A note on the illustrations

Transcription

1 Annual Report 2003

2 A note on the illustrations The photographs by Lukas Felzmann are taken from his Landfall exhibition at the Fotostiftung Schweiz. The pictures show red-winged blackbirds (agelaius phoeniceus) in their winter habitat on the West Coast of the USA. The birds are noted for the order, versatility and confidence with which they fly within their flocks the same virtues that air traffic management strives to provide. Lukas Felzmann, who is a Swiss national, has been working in California for more than 20 years. He teaches photography at the San Francisco Art Institute and at Stanford University. His creative work is a constant exploration of the interface between nature and civilisation. The Fotostiftung Schweiz or Swiss Foundation of Photography, which was established in 1971, is dedicated to acquiring, preserving and presenting photographic works. The Foundation boasts an archive and a collection which now extend to over 30 photographic estates and some original prints from outstanding photographers. The Foundation organises four exhibitions a year at its premises in Winterthur, publishes its own works on the history of Swiss photography and supports the current photographic scene by purchasing contemporary work.

3 Table of Contents Business Year 2003 Chairman of Board of Directors Statement 4 CEO s Statement 5 Board of Directors 6 Executive Management 7 Highlights of the Year 8 Key Performance Statistics 10 After the Accident of Überlingen 15 Integration of Civil and Military Air Navigation Services 16 Operational Challenges 17 Skyguide Training Center 18 Technics 19 Human Resources 20 Finance 21 The Company Corporate Profile 24 Annual Objectives and Strategy 26 Safety Management 27 Management 29 Financial Report Skyguide Income Statement 38 Skyguide Balance Sheet 39 Skyguide Statement of Changes in Equity 40 Notes to the skyguide Financial Statements Skyguide Comments Proposal of the Board of Directors 50 Report of the Auditors 51 Movements in skyguide Property, Plant and Equipment 52 Statement for Air Navigation Services 54 Skyguide Consolidated Income Statement 56 Skyguide Consolidated Balance Sheet 57 Skyguide Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 58 Notes to the skyguide Consolidated Financial Statements Report of the Auditors 62 Glossary 63 Information 64 skyguide Annual Report

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5 Business Year 2003 In memory of all the victims of the mid-air collision over Überlingen and of Peter Nielsen.

6 Chairman of Board of Directors Statement Air transport reveals contradictions. Here the urge for unfettered mobility, which tends to be at its most insistent when we could actually stay at home, i.e. in our free time; there the desire for peace which, once we have returned home from our trip, is more fiercely defended than ever. Here the campaign for low air fares; there the demand for maximum safety. The calls for a Single European Sky, a unified and boundless airspace, seems to contradict the reinforcement of national borders that were drawn in an era when flying was still a dream. Skyguide has always endured the consequences of countless and often-contradictory sectoral interests. Safety and money are just one example, albeit an important one. But our guiding principles remain unchanged: to provide efficient air navigation services that meet the highest safety standards. We are only able to do so, however, if we have the financial resources to develop and deploy the best possible technology, and to train our personnel to meet the highest safety requirements. We still have gaps to close in the procurement of our finances; and here we must stand firm. It would be wrong, though, to believe that money is the only route to excellence in safety. The awareness of each individual that they are responsible for ensuring safe workflows and procedures within our demanding profession cannot simply be bought with money or similar incentives. It is unconditional individual responsibility that is required. I am delighted to report that this awareness is alive and well within our organisation. And we will be doing our utmost to promote it further in the months and years ahead. Living and dealing with contradictions makes sizeable demands on any company s top- and middle-management staff. Responsibility and authority are an inseparable pair. And I offer all those who are prepared to accept such responsibility my deepest appreciation. I urge them to continue to do so, to accept their management challenge and to nail their colours firmly to our corporate mast. That I, as chairman of the board of skyguide for the last nine years, have borne part of this responsibility is a source of great satisfaction to me. And I would like to close my remarks with my warmest thanks to all those who have accompanied and assisted me in these demanding duties with their confidence and support. Franz Kellerhals Chairman of the Board of Directors February skyguide Annual Report 2003

