Safety - Malta

PRB monitoring

▪ MATS has consistently met or exceeded the RP3 EoSM targets since 2020. However, during the last two years, the maturity has decreased for two Management Objectives. In 2024 the decrease in maturity followed an audit performed, where the NSA assessed Safety Promotion at Level C, below the planned and achieved level of 2023.

▪ Malta recorded an increase in the rate of runway incursion (RIs) and in the rate of separation minima infringements (SMIs). The NSA is continually monitoring occurrences to ensure that mitigations are applied to reduce the risks.

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

All five EoSM components of the ANSP meet, or exceed, the RP3 target level, with only two questions below maximum maturity.

MATS planned to achieve the RP3 targets by the last year of RP3, increasing the maturity level for Safety Risk Management to level D and planning to reach maturity level D on three other Management Objectives. MATS performed better than planned and started RP3 with four out of 5 Management Objectives at maturity level D, only having to improve Safety Risk Management by one level. This improvement was achieved in 2021, MATS being at maturity level D for all Management Objectives.

In 2023, the achieved maturity level for Safety Culture and Safety Assurance was reduced to level C. In 2024, MATS regained maturity level D on Safety Assurance, retained level C on Safety Culture, but following an audit, the NSA downgraded Safety Promotion to maturity level C.

While MATS still achieved the RP3 targets, development in 2023 and 2024 could indicate issues continuing the level of performance of the SMS.

Safety occurrences

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

Rate of RIs per 100,000 airport movements - Malta
# Airport name APT movements Number of RI Rate RI per 100,000
1 Malta International 70,705 4 5.66

Malta started RP3 with a rate of RIs at the Member State level well above the Union-wide average and recorded an increase in 2021. In 2022, the rate significantly reduced to gradually increase again over the following years, with a rate in 2024 well above the Union-wide average. The rate of RIs with ANS contribution remains below the Member State level and has shown a smaller increase.

The main contributing factor to the increase in the rate may be coming from the extensive works being carried out at Malta International Airport. The NSA is continually monitoring occurrences and results of the investigations carried out and ensuring that mitigations are applied to reduce any risk. The NSA ensured that the ANSP’s performance and ATCO community is fully briefed about these occurrences through safety meetings/assessments and spot-training.

Malta and MATS should continue assessing occurrences and mitigate risks according to their SMS, if necessary.

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 MATS 40,016 44,905 62,700 84,404 137,544 NA 1 0 1 4 NA 22.3 0.0 1.2 2.9 NA NA -100% 0% +145%

Over RP3, Malta has consistently shown a low rate of SMIs, being well below the Union-wide average. Since 2022, the rate has however recorded an upwards trend, with the rate increasing again in 2024 compared to 2023. The rate continues to be well below the Union-wide average. The rate of RIs with ANS contribution has developed consistently with the rate at Member State level.

Quality of occurences reporting

The number of occurrences reported at Member State level seems consistent with the occurrences reported at the ANSP level, both for SMIs and RIs.

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

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

MATS does not use automated safety data recording systems.