Safety - MUAC

PRB monitoring

▪ MUAC started RP3 achieving the RP3 targets, but in 2024 the performance has degraded and MUAC did not meet the RP3 targets in one Management Objectives.

▪ MUAC recorded a decrease in the rate of separation minima infringements compared with 2023. The rate is below the Union-wide average.

▪ The Member States of MUAC 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)

Four out of five EoSM components of the ANSP meet the RP3 target level. Over 2024, degradation was observed for “Safety Culture” reducing the maturity of the component from level C to the level B, and consequently not achieving the target for this component. Although MUAC reacted quickly to a major issue within the safety management system, the corrective action plan was not completed by the end of the year. Apart from this, safety performance remained aligned with the RP3 plan.

MUAC achieved the RP3 targets for all management objectives from the start of the reference period, but in 2024 degraded its performance in safety culture from level C to level B.

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 MUAC 289,985 311,843 545,651 605,633 634,951 5 0 8 17 14 1.7 0.0 1.5 2.8 2.2 NA -100% 0% +91% -21%

The rate of SMIs at the MUAC level has remained low and below the Union-wide average throughout RP3. Between 2022 and 2023, the rate increased with a more than double number of SMI occurrences with ANS contribution, before decreasing slightly between 2023 and 2024.

The NSA argues that the raw number of incidents over the total number of movements is very low thanks to the open culture within the ANSP organisation that allows open evaluation and reporting of incidents.

Quality of occurences reporting

The number of occurrences at ANSP level is reported by the Netherlands in their monitoring reports. Considering the difference in airspace, MUAC SMIs should not be counted as part the SMIs for the Member State which could distort the rate at Member State level. If Member States count MUAC SMIs, Member States should only include MUAC SMIs which relate to the Member States’ airspace.

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

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

MUAC is using a tool (conflict alert message analysis and reporting - CAMAR) to record all short-term conflict alert events generated by the system. Comparing the number of events automatically logged by CAMAR with the number of occurrences reported by air traffic controllers makes it possible to determine the level of reporting inside the operations room. In 2024, all events detected in CAMAR were also reported manually for incident investigation.