NEAP, which was formed three years ago out of the original Nordic Co-operation, now includes nine northern European ANS providers. They aim to provide seamless, cost-effective service to customers across their respective airspace, in line with the Single European Sky project.

Eamonn Brennan, Chairman of NEAP and Chief Executive of the Irish Aviation Authority, said: "NATS is a significant player in Europe and the Atlantic and we are very pleased they have decided to come on board. It will facilitate sensible decision making across a wide swathe of north Europes airspace."

Paul Barron, Chief Executive of NATS, said: "We are delighted to be joining NEAP at this point in its development. We bring additional strength to the group and geographically are a good fit, providing even greater opportunities for streamlining services to our customers."

NEAPs central focus is on safety, efficiency and environment, seeking common solutions to improving service. The group will align its activities around the North Atlantic interface, as well as with the rest of Europe. NEAP operates through a Strategy Committee and a Coordinating Committee, and has a Programme Office to coordinate activity on a day-to-day basis.

For further information please contact

Matts-Anders Nyberg, manager NEAP programme office
mobile phone +358 400 458 174, matts-anders.nyberg@neaproviders.com

The IAA would also like to issue the following reminders;

Owner / Operator

Owner / Operators shall ensure that their aircraft has an approved Maintenance programme that meets the requirements of Part M subpart C, M.A. 302 refers. Owners/Operators who are not in compliance with M.A. 302 or Aeronautical Notice A12 issue 11 are invalidating their Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC).

Sub-Part G Organisations

The Continuing Airworthiness Manager shall ensure that aircraft contracted to their Sub Part G organisation or where they issue the Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) that an approved Maintenance Programme compliant with the requirements of Aeronautical Notice A 12 must be in place.

The revised MPLA is available for download - Maintenance Programme for Light Aircraft.

The Maintenance Programme for Light Aircraft, Issue 1 Revision 1, MPLA / A (aircraft) & MPLA / H (helicopters) includes the following amendments;

 -

En route operations (over flights) were down -1.2% while North Atlantic Communications flights were down -3.1% % on January 2009.

Commercial air traffic movements at the State airports were down, as follows,

• Dublin -21.2%
• Shannon -28.7%
• Cork -13.6%.

The combined commercial movements for the three State airports were down -21.2%.

view traffic statistics

The awards will be announced in a cermony to take place in Dublin Castle on 19th February  2010.

http://www.irishegovernmentawards.ie/about_awards.html

On the international airline front, many of the IAAs top ten customers were forced to cut jobs and cut capacity as revenues and profits plummeted. For example, British Airways is expecting its revenues for 2009 - 2010 to fall by £1 billion compared with the previous year. This amounts to the single largest loss in BA history according to their Chief Financial Officer. On the other side of the North Atlantic there are many examples of airlines struggling for survival. For example, Delta and Continental Airlines cut their winter capacity by 15 % and 5% respectively and both laid off staff. Mergers and takeovers were common in the airline industry during 2009.

In 2009, the airline industry witnessed the biggest decline in air passenger traffic in the post-war era according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Passenger traffic dropped by 3.5% when compared to 2008 while freight traffic fell 10%. North American carriers saw demand fall by 6% while European airlines suffered a 5% fall in demand. While there were some signs of a recovery in late 2009, the industry faces ‘enormous challenges in 2010 according to IATA boss Giovanni Bisignani. He estimates that airlines collectively lost $11 billion last year and stand to lose a further $5.6 billion in 2010.

Air navigation service providers (ANSPs) were not immune and they too experienced a significant reduction in traffic levels. In Europe in 2009, the total number of flights was 9.4 million, a decrease of 6.6% compared to 2008, and the largest annual decline on record. Traffic fell more severely in the first half of 2009 than in the second half while average daily traffic in Europe was around 25,800 flights a day, compared to 27,700 in 2008. 10% falls in traffic were experienced in the UK, Spain and the Netherlands. Ireland recorded an 8% and a 7.4% fall in its overflight traffic when compared to 2008 and 2007 respectively. The combined terminal traffic at Shannon, Dublin and Cork airports showed a 21% reduction in 2009 when compared to 2008 figures and a 20% reduction when compared to 2007 figures..

Sources: Eurocontrol, IATA

Flight Statistics comparison; 2009 versus 2008 / 2007

ENDS

The Court concluded that the changes associated with the disputed projects do not go beyond the parameters of what can properly be classified as normal on-going change.

The Irish Aviation Authority welcomes the Labour Courts conclusion.

