SESAR Deployment Manager planned to become legal entity
SDA becomes International Association
The SESAR Deployment Alliance (SDA) industrial consortium, performing the role of the SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM) for the European Commission, has reached an important milestone in its progress towards transitioning to operate as a legal entity at the end of the year.
The legal entity is a not-for-profit “International Association”, set up according to Belgian law (AISBL). It has now received its Royal Decree. The new organisation is planned to become operational on the 1st January 2018. It is anticipated that the current industry membership will continue with the possibility of new members joining.
The transfer to the new organisation is being undertaken in order to consolidate and simplify the management of the activities of synchronising the deployment of the Pilot Common Project (PCP), the review of the PCP and the role as Datalink Services (DLS) implementation manager. The aim is to optimise the structure and management processes behind the SDM function, and to ensure improved satisfaction levels from both the European Commission as well as operational stakeholders at all levels.
The reorganisation is focussed on internal management and processes. The SDA will be working closely with the Commission on the detail of the transition to ensure a smooth transfer of activities. There will be no impact on the scope of the work carried out with policy and operational stakeholders, but the transition will enhance the SDA’s commitment to being a performance-driven organisation in delivering the SESAR Deployment task.
FPA Amendment
The Specific Grant Agreements (SGAs) which will be finalised as results of the CEF Transport Call 2016 will include some new Implementing Partners on the top of those already part of our Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA). For that reason, the FPA will be amended, as it was the case for all previous Calls.
In addition, it will include the new Legal status of the SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM). Indeed, the SDM role is currently performed by the SESAR Deployment Alliance (SDA) consortium and, as from 1 January 2018, the SDA will operate as a not-for-profit international association under Belgian Law, which will require some administrative updates. This transition is being managed in close cooperation with the European Commission and INEA to optimise structure and processes behind the SDM function with no impact on the scope of the work carried out and on the relationship between Implementing Partners and the SDM. All activities will be performed in full continuity.
Finally, please note that a specific communication will be released by 20 October 2017 to provide you with all relevant information on this change.
The SDA consortium has been selected by European Commission in December 2014 following an open call for proposal.
About SESAR Deployment Manager
SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM) is the industrial partnership that synchronises and coordinates the modernisation of Europe’s air traffic management system under the political oversight of the European Commission.
The main task of SESAR Deployment Manager is to develop, submit to the European Commission for its approval, and execute the Deployment Programme, a project view strictly drawn from the Pilot Common Project (PCP) set by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 716/2014, as well as any subsequent Common Projects in future regulations.
Through the Deployment Programme, the SESAR Deployment Manager will ensure efficient synchronisation and coordination of implementation projects required to implement the PCP, as well as the related investments.
The tasks of the Deployment Manager are described in Article 9 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 409/2013.
The SESAR Deployment Alliance is a partnership of leading airlines, airports and air navigation service providers – the managers and users of Europe’s airspace. The members are respectively represented by the A4 Group of Airlines, SDAG and the A6 Deployment Manager Alliance.
Air France-KLM group, easyJet, IAG and Lufthansa Group created the A4 Group of Airlines at the end of 2012. Their aim is to help accelerate operational improvements in ATM and to coordinate airline participation in the SESAR Deployment Manager to ensure performance driven implementation of new ATM procedures and technologies.
The SESAR-related Deployment Airport Group (SDAG) European Economic Interest Group (EEIG) includes a group of 25 airports from among those represented by Airport Council International Europe (ACI-E) and that are in the scope of the Pilot Common Project.
The A6 Deployment Manager Alliance is formed of five ANSP members of the SESAR JU – DFS (Germany), DSNA (France), ENAIRE (Spain), ENAV (Italy) and NATS (UK), working with PANSA of Poland and a group representing ANSPs members of the COOPANS alliance including AustroControl (Austria), Croatia Control, IAA (Ireland), LFV (Sweden) and Naviair (Denmark).