7 CEO s Statement After the shock of the Überlingen accident the previous year, skyguide was able to regain self-confidence in the course of Having conducted a series of thorough analyses, we have learnt the lessons from this tragic event, and have already implemented most of the actions recommended by these same investigations. We must never forget this terrible accident; but we must also look ahead. The violent death of one of our air traffic controllers on February 24, 2004 was a devastating blow to us all. We are shocked and saddened to have lost such a valued colleague. And we extend our deepest condolences to his wife and children. We have made further progress in consolidating our safety management system, which already meets all national and international standards. Our aim here is to ensure that the skyguide safety culture earns Switzerland top-class safety credentials in the air transport field. In terms of a Single European Sky, too, these endeavours should provide us with a firm foundation to maintain our position at the heart of Europe. Skyguide is more deeply affected than ever by political pressures and constraints. The German implementing regulation on the use of its airspace, to take just one example, entailed a vast amount of work for our operational units. But, thanks to impressively professional actions by everyone concerned, we were able to prepare for and implement the complex procedural changes required within the shortest of timeframes. The approaches to Zurich Airport from the south were successfully introduced on October 30, in full compliance with the task assigned. However, until 2005 the German implementing regulation will continue to make major demands on our resources. The full benefits of the integration of civil and military air navigation services were felt during the World Economic Forum in Davos and the G8 summit in Evian in the course of Both these events, and the operations they required, enabled skyguide to demonstrate its cross-border air traffic management expertise. On another positive note, further progress was made in reducing delays during the course of the year. The positive overall performance which skyguide can report for 2003 could not have been achieved without our committed and motivated staff. So I am particularly pleased to report that a survey conducted during the year revealed that 70% of our personnel are satisfied or very satisfied with their work. I would like to thank them all, on behalf of Executive Management, for all their efforts and endeavours in providing air navigation services for civil and military aviation in Switzerland and bordering countries. Alain Rossier CEO skyguide Annual Report

8 Board of Directors Franz Kellerhals Chairman of the Board, Born in Franz Kellerhals, who holds a doctorate in law, is a qualified attorney, a partner in a legal practice and Emeritus Professor of Civil Law at Bern University. He was elected to the Swisscontrol Board of Directors in June Having served for nine years, he will retire from the Board in Guy Emmenegger Since 2004 Born in Guy Emmenegger is an attorney and a partner in a legal practice in Bern. He has been designated to serve as the new skyguide Chairman of the Board of Directors from June Markus Gygax Since 2003 Born in Major General Markus Gygax is Chief of the Air Force Operations Staff and Deputy Commander of the Swiss Air Force. He was elected Deputy Chairman of the skyguide Board of Directors in June Urs Althaus Since 2003 Born in Urs Althaus holds a doctorate in electrical engineering from the Zurich Federal Institute of Technology and the RWTH in Aachen. The owner of AMS Management Services GmbH and a member of the executive management of Förderagentur für Innovation KTI, he was elected to the skyguide Board of Directors in June Reto Hunger Since 2003 Born in Reto Hunger joined what was then Radio Schweiz AG in He obtained his air traffic controller s licence for Zurich Tower/ Approach in He was appointed Zurich Tower/ Approach Duty Manager in 1994, and was further promoted to Head of Tower/ Approach Safety & Quality Management in He was elected to serve as the employees representative on the skyguide Board of Directors in June Pierre Moreillon Since 2000 Born in Pierre Moreillon holds a doctorate in law and is the owner of a legal practice. A specialist in aviation law and aviation expert, he was elected to the Board of Directors in June Peter Saurer Since 2002 Born in Peter Saurer, who holds a doctorate in economics, is Deputy Director of the Swiss Federal Finance Administration. He was elected to the skyguide Board of Directors in June Urs M. Sieber Since 2003 Born in Urs M. Sieber, who was formerly Managing Director of EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, is Swissport International s Executive Vice President Swissport Switzerland and President & CEO of Swissport Zurich. He was elected to the skyguide Board of Directors in June skyguide Annual Report 2003

9 Executive Management Yves-André Jeandupeux Philippe Chappuis Francis Schubert Marc Bohren Carlo Bernasconi Alain Rossier Alain Rossier CEO Born in Alain Rossier, a graduate in economics, held various management positions at a number of major telecommunications companies (including Swisscom) before he was appointed CEO of skyguide in Philippe Chappuis Technics and Deputy CEO Born in Philippe Chappuis holds a doctorate in engineering from the Zurich Federal Institute of Technology. He previously served as a consultant on technical projects and held a number of management positions at Swissair. He has been Head of Technics and a Member of Executive Management since Carlo Bernasconi ATC Operations Born in After completing his air traffic controller training, Carlo Bernasconi went on to study educational sciences. He joined the company in He has been a Member of Executive Management since 1999, initially as Head of ATC Operations Geneva and, since 2002, as Head of ATC Operations. Marc Bohren Finance Born in Marc Bohren holds a master s degree from the CPCG. Having worked in the banking sector in Switzerland and the USA for several years, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer of an international food company. He joined Swisscontrol in 1999, and has been a Member of Executive Management since Yves-André Jeandupeux Human Resources Born in Yves-André Jeandupeux, a graduate in psychology, was formerly Head of Personnel for the Neuchâtel Cantonal Authorities. He joined skyguide Executive Management as Head of Human Resources in Francis Schubert Secretary General Born in Francis Schubert is a qualified air traffic controller and holds a doctorate in law. He also teaches air law at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He joined the company in 1982 and has been a Member of Executive Management since skyguide Annual Report