ENDS

For further information:

Lilian Cassin
Corporate Communications Manager

(087) 6474079

(01) 6031455

• There will now be a full resumption of normal working by air traffic controllers with immediate effect and there will be no industrial action of any kind. Those suspended were restored to the pay roll with effect from 1800 hrs Friday 22^nd January 2010.
• IMPACT has withdrawn its objection to participation in the project work giving rise to this dispute.

Labour Court hearings next week will address all three issues (pay, pensions, and project work).

View: Labour Court Proposal as Agreed by the Parties.

ENDS

For further information:

Lilian Cassin

Corporate Communications Manager

(087) 6474079

(01) 6031455

The Authority welcomes the Courts invitation to meet with both parties for talks on all relevant issues.

ENDS

We would ask the Union and its members to listen to the people of Ireland and take a commonsense approach to this issue by returning to normal working practices. Once normal work is resumed the suspensions will be lifted. IMPACT members must however refrain from any ‘work-to-rule activities. The Authority is already aware of a co-ordinated unofficial ‘work-to-rule campaign designed to slow operations and impede flights. These activities include:

1. Co-ordinated position not to respond to overtime call-ins for short-term absences.
   
2. Slowing aircraft push-backs to a minimum level.

The actions of the controllers have an enormous affect on the national economy and our international reputation, as well as the travelling public and those people considering further industrial action must take that into account.

Following yesterdays unwarranted action it is clear that the public will not accept disruption to essential services by highly paid operators in search of a 6% pay rise (costing €6m per annum). The entire country - The Taoiseach, Minister, the Airlines and passengers and business community are demanding that no further disruption takes place and that the Controllers put an end to their disproportionate action in pursuit of pay rises and a refusal to make pension contributions.

We welcome the cross-party support for the Minister for Transports initiative to introduce a no-strike policy for those working in essential services.

The IAA is available and has always been available to meet in the Labour Court. Any discussion will have to link all three issues that need to be addressed: pay increase, pension contribution, and work practices.

The work that controllers are now refusing to do is work they have been doing for the last two years and were doing until three weeks ago. On January 1st 2010, they refused to continue such work. No business can have its staff dictate what work they will do and will not do, particularly in a safety-critical business such as ours.

All air traffic control systems are continuously upgraded as a matter of course. This is a high-tech service requiring ongoing technical upgrades to its systems, many of them Windows-based. The IAAs customers - the airlines - cannot pay additional charges every time such upgrades and updates occur.

The IAA receives no State aid, is funded by the airlines, and would have to pass on to the airlines the entire cost of any pay increase awarded to staff. The airlines have clearly indicated that in the current global downturn such pay rises are unaffordable and will result in the loss of jobs.

The Authority implores the controllers to take the necessary step back to enable the discussions to start.

Ends

For further information:

Lilian Cassin
Corporate Communications Manager

(087) 6474079
(01) 6031455

The IAA wants full services restored as quickly as possible and calls on Controllers and IMPACT to return to normal work so that discussions can take place.  In any such discussions –which the IAA is willing to have - the Authority wants an assurance from controllers and IMPACT that they will link all three issues that need to be addressed: pay increase, pension contribution, and work practices.

The work that controllers are now refusing to do is work they have been doing for the last two years and were doing until three weeks ago.  On January 1st 2010, they refused to continue such work.  No business can have its staff dictate what work they will do and will not do, particularly in a safety-critical business such as ours.

Actions such as yesterday’s stoppages cause distraction and uncertainty.  The provision of a crucial and safety-critical service is difficult in an environment of uncertainty.

All air traffic control systems are continuously upgraded as a matter of course.  This is a high-tech service requiring ongoing technical upgrades to its systems, many of them Windows-based.  The IAA’s customers - the airlines - cannot pay additional charges every time such upgrades and updates occur.  The IAA receives no State aid, is funded by the airlines, and would have to pass on to the airlines the entire cost of any pay increase awarded to staff.

Ends

For further information:
 

Lilian Cassin

Corporate Communications Manager

(087) 6474079

(01) 6031455

The Authority deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to the travelling public and to airlines as a result of todays stoppages by controllers.  Stoppages like those proposed cause distraction and uncertainty.  The provision of a crucial and safety-critical service is difficult in an environment of uncertainty.  The IAA needs the full assurance that all controllers are prepared to carry out all assigned duties. 

The IAA wants full services restored as quickly as possible once the controllers and IMPACT give an assurance that they will address the following three issues together. 

1. Controllers to resume normal working practices - as was the case on all projects until the end of 09;
2. Controllers to suspend their 6% pay claim;
3. Controllers to pay a contribution towards their pension in line with all other public service workers. Contributions are being made by staff in similar bodies including Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority.

The Controllers make no contribution to their own pensions.  The Authority, meanwhile, pays a contribution of 30.5% of salary for every member of staff.

