 4,096 unique ones available. As there are up to 33,000 flights per day in Europe, two aircraft with the same code could be flying at the same time in the same area, which is a potential safety issue.

From 2012, ANSPs will have to apply the new rule for at least half of the flights in the core area of Europe. The rule will be applied throughout the Single European Sky from 2020 onwards. Both regulations were drawn up by Eurocontrol in close cooperation with stakeholders and under EASA’s safety oversight.