This Decision addresses safety, economic and regulatory coordination issues related to the provision of data to airspace users for the purpose of safety-critical air navigation. Acknowledging the importance of correct data and information being fed into the airborne system and highlighting that the lack of such correct data could lead to significant safety risks for a flight, the specific objectives are to: — ensure that the aeronautical data and information for use on certified aircraft systems are processed in a way that guarantees their quality and meets the requirements set by the aircraft manufacturers for the airspace endusers’ intended use; — provide cost-efficient rules in the field of air navigation and aircraft operation by avoiding double oversight of the data services by the competent authority and by the operators contracting their services; and — ensure that the Single European Sky (SES) objectives on interoperability with respect to data used on aircraft systems are achieved. The changes are expected to support the implementation of performance-based navigation (PBN) throughout the European Union and provide for cost-effectiveness through the reduction of regulatory burden on aircraft operators and on the competent authorities performing their oversight at national level. The changes will apply from 2019, and the amendments to the associated acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards the management of aeronautical databases (discharging aircraft operators from their data suppliers auditing obligation) will be issued through a separate Decision. However, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/373 laying down common requirements for providers of air traffic management (ATM)/air navigation services (ANS) and other ATM network functions and their oversight allows data services (DAT) providers, on a voluntary basis, to apply for, and be granted, the relevant certificates immediately upon the entry into force of said Regulation. Thus, this Decision is providing operators the possibility to also use certified DAT providers before the applicability date of the new provisions.

The Agency has determined the need to issue acceptable means of compliance and guidance material to facilitate the certification and oversight of the service providers that provide ATM/ANS and other ATM network functions.