Controllers are significantly well paid.  They are not being asked to take a pay cut.  They are not losing their jobs.  They are being asked to be reasonable in the current economic climate where many are taking pay cuts, and losing their jobs.  Pilots for instance have taken a 10% pay cut, and 1,100 people have lost their jobs in SR Technics.

The controllers and IMPACT say that this is a dispute about new technology and new work practices.  It is not.  This is about a pay demand and a resistance to a pension contribution. The refusal by controllers to do work they had already been doing up to end of ‘09 is a tactic to pressurise the Authority.

The primary concern of the IAA is airline safety.  Updates and system upgrades are a normal part of the provision of a safety-critical high-tech service.  Customers (the airlines) should not have to pay additional charges for such upgrades and updates.

Ends

For further information:

Lilian Cassin

Corporate Communications Manager

(087) 6474079

(01) 6031455

            "Our primary concern in the IAA is airline safety.  Air traffic controllers, through their union IMPACT, have outlined the actions they intend to take today - stoppages in all airports.  These actions are likely to escalate.

"Work stoppages like those proposed for today cause distraction and uncertainty.  We cannot operate a crucial and safety-critical service in an environment of uncertainty.  We need the full assurance that all controllers are prepared to carry out all assigned duties. 

"To resolve this dispute, the Authority requires the controllers and IMPACT to be prepared to address the following three issues together:

1. We need controllers to resume normal working practices - as was the case on all projects until the end of 09;
2. We need them to suspend their 6% pay claim;
3. We need them to pay a contribution towards their pension in line with all other public service workers. (The Controllers make no contribution to their own pensions. The Authority, meanwhile, pays a contribution of 30.5% of salary for every member of staff.)

"They are among the best paid public servants in the country.  On average, they cost the Irish Aviation Authority €160,000 each.  Earnings for the top ten per cent of controllers in the country last year ranged from €170,000 to €230,000.

"They work 182 days a year, they have 137 rest days, and 36 days holidays - in addition to 10 public holidays.  They work a 35 hour week.  They are entitled to a break of 30 minutes for every two hours worked.  They work five days and then get three days off.

"We want them to be reasonable and suspend discussion of this 6% increase.  We have told them we will be happy to review it in 2012.  We want them to make a contribution to their own excellent pensions, in line with everyone else in the public sector.  We have not cut salaries.  We are not cutting jobs."

            "Paying this 6% would cost the IAA an additional € 6 million each year.   This cost would have to be passed in its entirety to the airlines who fund the IAA - the Authority receives no State funding and operates a cost recovery model. 

"The airlines cannot afford to pay any increases in the current economic climate.  The aviation industry is on its knees.  Airlines cannot afford to take on this additional cost.

Ends

For further information:

Lilian Cassin

Corporate Communications Manager

(087) 6474079

(01) 6031455

The industrial action scheduled by IMPACT will involve work stoppages between 14.00 and 18.00 in Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports and will disrupt services at all airports.                                                        .

The IAA apologises to all members of the travelling public and to the airlines for the disruption this action by Controllers will cause.  Passengers are advised to contact their airline for updates.

The IAA calls on IMPACT to desist from this action, to defer the 6% pay claim, to pay a pension contribution like everyone else in the public service, and to return to normal working.

"We had no option this morning but to suspend 12 Air Traffic Controllers," says Liam Kavanagh, Director of Human Resources, IAA.  "These Controllers have stopped doing work on a number of ongoing projects - work they have already been doing for the last two years.  We cannot function effectively if Controllers refuse to carry out ongoing work."

IMPACT has instructed Controllers not to co-operate with a number of ongoing technology projects unless the Authority pays for such changes.  Ongoing change is a core part of the IAAs work as the airlines demand greater efficiency and the European commission has challenged all Air Traffic service providers to become more efficient and embrace change.

            "We cannot function if we have to pay people every time we upgrade a system," Liam Kavanagh says.  "The real issue here is money.  Air traffic controllers want two things:

• They want a 6% pay increase agreed in the last partnership agreement - despite the fact that the whole world has been turned on its head since that agreement, the industry is in trouble, and volumes of work are decreasing;
• They do not want to pay anything towards their pensions - even though all other public service staff now pay the pension levy. The Controllers make no contribution to their own pensions. The Authority, meanwhile, pays a contribution of 30.5% of salary for every member of staff.

We want them to be reasonable and defer discussion of this 6% increase.  We have told them we will be happy to review it in 2012.  And we want them to make a contribution to their own excellent pensions, in line with everyone else in the public sector.  We have not cut salaries.  We are not cutting jobs."