10 Highlights of the year January CISM training With the implementation of the critical incident stress management (CISM) programme, all skyguide staff can now count on immediate support to help them cope with critical incidents and their effects. Selected employees also received psychological training during the spring and summer months. February Risk management policy and safety assessment The Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation approves skyguide s risk management policy. The approval marks a further step in skyguide s efforts to establish a companywide safety management system, which complies with all the guidelines and requirements laid down by Eurocontrol. Under the new policy, safety assessments are now conducted on any innovations or significant modifications to existing air traffic management systems, i.e. their technical installations and equipment, procedures or personnel deployments. March Next quality management phase Skyguide s quality management programme identified the company s key business processes and incorporated these into a process map in Two outside quality specialists now assist the process teams from the ATC Operations and Technics divisions in identifying and documenting all business processes in the company s Geneva and Zurich operations. Swiss / German bilateral airspace agreement rejected The Swiss parliament rejects the proposed new bilateral agreement between Switzerland and Germany on the use of German airspace. In response, the German government demands a reduction in aircraft movements over Southern Germany and an extension of the existing curfew periods. Skyguide would have welcomed the agreement s acceptance, as it would have included remuneration for its management of Southern German airspace, which it currently performs free of charge. April Implementing regulation unilaterally imposed by Germany Skyguide is required to implement the political decision and adhere rigidly to the strict terms of the new implementing regulation. The new restrictions result in radical capacity reductions at Zurich Airport. May Introduction of UAC and ATMAS postponed While its goals and the determination to achieve them remain unchanged, the establishment of an Upper Area Control Center (UAC) for Switzerland is postponed by a year to Executive Management take the decision after the supplier of ATMAS-Eurocat announces delivery delays. 8 skyguide Annual Report 2003

11 June Compensation fund foundation laid The governments of Switzerland and Germany and skyguide s insurers establish a compensation fund with a view to providing swift out-of-court compensation for the bereaved and others affected by the Überlingen accident. The fund lays a foundation for the proposed overall solution to the benefit of all the bereaved. July First anniversary of the Überlingen accident Memorial events are held at all skyguide locations to commemorate the Überlingen accident and remember those who lost their lives. Skyguide was devastated by this tragedy. September Skyguide Military General Staff The introduction of the new Armee XXI concept on January 1, 2004 will see the current Air Force Operations Group 11 superseded by a new Skyguide General Staff. The new arrangement should permit greater flexibility and swifter responses to security developments and concerns. Appointment of the new unit s personnel also gets under way. October Approaches to Zurich from the south As of October 30, Zurich is approached from the south on runway 34. The new arrangements are a consequence of the German implementing regulation. The curfew periods for using German airspace were extended in April. The new approaches entail a restructuring of the airspace to the south of the airport and the introduction of a new approach procedure onto Runway 34. November Radar screen malfunction at the Zurich area control centre The radar screens at the Zurich area control centre fail at 19:37 on November 11. No damage is suffered by either people or materials, however, thanks to skyguide s swift and professional response, the screen displays are quickly restored. December Several ATMAS milestones achieved The new ATMAS-Eurocat air traffic management system has reached several milestones in its development. Factory testing of the ATSIM simulator confirms that the system has now been adequately refined. The factory acceptance phase for the Build 1 operational system begins with an intensive two-month trial. CWA negotiations concluded The skyguide staff associations approve the proposed new collective working agreements they have negotiated with the company. Skyguide and its staff associations conducted intensive negotiations on the new agreements and their annexes throughout The final results, drawn up by a commission with equal representation from both sides, are accepted by the staff associations with sizeable majorities. skyguide Annual Report

