1.   General

The Commission of the European Union has adopted Regulation (EC) No 73/2010 of 26 January 2010 laying down requirements on the quality of aeronautical data and aeronautical information for the single European sky (SES). In terms of scope, the aeronautical information data process chain extends from the original data sources (e.g. surveyors, procedure designers, airport operators etc) through Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) and publication to the end users of the data for aeronautical applications. The purpose of the implementing rules is to supplement and strengthen the relevant existing requirements of ICAO Annex 15.

2.   Requirements

This AIC lays down the requirements on the quality of aeronautical data and aeronautical information in terms of accuracy, resolution and integrity.

3.   Applicability

The Regulation is applicable to the European air traffic management network (EATMN) systems, their constituents and associated procedures involved in the origination, production, storage, handling, processing, transfer and distribution of aeronautical data and aeronautical information.

It shall apply to the following aeronautical data and aeronautical information.

1. The integrated aeronautical information package made available by Member States, with the exception of aeronautical information circulars;
2. Electronic obstacle data, or elements thereof, where made available by Member States;
3. Electronic terrain data, or elements thereof, where made available by Member States;
4. Aerodrome mapping data, where made available by Member States.

This AIC shall apply up to the moment when the aeronautical data and/or aeronautical information are made available by the aeronautical information service provider to the next intended user.

This AIC shall apply to the following parties:

1. air navigation service providers;
2. operators of those aerodromes and heliports, for which instrument flight rules (IFR) or Special-visual flight rules (VFR) procedures have been published in national aeronautical information publications;
3. public or private entities providing, for the purposes of the Regulation:
   1. Services for the origination and provision of survey data;
   2. Procedure design services;
   3. Electronic terrain data;
   4. Electronic obstacle data.

This AIC extends from the point of origination of the data, through to the publication of the data in the IAIP, including printing and distribution, to the point of delivery to the next intended user, with the intent of maintaining assigned integrity levels throughout.

This AIC shall apply up to the moment when the aeronautical data and/or aeronautical Information are made available by the aeronautical information service provider to the next intended user.

INTEROPERABILITY AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

4.   Data set

The parties referred to in this AIC shall provide aeronautical data and aeronautical information in accordance with the data set specifications described in Annex I of the Regulation.

5.   Data exchange

The parties referred to in this AIC shall ensure that the aeronautical data and aeronautical information referred to in subsection 3 points a,b,c,d, are transferred between themselves by direct electronic connection.

Air navigation service providers shall ensure that the aeronautical data and aeronautical information referred to in subsection 3 points a,b,c,d, are transferred between themselves in accordance with the data exchange format requirements laid down in Annex II of the Regulation.

6.    Data quality

When providing aeronautical data and/or aeronautical information, the parties referred in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall comply with the evidence requirements laid down in Annex IV, Part B of the Regulation.

When exchanging aeronautical data and/or aeronautical information between themselves, the parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3, shall establish formal arrangements in accordance with the requirements laid down in Annex IV, Part C of the Regulation.

When acting as data originators, the parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3, shall comply with the data origination requirements laid down in Annex IV, Part D of the Regulation.

When acting as the entity responsible for the official request for a data origination activity, the parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that:

1. the data are created, modified or deleted in compliance with their instructions;
2. without prejudice to Annex IV, Part C of the Regulation, their data origination instructions contain, as a minimum:
   1. an unambiguous description of the data that are to be created, modified or deleted;
   2. confirmation of the entity to which the data are to be provided;
   3. the date and time by which the data are to be provided;
   4. the data origination report format to be used by the data originator.

The parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall comply with the data process requirements laid down in Annex IV, Part E of the Regulation.

The parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that error reporting, feedback and rectification mechanisms are established and operated in accordance with the requirements laid down in Annex IV, Part F of the Regulation.

7.   Consistency, timeliness and personnel performance

Aeronautical information service providers shall ensure that aeronautical data and aeronautical information items published in the AIP are annotated to indicate those that do not meet the data quality requirements laid down in the Regulation.

The parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that their personnel responsible for tasks in the provision of aeronautical data or aeronautical information are made aware of and apply:

1. the requirements for AIP amendments, AIP supplements and NOTAM laid down in the ICAO standards referred to in points 5, 6 and 7 of Annex III of the Regulation;
2. the update cycles applicable to the issue of AIP amendments and supplements referred to in point (a) of this paragraph for the areas for which they are providing aeronautical data or aeronautical information.

Without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 2096/2005, the parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that their personnel responsible for tasks in the provision of aeronautical data or aeronautical information are adequately trained, competent and authorised for the job they are required to do.

8.   Tools and software requirements

The parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that all tools and software used to support the origination, production, storage, handling, processing and transfer of aeronautical data and/or aeronautical information comply with the requirements laid down in Annex V of the Regulation.

9.   Data protection

The parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that aeronautical data and aeronautical information are protected in accordance with the requirements laid down in Annex VI of the Regulation.

The parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that traceability is maintained on each data item during its period of validity and for at least 5 years following the end of that period or until 5 years after the end of the period of validity for any data item calculated or derived from it, whichever is later.

QUALITY, SAFETY AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

10.   Management requirements

Without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 2096/2005, the parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall implement and maintain a quality management system covering their aeronautical data and aeronautical information provision activities, in accordance with the requirements laid down in Annex VII, Part A of the Regulation.

The parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that the quality management system referred to in the above paragraph defines procedures to meet the safety management objectives laid down in Annex VII, Part B and the security management objectives laid down in Annex VII, Part C of the Regulation.

The parties referred to in subsection 3 points 1,2,3 shall ensure that any changes to the existing systems referred to in the para 3 or the introduction of new systems are preceded by a safety assessment, including hazard identification, risk assessment and mitigation, conducted by the parties concerned.

11.   Further information

Further information can be obtained by: