Safety - Cyprus

PRB monitoring

▪ Cyprus did not manage to improve sufficiently over RP3 and did not achieve the RP3 targets for two of the five Management Objectives. This most likely will cause challenges during RP4.

▪ Cyprus showed a low rate of runway incursions (RIs) over RP3. The numbers of separation minima infringements (SMIs) showed a notable increase in 2024, but the rate remained below the Union-wide average.

▪ Cyprus should ensure that the ANSP implements, in a timely and cost-efficient manner, the necessary additional measures such as enhanced processes, improved allocation of resources, targeted training, and systematic reviews. Without such actions, the achievement of the RP4 targets could be jeopardised.

Effectiveness of Safety Management (EoSM) (KPI#1)

Three EoSM components of the ANSP meet the RP3 target level. Over 2024, degradation was observed for one question for “Safety Risk Management” reducing the maturity of the component from level D to the level C, and consequently not achieving the target for this component. Additionally, the ANSP will need to improve four questions for “ Safety Policy and Objectives” to achieve RP3 targets.

In 2023, DCAC Cyprus improved its performance in Safety Risk Management, successfully achieving the RP3 EoSM target for that Management Objective in 2023. However, in 2024, the achieved level was downgraded by the NSA to level C for one out of three questions

Over the entire RP3 period, DCAC Cyprus has shown no significant improvement in the area of Safety Policy and Objectives, which remains at a B level of maturity and lagged behind the performance as outlined in the performance plan.

Safety occurrences

Rate of runway incursions (RIs) (PI#1)

Rate of RIs per 100,000 airport movements - Cyprus
# Airport name APT movements Number of RI Rate RI per 100,000
1 Larnaca 0 NA NA
2 Papho 0 NA NA

In 2024, Cyprus recorded one runway incursion and a notable increase in separation minima infringements. This led the NSA to conduct a human factors-focused audit, issue safety recommendations, and mandate targeted training to enhance SMS staff’s analysis of human performance-related safety occurrences.

Rate of separation minima infringements (SMIs) (PI#2)

Rate of SMI with ANS contribution per 100,000 flight hours
# ANSP
Flight hours
Number of SMIs
Rate of SMI per 100,000 flight hours
% variation in rate of SMIs
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
1 CYATS 78,614 116,453 167,670 191,955 181,263 0 3 6 5 8 0.0 2.6 3.6 2.6 4.4 NA 0% +39% -27% +69%

In 2024, Cyprus recorded a notable increase in separation minima infringements and an increase in the rate of SMIs which though stayed below the Union-wide average.

An increase in occurrences led the NSA to conduct several audits in 2024 focusing on the causal factors (including human factor aspects) of the SMIs, as well as the implementation of the safety recommendations of the investigations. The NSA has mandated the delivery of specific human factors training to SMS staff so as to better analyse the root causes behind the serious safety occurrences and decided also to include human factors analysis in the NSA training plan so that its inspectors can better oversee the ANSP’s efforts to minimise human errors within the ATC environment.

Quality of occurences reporting

The NSA has in place the “NSA procedure for the monitoring of ANS Performance”. According to this procedure, the NSA monitors the specific performance indicators twice a year. Based on these, the NSA analyses the trends and takes the necessary measures accordingly.

Use of automated safety data recording system (ASDRS) (PI#3)

Use of automated safety data recording system - 2024
For RIs For SMIs
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DCAC Cyprus does not use automated safety data recording systems.