12 Key Performance Statistics The outbreak of SARS, the war in Iraq and the downsizing of the Swiss International Air Lines aircraft fleet all raised fears of another sizeable fall in the volumes of traffic handled. Encouragingly, however, after two years of decline in traffic, 2003 saw a slight upward trend. Skyguide s key performance statistics cover flights conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR) and the movements handled by the company s air traffic management centres, NOTAMs/SNOWTAMs 1 issued by the Aeronautical Information Service and ATS messages 2 processed by the Aeronautical Data Transmission Service. IFR flights Every aircraft which flies by instrument flight rules and makes use of the services of one or more skyguide air traffic management units is counted as an IFR flight Change IFR flights % Of which overflights % IFR traffic volume rose slightly in 2003 after two years of decrease: the total number of IFR flights had declined yearon-year by 1.55% in 2001, and by as much as 3.5% in Traffic volumes showed substantial growth at the beginning of But the outbreak of SARS, the war in Iraq and SWISS s decision to downsize its aircraft fleet all resulted in a substantial weakening of this positive trend. As the table on the right shows, only the traffic handled by the Geneva area control centre showed a real-term volume increase; all other air traffic management units sustained annual volume declines. Aircraft movements handled One flight will usually generate aircraft movements at several air traffic management units. While the Geneva area control centre handled some or 3.2% more movements in 2003 than it had the previous year, all other units saw a reduction in movements handled. The biggest decline was seen for Zurich Tower/ Approach Control, whose total movements handled were or 4.7% down on prioryear levels, and almost 14% lower than the equivalent volumes for Change ACC 3 Geneva % ACC Zurich % TWR / APP Geneva % TWR / APP 4 Zurich % Bern Belp % Lugano Agno % Total IFR % Total VFR % Total movements % Aeronautical Information Service: messages processed The Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) is a centralised information and advisory centre whose services are used primarily by flight crews. The prime duty of the AIS is to procure, evaluate and process the data which a flight will require such as airspace restrictions, meteorological reports, NOTAMs and suchlike. Skyguide operates an AIS at Zurich Airport, and also has four Aeronautical Reporting Offices (which provide similar services but on a smaller scale) at Bern, Geneva, Lugano and Zurich airports. 10 skyguide Annual Report 2003

13 The AIS processed NOTAMs in 2003 a 9.6% increase on the previous year. NOTAMs were exchanged with some 130 international NOTAM units which are responsible for 160 countries. The Swiss international NOTAM office (NOF) issued NOTAMs, 16.3% more than in The total number of NOTAM products used at Swiss airports amounted to , a 20.6% decline on the previous year which is attributable to the fact that access to the Swiss International Air Lines NOTAM database, whose source is skyguide, is not included. AERMAC, the Swiss AFTN/CIDIN 6 centre, processed a total of messages (+27.2%). The trials of the new ATMAS-Eurocat system and of FIS, the Swiss Air Force s new flight information system, generated higher data flows in 2003, as did major events such as Telecom. Military messages On the military aviation front, skyguide processed a total of 82 NOMILs (notices to military aviation) in 2003: 18 in Category A (short-term or temporary modifications to airfield facilities or procedures), seven in Category B (modifications to regulations of a legal character) and 57 in Category C (temporary technical information for pilots). The total is an 8% increase on Flow and capacity management Eurocontrol presented a new strategy in 2003 which is designed to permanently align airspace capacity to demand. Some of the actions proposed in the new strategy have actually been applied at skyguide since These include the dynamic adjustment of sector capacities depending on the complexity of the traffic being handled, and the assignment of fixed flight levels for certain traffic flows. Traffic trends IFR Flights all skyguide centres SG Flight Data Processing System The graph above shows the seasonal fluctuations in the volumes of IFR flights handled daily by skyguide between 1998 and Each point represents the number of IFR flights handled on a particular day. The data are based on flight plans. The graph reveals a steady increase in traffic volumes between 1998 and the first half of 2001, but shows a clear fall in these volumes in The seasonal fluctuations in air traffic volumes are illustrated by the exceptionally low traffic volumes during the public holidays at the end of the year (circled in blue). June and July generally provide the highest daily volumes of the year, while August sees a slight volume decline (circled in yellow). In addition to these seasonal variations, the daily traffic volumes handled are also affected by various events. These include industrial action in neighbouring countries and the entry into operation of new operating systems, which tends to result in a deliberate temporary reduction of airspace capacity in the interests of maintaining optimum flight safety. IFR Flights/day 1. NOTAMs, or Notices to Airmen, are messages intended for flight planners and crews. SNOWTAMs are NOTAMs which include information on airport runway conditions (snow and ice cover) in the winter months. 2. ATS: Air Traffic Services: all air traffic management units and aeronautical information centres. 3. ACC: Area Control Centre. 4. TWR/APP: Tower/Approach Control. 5. VFR: Visual Flight Rules. 6. AFTN: Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network; CIDIN: Common ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) Data Interchange Network. skyguide Annual Report

