Safety - France

PRB monitoring

▪ DSNA did not achieve the RP3 targets for the EoSM, as the achieved maturity levels decreased in 2023. Despite some improvements recorded in 2024, DSNA did not achieve the target in three out of five Management Objectives.

▪ France recorded a decrease in the rate of runway incursions (RIs) and a significant increase in the rate of separation minima infringements (SMIs). DSNA should continue assessing occurrences and should mitigate risks according to their SMS, if necessary.

▪ France 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)

Only two EoSM components of the ANSP meet the RP3 target level. Over 2024 improvement was observed for one question for “Safety policy and Objectives” improving the maturity of the component from level B to the level C and consequently achieving the target for this component. Additionally, the ANSP will need to improve in “Safety Risk Management”, “Safety Promotion” and Safety Culture” to achieve RP3 targets. “The outcome of 2023 ongoing oversight including findings raised during May 2023 SMS focused audit led to an in-depth review of all the assessment criteria of each EoSM questions … some of the detailed requirements for some questions were found not (anymore) met. A slight delay was observed for some actions planned to be implemented by the end of 2024 resulting in the value for 3 areas not meeting RP3 targets.”

Following the comprehensive review of DSNA’s SMS function in 2023, which resulted in a downgrade in four Management Objectives, DSNA implemented corrective actions in 2024. These efforts led to an improved maturity in the area of Safety Policy and Objectives. However, DSNA has not achieved the targets related to Safety Risk Management, Safety Promotion, and Safety Culture.

The NSA has expressed concerns that DSNA may not reach the required performance levels in the coming year. As a result, it has established corrective actions aligned with the RP3 EoSM targets and initiated additional coordination efforts to support the transition to the EoSM RP4 questionnaire and the achievement of RP4 objectives.

Safety occurrences

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

Rate of RIs per 100,000 airport movements - France
# Airport name APT movements Number of RI Rate RI per 100,000
1 Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle 561,642 4 0.71
2 Nice-Côte d’Azur 247,749 2 0.81
3 Paris-Orly 232,878 3 1.29
4 Marseille-Provence 213,729 3 1.40
5 Lyon 181,940 0 0.00
6 Bâle-Mulhouse 153,906 0 0.00
7 Toulouse-Blagnac 147,624 0 0.00
8 Montpellier-Méditerranée 146,511 1 0.68
9 Nantes-Atlantique 126,363 0 0.00
10 Bordeaux-Mérignac 110,554 1 0.90
11 Lille-Lesquin 97,581 0 0.00
12 Rennes-Saint-Jacques 96,782 0 0.00
13 Toussus-le-Noble 95,501 0 0.00
14 Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne 93,958 0 0.00
15 Strasbourg-Entzheim 88,432 0 0.00
16 Cannes-Mandelieu 77,604 0 0.00
17 Pau-Pyrénées 76,393 0 0.00
18 Paris-Le Bourget 74,130 2 2.70
19 Brest-Bretagne 61,433 0 0.00
20 Beauvais-Tillé 58,052 0 0.00
21 Lyon-Bron 55,486 0 0.00
22 Perpignan-Rivesaltes 53,957 0 0.00
23 Limoges-Bellegarde 53,348 0 0.00
24 Ajaccio-Napoléon-Bonaparte 52,538 1 1.90
25 Chambéry-Savoie 49,966 0 0.00
26 Avignon-Caumont 47,370 1 2.11
27 Annecy-Meythet 45,595 0 0.00
28 Biarritz-Bayonne-Anglet 44,786 0 0.00
29 Grenoble-Isère 44,193 0 0.00
30 Bastia-Poretta 41,701 0 0.00
31 Nîmes-Garons 39,123 0 0.00
32 La Rochelle-Ile de Ré 38,640 0 0.00
33 Hyères-Le Palyvestre 36,078 2 5.54
34 Poitiers-Biard 35,578 0 0.00
35 Béziers-Vias 28,454 0 0.00
36 Rouen 26,296 0 0.00
37 Figari Sud-Corse 22,939 0 0.00
38 Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo 22,223 1 4.50
39 Caen-Carpiquet 21,127 0 0.00
40 Carcassonne-Salvaza 20,545 0 0.00
41 Tarbes-Lourdes Pyrénées 19,548 0 0.00
42 Istres-Le Tubé 19,506 2 10.25
43 Lorient-Lann Bihoué 18,933 3 15.85
44 Saint-Etienne-Bouthéon 17,937 0 0.00
45 Tours-Val de Loire 17,497 0 0.00
46 Bergerac-Roumanière 16,911 0 0.00
47 Saint-Nazaire-Montoir 16,675 0 0.00
48 Deauville-Normandie 14,230 0 0.00
49 Quimper-Pluguffan 13,766 0 0.00
50 Calvi-Sainte-Catherine 13,758 0 0.00
51 Châteauroux-Déols 12,725 0 0.00
52 Agen-La Garenne 12,319 0 0.00
53 Brive-Souillac 11,940 0 0.00
54 Rodez-Marcillac 11,274 0 0.00
55 Dôle-Tavaux 10,237 0 0.00
56 Châlons-Vatry 8,440 0 0.00
57 Metz-Nancy-Lorraine 8,423 0 0.00
58 Albert-Bray 8,171 1 12.24

France recorded a stable rate of RIs over RP3 below the Union-wide average, but showing a small increase in the 2024 rate. The rate of RIs with ANS contribution also increased in 2024 compared to 2023.

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 DSNA 1,051,941 1,415,222 2,178,853 2,368,932 2,493,094 133 272 304 226 360 12.6 19.2 14.0 9.5 14.4 NA +52% -27% -32% +51%

France recorded an increase in the rate of separation minima infringements (SMIs) in 2024, reaching a level similar to the first years of RP3. The rate remained above the Union-wide average throughout RP3. This result also applies to the rate of SMIs with ANS contribution.

France and DSNA should continue assessing occurrences and should mitigate risks according to their SMS, if necessary.

Quality of occurences reporting

Throughout RP3, France has recorded a high number of SMIs. The rate of a Member State is significantly dependent on a number of factors like reporting culture, principles for determining safety impact, use of automated safety data recording system, the operational environment, etc. In addition, the identification of occurrences that have ATM/CNS contribution is not a straightforward exercise and is subject to interpretations and subjective judgement that can differ from one ANSP and NSA to another. Hence, any comparison of the number of occurrences or the rate for one Member State with another Member State should be done with great caution.

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

Use of automated safety data recording system - 2024
For RIs For SMIs
  ✘   ✓

DSNA monitors and analyses safety performance using specific safety tools, including the automated safety data recording systems for the recording of SMIs. The outcome is overseen by the NSA.