            "These are very well paid staff," Kavanagh continues.  "Yes, they do highly important work - and accordingly we pay them very well.  A Controller will typically earn a basic salary of over €112,000.  When you include PRSI and the pension contribution of 30.5% of salary that the IAA pays, this gives a total package of almost €160,000.  When you contrast that with other public sector staff - teachers, nurses, gardai, all of whom are paying a pension levy, these are very well paid staff, with a gold-plated defined-benefits pension scheme. "

Increases paid to Controllers in the last ten years have also been incredibly generous, according to Kavanagh. 

            "Since 1998, people whose pay is linked to the consumer price index would have gone up by 38%.  National Wage agreements have given people 55%.  Air traffic controllers, however, have gone up by 92% in that same time.  And they now want an additional 6%.

Paying this 6% would cost the IAA an additional € 6 million each year.   This cost would have to be passed to the airlines who fund the IAA - the Authority receives no State funding. 

"These Controllers work a 35 hour week," says Kavanagh.  "They are entitled to a break of 30 minutes for every two hours worked.  They work five days and then get three days off.  They work 182 days a year, they have 137 rest days, and 36 days holidays, in addition to 10 public holidays"

The airlines cannot afford to pay any increases in this climate.

            "The aviation industry is on its knees at the moment," says Kavanagh.  "Airlines facing tough times - including Aer Lingus, Cityjet, Aer Arann - cannot afford to take on additional costs.  Meeting the 6% pay would cost the Authority an additional € 6 million per year.  This would have to be passed on in its entirety to the airlines since we in the IAA receive no funding from Government."

Ends

For further information:

Lilian Cassin

Corporate Communications Manager

(087) 6474079

(01) 6031455

• Forcing the immediate payment of a 6% pay increase agreed as part of the last partnership agreement - Towards 2016;
• Avoiding the payment of a contribution towards their pensions in line with all other public sector staff. ATCOs pay no pension contribution and the Authority pays a contribution of 30.5% of salary.

Flights at all airports are likely to be disrupted by this dispute.  The IAA apologies to all members of the travelling public and to the airlines for the disruption that this action by ATCOs will cause.  Passengers are advised to contact their airline before setting out.

Pay Increase of 6%

The first issue, an increase of 6%:  An increase of 6% to would cost the IAA an additional € 6 million each year.   This cost would have to be passed to the airlines who fund the IAA - the Authority receives no State funding.  The airlines cannot afford to pay.

            "The aviation industry is on its knees at the moment," says Liam Kavanagh, Director of Human Resources, IAA.  "The ailing airlines, including Aer Lingus, Cityjet, Aer Arann - cannot afford to take on additional costs.  Meeting the 6% pay demand to 300 Air Traffic Controllers would cost an additional € 6 million per year.  This would have to be passed on in its entirety to the airlines since we in the IAA receive no funding from Government."

The ATCOs play a vital role in the safety of air transport and are currently highly paid, according to the IAA.  No pay cuts are proposed.  No job losses are envisaged in 2010. 

            "ATCOs are significantly well paid compared to other public sector workers such as teachers, guards and nurses, all of whom also do essential work," says Liam Kavanagh.  "The salary for an ATCO is approximately €115K.  If you factor in the pension contribution and the PRSI contribution that the IAA makes for each person, their total package comes to almost  €160K.  They do vital work and they are very well paid for that work.   This is the wrong time to be looking for a pay increase of 6%.  We have told the ATCOs we will be happy to review this in 2012."

Pension Contribution

The second issue, pension contribution:  The IAA provides a defined benefits scheme for ATCOs. 

"A defined benefits scheme is a Rolls Royce pension, and not many people are lucky enough to have such a pension," says Liam Kavanagh.  "ATCOs make no contribution to their pension. The Authority, meanwhile, makes a contribution of 30.5% of salary for each person.  We are asking them to make a contribution, in line with all of their colleagues in the public sector who now pay a pension levy.  They do not want to make a contribution to their own pensions.

The IAA is asking ATCOs to make this contribution in line with all other public sector staff, and because the pension fund is in deficit to a total of €234 million.

Need for Ongoing Change

Ongoing change is a necessity in the dynamic aviation industry.

            "We need to constantly review and update our systems," says Liam Kavanagh.  "And we cannot afford to make a payment to people every time we upgrade a system.  We are not talking revolutionary change - sometimes the change can be the equivalent of upgrading from Microsoft XP to Microsoft Vista.  That level of ongoing change is vital to ensure that we are being effective."

We would ask IMPACT to desist from this action and to return to normal work.  We can resolve all of these issues without having an impact on airlines and on the travelling public.