14 Average IFR traffic per day (skyguide) Source CFMU Average IFR traffic per day (Europe) Source CFMU Number of flights Number of flights Change (in %) Change (in %) Average delayed flights per day (skyguide) Source CFMU Average delayed flights per day (Europe) Source CFMU Number of flights Number of flights Change (in %) Change (in %) Delays The air traffic flow management (ATFM) departure delays caused by air traffic control are a key criterion for assessing the performance of any air navigation services provider. ATFM departure delays occur whenever the number of flights scheduled to use a particular sector of airspace under their flight plans exceeds the capacity of the sector concerned. In 2003, the number of ATFM-delayed flights in skyguide-managed airspace amounted to 263 flights per day, an 8% improvement on the previous year. As a result, some 9% of all the flights handled by skyguide were subjected to an ATFM delay, compared to a Europe-wide average of about 10%. A comparison of the Swiss and European data in these tables presents a similar picture: delays have been drastically reduced in both Switzerland and Europe as a whole since their peak year of Having substantially reduced the ATFM delays attributable to it in 2002, skyguide maintained such delays at these encouragingly low levels in skyguide Annual Report 2003

15 Average ATFM delay per delayed flight (skyguide) Source CFMU Average ATFM delay per delayed flight (Europe) Source CFMU Delay (in minutes) Delay (in minutes) Change (in %) Change (in %) Average ATFM delay per flight (skyguide) Source CFMU Average ATFM delay per flight (Europe) Source CFMU Delay (in minutes) Delay (in minutes) Change (in %) Change (in %) Average ATFM delay per flight airport/en-route (skyguide) Airport En-route Source CFMU Delay (in minutes) A closer study of the causes of these delays reveals that the proportion of delays attributable to airport capacity bottlenecks doubled in 2003 compared to the previous year. At the same time, the average en-route delay per flight showed a further 20% improvement on its prioryear equivalent. While the flow management approach makes a certain number of delays inevitable, it is important to ensure that such delays have as little impact as possible on the flights concerned. A comparison of the average delay incurred by each delayed flight reveals that, at 15.2 minutes, the average posted by skyguide is almost 20% below the European average. skyguide Annual Report

16 Types of air traffic in Swiss airspace Swiss airspace not only has the busiest crossroads of Europe s airways but is also extremely close to a number of intercontinental airports in adjoining countries. These generate a sizeable amount of crossing traffic, some of it climbing, some descending and some en-route elsewhere. This and the number of sectors into which Swiss airspace is divided make air traffic management in Switzerland a highly complex undertaking. The air traffic managed by skyguide can be divided into three categories: 1. Traffic from and to Switzerland s various airports, including the airport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport. 2. Traffic from and to airports located in terminal control areas (TMA) in neighbouring countries. The most important of these include the TMAs of Milan, Stuttgart, Munich, Frankfurt, Lyon and Marseille. 3. Overflight traffic. Board distribution of IFR traffic by type Traffic to/from Swiss airports 40 % Traffic to/from TMAs in neighbouring countries 30 % Overflight traffic 30 % Every IFR flight will pass through several airspace sectors. Indeed, one of the complexities of air traffic management is the number of sectors which need to be negotiated. The second category of traffic above is particularly demanding because an aircraft departing from an airport in a TMA outside Switzerland may enter skyguide s airspace at a relatively low altitude and will then have to be guided up to its desired cruising altitude. The same applies in reverse for aircraft landing at these airports. These aircraft pass through a number of sectors of airspace and thus require a relatively large amount of coordination. Some 70% of all the flights handled by skyguide fall into this category. 14 skyguide Annual Report 2003

17 After the Accident of Überlingen: Straightforward Compensation In the wake of the tragic mid-air collision over Überlingen, skyguide s insurers, the Swiss Confederation and the Federal Republic of Germany have established a compensation fund for the bereaved. Sadness and shock A Boeing 757 of DHL Worldwide Express and a Tupolev 154 of Bashkirian Airlines collided in mid-air above Überlingen, Germany on the night of July 1-2, 2002 in airspace which was under skyguide s control. The 71 crew members and passengers including 49 children and adolescents died. One year on, skyguide s personnel are still shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic event. Lessons learned In the wake of the accident, and on the basis of internal and external investigations, skyguide has taken a series of actions to further enhance safety in the air. These have included assigning more personnel to night shifts. A team of specialists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland has also conducted a thorough study of skyguide s Zurich area control centre and its operations. Further detailed examinations have been performed of the company s technical installations and equipment; and skyguide has made extensive efforts to further expand and refine its safety management system. Developing mutual understanding Skyguide has made intensive endeavours to establish and maintain contact with the bereaved and their representatives. In its various meetings with the deceased s families and friends and their representatives, at memorial events and at the Operations Center at Zurich Airport, skyguide has sought and cultivated the dialogue required to create reciprocal understanding and trust. A delegation from the Bashkortostan government and the Russian foreign ministry visited Zurich in September. The visit, and the face to face discussions provided an opportunity to resolve issues which were still unclear and promote mutual understanding. Compensation fund established Efforts by skyguide and its insurers which had been initiated in August 2002 came to fruition in mid-2003 with the creation of a compensation fund for the bereaved. The fund was primarily established by skyguide s liability insurance, though the Swiss Confederation and the Federal Republic of Germany have also made substantial contributions. While the final accident investigation report is yet to be published, the first relatives of the occupants of the Bashkirian Airlines aircraft received compensation in November The parties agreed not to divulge the individual amounts involved. Skyguide and the insurers involved have offered compensation to all the bereaved using the same principles on the Fund s behalf. In doing so, they have striven consistently to act generously, straightforwardly and in accordance with continental European norms. skyguide Annual Report

