NSA Training Initiative Programme

NSA Training Initiative Programme

Introduction

The European Commission’s (EC) drive to create a Single European Sky (SES) – where harmonised rules and procedures are utilised across all States – has generated a range of new regulatory rules for both States and ANSPs, many of which necessitate changes in working methods. ANSPs – whether they offer meteorological, aeronautical information, CNS or air traffic services – throughout the region must now be certified by a National Supervisory Authority (NSA) before they can provide a service. The effectiveness of the NSA has therefore become crucial to the achievement of a Single European Sky. To support States and their NSAs, the EUROCONTROL Safety Regulation Commission (SRC) and the Institute of Air Navigation Services (IANS) have developed a programme of training designed to assist in preparing NSA personnel to undertake their various tasks. The intial SRC Safety Regulation Training (SeRT) Programme was established as a means to help States in the implementation of the EUROCONTROL Safety Regulatory Requirements (ESARRs) provisions. The introduction of the Single Sky legislation provided that the regulatory training programme shall focus particular attention on the role and responsibilities of the newly established NSAs as described by the SES legislation. The second aim of the training programme was to take into consideration the needs of the EUROCONTROL Member States who are not members of the EU regarding the high training demand and the need for harmonisation with the EU Member States. Consequently, the ‘NSA Training Initiative’ (NTI) Programme was launched. Overall, this training programme covers topics including a thorough understanding of the SES legislative framework, the functions of a NSA, audit techniques and practices, safety oversight, personnel competence and occurrence reporting and investigation.

About the NSA Training Initiative Programme

The NSA Training Initiative is a dedicated training programme designed to support NSAs in enabling them to meet their obligations under SES legislation (SES I and SES II) and to ensure specific training for those involved in safety oversight activities within their structure.

The NTI Programme has been specifically developed for NSA staff and is ideally suited to those having recently joined the organisation and who wish to gain a comprehensive understanding of the role and functions of a NSA. It will also be of value to those with some experience within a NSA wishing to develop their knowledge and skills of specific NSA functions (e.g. in preparation for taking on greater responsibilities).

Although, the NTI is focused on the supervisory and oversight roles of a NSA, the principles covered, and much of the content, are equally applicable to the work of other regulatory agencies. The courses may also be of interest to those wishing to gain an understanding of regulatory functions and techniques, for example, staff from ANSPs preparing to take on additional responsibilities which include working with the NSA or the regulator.

Training Structure

The NTI Programme comprises mandatory and optional modules to support wider EUROCONTROL objectives and changes to the European regulatory framework resulting from SES legislation and the extension of EASA’s competences to ATM. Therefore, the mandatory elements are designed to provide an appreciation of the legal background that supports an NSA and the core functions performed by an NSA, and the optional elements cover various specialist tasks.

The programme consists of the following elements:

  • Awareness Level courses
    • Introduction to the safety regulation (e-learning)
    • Introduction to the Single European Sky framework
  • Core NSA Task courses
    • Functions of a National Supervisory Authority
    • Audit techniques and practice
  • Specialist Function courses

The NTI Programme is a two and half year programme having a modular structure allowing regulatory staff to follow a full training portfolio.

It consists of a number of modular classroom-based training courses, some of which are mandatory and others which are optional. Although the courses may be followed in any order, it is strongly recommended to undertake the mandatory elements before attempting any of the optional specialist courses. Participants who successfully complete and pass an examination in each mandatory element and three of the optional courses will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement

The National Supervisory Authority Training Initiative training portfolio

Brief Information on the NSA TI Courses

Mandatory elements

  • Introduction to the Single European Sky framework (NSA – SES) This course, which is a foundation for other courses in the NSA Training Initiative, provides an overview of the regulatory framework that applies to ATM and focuses, in particular, on the Single European Sky (SES) regulations.
  • Functions of a National Supervisory Authority (NSA – ORG) This course, which is a core part of the NSA Training Initiative, covers the role and function of a National Supervisory Authority. The course provides an overview of the NSA’s responsibilities and discusses methods by which theses responsibilities can be carried out.
  • Audit Techniques and Practice (NSA – AUDIT) This course is central to the NSA Training Initiative and covers the core oversight functions of an NSA. Effective regulatory oversight relies on audits as well as performance measurement and other complementary techniques. The introduction of SES legislation re-enforced the need for effective safety oversight activities – through audit, inspection and survey – to be conducted at national level. This course provides participants with sufficient understanding of the basic principles of auditing to enable them to conduct in-depth and searching regulatory audits of ATM services according to the international standards ISO 19011 and ISO 9001:2008. The overall course consists of three successive stages; all three stages must be followed.

Optional elements

  • NSA Oversight of Competence Arrangements for ATM staff (NSA – SOCA) This course provides participants with sufficient understanding of the competence elements for the ATM staff having safety related tasks and the methods to carry out oversight.
  • NSA Oversight of Safety Management Arrangements in ATM (NSA – SOSM) The course focuses on an in-depth understanding of the relevant requirements and on the way in which an NSA can conduct effective and efficient regulatory oversight of a service provider’s formal SMS.
  • NSA Oversight of Changes in ATM (NSA – SOCH) This course supports the regulatory oversight function in relation to changes that are made to the ATM system. It focuses on the role that a National Supervisory Authority (NSA) or national regulatory agency must undertake in order to provide proper oversight of ANS providers making such changes.
  • Safety Oversight / Occurrence Reporting and Assessment (NSA – SORA) This course presents the relevant regulations, considers some of the arrangements that may be implemented in a State to satisfy those regulations and reviews some of the mechanisms and techniques that can be used when conducting NSA oversight of the national implementation of the regulations.

Evolution of the NTI Programme

The NTI programme has been developed as modular structure to enable EUROCONTROL to quickly respond to changes in the regulatory framework and the demands of Member States and their NSAs by offering new modules to complement the existing training programme. As such, new modules are planned to be included in the training programme to cover performance scheme, functional airspace blocks as well as new amendments to the SES package.

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