Ends

For further information:

Lilian Cassin

Corporate Communications Manager

(087) 6474079

(01) 6031455

18 January 2010: The Irish Aviation Authority has been involved in talks with air traffic controller union IMPACT for the past number of weeks over a number of issues. These issues have included a demand for a pay increase. The Authority hopes common sense will prevail and considers any disruption to air traffic control services in this day and age is wholly unacceptable.

ENDS

Developed by the Irish Aviation Authority with other international air traffic agencies, the ENSURE* project removes the myriad of outdated air routes and allows airlines to plan their flights to route directly through Irish airspace.

ENSURE - En-Route Shannon Upper Airspace Re-Design - is expected to make significant saving in 2010 including: 2.2 million kilometres; 14,800 tonnes of fuel; 46,800 tonnes of CO2; and 195,500 minutes of flight time.

IAA chief executive Mr. Eamonn Brennan said that this IAA initiative clearly demonstrated the Authoritys commitment to streamlining its air traffic control services to improve the productivity and profitability of airlines.

"In simple terms, ENSURE cuts out the old ‘zig-zag flight paths and offers airlines a straight forward point-to-point route when they fly over Irish airspace.

We rely solely on the airline industry for our funding. So it is vital that we provide value for money. This IAA innovative system will reduce costs, maintain the high safety standards and contribute positively to the environment. I commend all staff involved in this project from conception through to implementation," he said.

Irish Aviation Authority is responsible for air traffic management services in 500,000 square kilometres of Irish controlled airspace. Even in the current economic downturn when fewer aircraft are flying, this accounts for approximately 1000 aircraft flying through its airspace every 24 hours. The changes brought about by ENSURE are the biggest in the European air route structure this year and improve the service for both eastbound and westbound flights. 

(See illustration below demonstrating the reduction in flight paths required)

ENDS

Figure 1: the configuration of Irish airspace under the ENSURE project. The complex network of air routes (right) have been removed to enable airlines to flight plan direct routes through Irish airspace resulting in time and cost savings. 

COOPANS is a cooperative agreement between ANSPs and industry whose purpose is to harmonise completely the existing Eurocat ATM systems and to agree, reduce and share the costs of further system upgrades. 

The first of these system upgrades is due to go live in the IAA, Naviair and LFV Group in 2011 and in Austro Control in 2013. Total costs, which are shared between the ANSPs, amount to €125 million to date. This represents savings of approximately 30% compared to each ANSP performing the necessary evolution on an individual basis. Also, the risks associated with the introduction of completely new ATM systems are reduced through this new incremental approach.

The COOPANS agreement also caters for any essential requirements necessitated by the Single European Sky initiative. It demonstrates the intent of IAA, Naviair, the LFV Group and Austro Control to collaborate with each other and the manufacturing industry in a way which will bring real benefits to airlines whilst embracing the spirit of the Single European Sky move towards interoperability and harmonised ATM systems.

ENDS

The CAR determination is a price cap of €3.36 per tonne on air navigation services in Ireland. This is an increase of 32.8% and reflects the lower traffic levels using the airports in 2009 and projected usage for 2010.

This new determination, which comes into effect for flights into Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports from 1st January 2010, also takes into account the increased operational capital expenditure at the Irish airports, (CAPEX), incurred during 2009, which has already been agreed with the airline customers.

Mr Eamonn Brennan, Chief Executive IAA said that the Authoritys customers, the airlines that use Irish airports and fly over Irish airspace, continued to operate in a very competitive market and this must be taken into consideration when deciding on how to manage the new CAR determinations.

"Airlines have suffered more than most companies as a result of the global economic downturn. We cannot ignore this fact when deciding on our terminal charges for 2010. So we will carefully consider all options before finalising the details," he said.

The IAA is a commercial state-sponsored company that provides air navigation services in Irish-controlled airspace and regulates safety standards within the Irish civil aviation industry. The IAA generates its revenue from the aviation industry, in particular airlines, and does not receive ANY Government funding.
The Authority provides terminal air navigation services at Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports the costs of which are charged to airlines using the airports. This is in accordance with the charging regulatory process of the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

The Commission for Aviation Regulation regulates certain aspects of the aviation sector in Ireland. In accordance with the Act, the Commission is required to make determinations governing the maximum levels of aviation terminal services charges that can be levied at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports by the Irish Aviation Authority.

The CAR determination can be viewed at www.aviationreg.ie  

ENDS

Airlines survive by eating into their cash reserves and implementing stringent cost cutting measures, including in many cases staff layoffs. International freight demand in Europe is down also - the only global region to post such a loss - reflecting the general economic conditions of the region.

View Traffic Statistics