18 Integration of Civil and Military Air Navigation Services: Tangible Successes The integration of Swiss civil and military air navigation services resolved by the country s Federal Council in 2001 delivered positive results in 2003 in operational terms. The G8 summit in Evian also offered skyguide the opportunity to display its skills in international relations. The G8 summit: civil / military and international cooperation The G8 summit was held in Evian, France, from May 29 to June 5, This meeting of heads of state and their delegations from all over the world demanded the strictest security arrangements, which included imposing restrictions on the airspace in the Lake Geneva region. With traffic at Geneva Airport usually particularly heavy at this time of year, considerable coordination was required to meet the needs of both military and civil air traffic. The Swiss Air Force s Air Defence and Direction Centre in Dübendorf made its own major contribution to maintaining security in Swiss skies, in close collaboration with the French air force. With the exemplary cooperation of all the authorities involved, the exercise was a clear success, and confirmed that the training and international compatibility of skyguide s air traffic controllers are of an extremely high level. Open questions In an internal investigation, skyguide and the Air Force were able to set out new challenges in the project development of integration and jointly draw up an action plan. Sion Airport: pragmatic solutions for mixed flying operations Sion Airport is under mixed air traffic management. The airport is operated by the Swiss Air Force, but civil aviation also makes extensive use of its facilities. There was a problem, however: the existing routes used by civil IFR flights crossed the air force s working sector. On August 1, the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation reclassified three domestic routes in a way which severely restricted their use by civil aviation. On September 10, these same routes were declared Class 1 conditional routes. The new status assigned certain slots for civil air traffic. Skyguide subsequently devised a new departure route which ensures that departures from the airport no longer enter military airspace, obviating in future the need for these slots. A group of skyguide specialists is currently working on a similar solution for the approach to the airport, which is more complex. This, too, should meet the expectations of all the parties involved. Military aviation manual now from skyguide After intensive preparations, skyguide s Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) unit assumed responsibility, as from January 1, 2004, for the compilation and publication of the military aviation manual (MIL AIP). As a result, the company now has a single AIP production system for both civil and military aviation. Air Force needs met The airspace requested by the Swiss Air Force for its deployments in 2003 was provided without restrictions. 16 skyguide Annual Report 2003

19 Operational Challenges The introduction of the DVO posed a major challenge to skyguide on the operational front. And harmonisation is an issue which is becoming of increasing concern, not only in a European context but within skyguide, too. One system for operations is the objective in this case. Second phase of the German implementing regulation (DVO II) Following the rejection by the Swiss parliament of the proposed new bilateral airspace agreement between Switzerland and Germany, which would have regulated approaches to Zurich Airport over German territory and the remuneration which skyguide would receive for the air navigation services it provides in German airspace, the German authorities unilaterally imposed curfew hours for the use of Southern German airspace in April A second phase of this implementing regulation entered into effect in October As part of this development, skyguide was instructed to do everything possible to ensure a safe and smooth flow of air traffic to and from Zurich Airport from October 30 onwards. The restrictions imposed by the German implementing regulation entailed fundamental modifications to some of Zurich Airport s existing approach and departure procedures. In addition to devising new procedures for approaches from the south onto Runway 34 and establishing new air routes in accordance with current international norms, the company also conducted a comprehensive assessment of the risks involved. The theoretical and practical training of tower and approach controllers and the modifications required to technical installations (ADAPT, TACO, CALM, INFONET, MV9800, MSAW, SWI-02 and INAS) were especially significant here. In addition to these activities, the agreements and procedures with Germany, Dübendorf, Emmen, Zurich s neighbouring airfields, the REGA air ambulance service and JU-Air had to be modified, and the new restricted zones for VFR traffic had to be extensively communicated. One system for operations 2003 saw the launch of a comprehensive campaign within skyguide to standardise the company s air traffic management activities. The campaign was aimed primarily at Zurich and Geneva operations, but is also being extended to other operating locations where possible. The aim is to eliminate the operating and technical differences that have developed within the company over the years, to establish one system for operations and maintain this in the future. In addition to resources, technical facilities and procedures, the campaign should also harmonise management, the rostering of operating staff, systems planning and the handling of safetyrelated incidents. Some of these actions had already been taken by the end of These included the introduction of an incident management procedure to ensure the standardised handling of safety-related incidents, and the deployment of an operations safety group to monitor whether the requisite lessons are learned from any incidents which occur. The company has also initiated a programme to coordinate its operational and technical projects, and has launched a three-day ATM model for the joint civil and military management of the airspace capacity under its control as part of the Air Traffic Flow and Capacity Management (ATFCM) programme. AIP: a successful service Having assumed responsibility for the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) from the Federal Office for Civil Aviation the previous year, skyguide consolidated and further expanded this service in Some 300 orders were processed in the course of the year, generating 110 documents running to a total of pages. The highlight of the year was the unit s renewed AIS ISO 9001:2000 certification, which confirms that the AIP also meets Eurocontrol s ECIP requirements. On top of this, service-level agreements were concluded with various airfields and the range of products offered was expanded, especially in the charting field. skyguide Annual Report

