scope:

The scope of ATS unit safety reviews should include at least the following issues:

Regulatory issues to ensure that:

a) ATS operations manuals, ATS unit instructions and air traffic control (ATC) coordination procedures are complete, concise and up-to-date;

b) the ATS route structure, where applicable, provides for:

1) adequate route spacing; and

2) crossing points for ATS routes located so as to reduce the need for controller intervention and for inter- and intra-unit coordination;

c) the separation minima used in the airspace or at the aerodrome are appropriate and all the provisions applicable to those minima are being complied with;

d) where applicable, provision is made for adequate observation of the manoeuvring area, and procedures and measures aimed at minimizing the potential for inadvertent runway incursions are in place. This observation may be performed visually or by means of an ATS surveillance system;

e) appropriate procedures for low visibility aerodrome operations are in place;

f) traffic volumes and associated controller workloads do not exceed defined, safe levels and that procedures are in place for regulating traffic volumes whenever necessary;

g) procedures to be applied in the event of failures or degradations of ATS systems, including communications, navigation and surveillance systems, are practicable and will provide for an acceptable level of safety; and

h) procedures for the reporting of incidents and other safety-related occurrences are implemented, that the reporting of incidents is encouraged and that such reports are reviewed to identify the need for any remedial action.

Operational and technical issues to ensure that:

a) the environmental working conditions meet established levels for temperature, humidity, ventilation, noise and ambient lighting, and do not adversely affect controller performance;

b) automation systems generate and display flight plan, control and coordination data in a timely, accurate and easily recognizable manner and in accordance with Human Factors principles;

c) equipment, including input/output devices for automation systems, are designed and positioned in the working position in accordance with ergonomic principles;

d) communications, navigation, surveillance and other safety significant systems and equipment:

1) are tested for normal operations on a routine basis;

2) meet the required level of reliability and availability as defined by the appropriate authority;

3) provide for the timely and appropriate detection and warning of system failures and degradations;

4) include documentation on the consequences of system, subsystem and equipment failures and degradations;

5) include measures to control the probability of failures and degradations; and

6) include adequate backup facilities and/or procedures in the event of a system failure or degradation; and

e) detailed records of systems and equipment serviceability are kept and periodically reviewed.

Note.- In the context above, the terms reliability and availability have the following meanings:

1) Reliability. The probability that a device or system will function without failure over a specified time period or amount of usage; and

2) Availability. The ratio of percentage of the time that a system is operating correctly to the total time in that period.

Licensing and training issues to ensure that:

a) controllers are adequately trained and properly licensed with valid ratings;

b) controller competency is maintained by adequate and appropriate refresher training, including the handling of aircraft emergencies and operations under conditions with failed and degraded facilities and systems;

c) controllers, where the ATC unit/control sector is staffed by teams, are provided relevant and adequate training in order to ensure efficient teamwork;

d) the implementation of new or amended procedures, and new or updated communications, surveillance and other safety significant systems and equipment is preceded by appropriate training and instruction;

e) controller competency in the English language is satisfactory in relation to providing ATS to international air traffic; and

f) standard phraseology is used.