There are several environmental issues in ATM. Aircraft noise and aircraft emissions are the issues that have the greatest impact on efficiency and safety.

The normal order of priority in air traffic control is: safety, efficiency and “finally” environmental issues. More often this order is changed in favour of the environment, although the highest priority is still given to safety. The aviation industry continues to grow and the focus on environmental issues has increased worldwide as well. Despite this, safety is still the overriding consideration in all aviation activities. While safety management is improving, the level of safety is more often balanced against efficiency and environment. This could result in a decrease of the level of safety while the target level of safety is still met.

IFATCA Policy is:

In the operation, maintenance and development of the ATM system when balancing the requirements of safety, capacity, efficiency and the environment, the level of safety shall always be maintained or improved, as safety is paramount.

Before environmentally driven procedures are introduced in the ATM system, the increased complexity for the controller shall be taken into consideration. This complexity shall be managed at the appropriate, strategic level.

Provisions for an ATM Environmental Management System should comprise at least the following requirements:

  • An environmental policy is implemented with specific environmental goals;
  • Appropriate Environmental Assessments are conducted for proposed Air Traffic Management Operational Changes;
  • A performance-based approach is utilised;
  • Appropriate environmental metrics are used in decision making and are transparently reported;
  • The interrelation of the various individual environmental factors should be identified and addressed;
  • ANS/ATM personnel receive ATM specific environmental awareness training including aircraft fuel efficiency initiatives;
  • The Continuous improvement cycle model is used;
  • Collaborative Environmental Management is implemented.

Provisions for an environmental assessment should comprise at least the following requirements:

  • An Environmental Assessment is conducted for any ATM procedural changes, airspace redesigns or other similar changes that are believed to have significant and long-term environmental impacts;
  • The appropriate level of Environmental Assessment is conducted for the scope of proposed changes;
  • All individual environmental aspects and impacts are identified and considered while establishing procedures;
  • A performance-based approach is utilised during the assessment process;
  • Interdependencies and trade-offs between various KPAs are suitably balanced, with safety always remaining as a top priority;
  • A detailed report comprising the methodology used, results and decisions reached.
See: Resolutions B1, B2, B3 – WP 87 – Amman 2011

See also: WP 91 – Cancun 2002, WP 93 – Arusha 2008, WP 84 – Dubrovnik 2009 and WP 105 – Dubrovnik 2009, WP 101 – Abu Dhabi 2025

 

Last Update: 29th December 2025
4th November 2019 911 Jean-Francois LepageATSTOC , ATS , TPM , ATM Operations

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