20 Skyguide Training Center The Skyguide Training Center is certified by the Federal Office for Civil Aviation to train the company s air traffic controllers and controller assistants. It is a vital function: a shortage of operating personnel has a direct impact on the capacity of Europe s skies. Euro-compatible controllers The skyguide training curriculum meets all the requirements of all national and international regulators. The company s air traffic controllers thus obtain a controller s licence which is recognised throughout Europe a clear confirmation that skyguide s training programmes pay due and full regard to all the key competences required. A strong emphasis on training The publication of the report on aviation safety in Switzerland conducted by the NLR, the Dutch national aerospace laboratory, at the request of Swiss transport minister Moritz Leuenberger prompted skyguide to perform a critical analysis of all the internal processes of its air navigation services and technical operations. These studies were extended to the Skyguide Training Center, as well. The resulting recommendations were integrated into the overall training programme. Initial and unit training now see even greater emphasis placed on team resources management, than before. The Skyguide Training Center has also introduced a series of skills tests known as proficiency and training assessments or PTCs, in accordance with Eurocontrol s requirements. These enable the center to monitor the performance, skills and knowledge of all the company s air traffic controllers and swiftly order any training needed to maintain performance standards or improve current performance to the levels required. Ab-initio training The Skyguide Training Center conducts annual training courses for future air traffic controllers and controller assistants. Trainees for these courses are recruited throughout Switzerland and partly in adjacent border areas in neighbouring countries. Applicants are subjected to a strict selection process which tests their aptitude for these demanding duties. As a result, finding a sufficient number of candidates for each new annual course is always a challenge in itself. The 47 students forming the (full) class of 2003 will obtain their licences after three-and-a-half years of training. The 18 controllers who graduated in 2003 began their training back in The 19 controller assistants who began their training in 2003 will complete it after two years, going on to become AIS/ ARO operators or assistants within the company s two area control centres. Further training The varied programme for providing existing air traffic controllers with further operational training is constantly adjusted to meet new needs. A major challenge was posed on this front in 2003 by the new German regulations affecting approaches to Zurich Airport. The training required for the new procedures had to be conducted within the shortest of time frames. This, combined with the new PTCs, ensured that the company s instructors were asked to cope with especially high workloads throughout the year. Simulator training Most of skyguide s initial and unit training is conducted via simulator facilities that replicate the equipment used in dayto-day operations as closely as possible. Skyguide simulators are extremely reliable, boasting an availability of over 98%. They were used for a total of hours in 2003, an increase of 13.5% on the previous year. 18 skyguide Annual Report 2003

21 Technics The move towards international harmonisation is not limited to the operations field. Technical systems are following the trend. Radar systems Eurocontrol advises those countries of the Core Area which have to cope with particularly heavy and complex air traffic to deploy Mode S-capable radar facilities. In view of this, skyguide is gradually renewing all its overflight and approach radar facilities in a joint project being conducted together with Germany and the Netherlands. The first of the new facilities came into operation in Geneva in 2002 and at Zurich Airport in The advanced Mode S radar records an aircraft s exact position and its identity, and will later be able to record further information relevant to the flight. Skyguide s technical and engineering staff have also completed their preparations for re-equipping the radar facility on the Lägern hill near Zurich. And they have provided Apron Control at Zurich and Geneva airports with totally new radar facilities for monitoring their runway systems. Navigation facilities The new southerly approach procedure at Zurich requires the installation of a new instrument landing system (ILS) for the airport s Runway 34. These modifications will see the first-ever use in Switzerland of an end-fire antenna to transmit the glideslope signal. With its lower height, the new antenna can be installed close to the runway. A team of skyguide specialists has also completed its planning work for the installation of the new ILS for Zurich s Runway 28. Telecommunications Skyguide s wide-area-network communications infrastructure has grown substantially. The company now possesses a high-performance communications network that features extensive redundancy and boasts its own dedicated glassfibre connections between Geneva and Zurich and to certain other locations. It also has access to additional rented lines. New phone and radio communication systems are due to be provided for Geneva in 2004 and for the new Dübendorf air navigation services centre in 2007: the definition phase for this project has now been completed. A supra-regional data processing system with extensive redundancy Special mention should also be made of the entry-intooperation of a new system for processing radar data. The new facility is based on two components which have been developed on Eurocontrol s behalf, Radar Message Conversion and Distribution Equipment (RMCDE) and the Advanced Radar Tracker And Server (ARTAS). The RMCDE puts the data received from radar facilities in and outside Switzerland into an appropriate format and sends them on to data processing systems within Switzerland and elsewhere. But the heart of skyguide s radar data processing is ARTAS, which takes these data and uses them to compile a radar image for the entire country. The new facilities mark the first-ever use of a system which draws on computers in various locations. This means that the systems installed in Geneva and Zurich can stand in for one another should either of them fail. New planning and display system for Geneva air traffic controllers Geneva s air traffic controllers can now entrust some of their procedures to a new planning and display system developed by the Skysoft company, easing their workload in certain fields. The rationalisation introduced by the new system has also allowed more controllers to be seconded to projects as specialists from the operations field. ATMAS Preparations to establish an Upper Area Control Centre (UAC) in Geneva are in full swing. All the systems required, including ATMAS-Eurocat, have been defined, and their procurement is now under way. A new Dübendorf facility The technical, operational and administrative planning of the new joint skyguide/swiss Air Force Air Navigation Centre Zurich in Dübendorf has now been completed. The ground-breaking ceremony for the new facility took place on August 11, 2003 with various political and business VIPs in attendance. Air traffic management services for TMA Zurich will relocate from Zurich Airport to the new Dübendorf centre at the beginning of 2007, though the first units will be making the move as early as summer skyguide Annual Report

22 Human Resources A recent staff survey revealed that the majority of skyguide s employees are satisfied with their work. The result is an encouraging one: the company operates in an environment that has been beset by crises in recent years. Generally satisfied staff Skyguide conducted its second staff survey in spring On the whole, the results compared favourably to those of the first poll back in 2000, with tangible progress registered in all areas covered. The response rate of 54% was also higher than three years before. The 2003 survey produced substantially better grades for the performance of the company s management in terms of credibility, honesty and informing employees. Staff also gave higher marks in 2003 to their collaboration and relations with their superiors. Some 70% of respondents described themselves as satisfied or even very satisfied with their work situation. But the survey still showed scope for further improvement. Many employees think that the integration of civil and military air navigation services is taking too long. And a sizeable number of respondents felt that permanent stress was a negative factor in their day-to-day work. Sensitisation to safety Safety is skyguide s most fundamental value of all. And ensuring that safety is felt and practised day in, day out is the prime objective of the companywide Individual Responsiblity and Ethical Awareness Programme, or IREAP. The programme specifies six behavioural approaches, which have been developed in a wide range of seminars and activities. What is new about the IREAP philosophy is its aim of involving all employees not only those active in the operational and the technical fields in the safety awareness process. The IREAP seminars are used to identify concrete steps that can be taken throughout the year to promote the six IREAP behaviour criteria. The six IREAP behaviour criteria are: 1. Individual responsibility and autonomy 2. Self-assessment 3. Face the fear that is a part of any specialisation and overcome it 4. Safety awareness 5. Personal courage and feedback culture 6. Errors in air traffic control, errors in skyguide. CWA negotiations: current status Skyguide has a system of collective working agreements in place which ensure industrial peace and offer attractive terms of employment to its personnel. In an effort to further develop and refine these agreements, the company as a whole and its Human Resources division in particular have been striving to devise a single collective working agreement for its military and civil air traffic controllers. The corresponding discussions were held in a difficult overall environment, and did not lead immediately to the agreement expected. The social partnership between the company and its staff associations remains satisfactory, however, since an interim solution has been agreed, and the points on which agreement has been reached have been specified in a formal document for inclusion in the next collective working agreement. Human Resources has also been working on the revision of the company s salary system for its non-controller personnel who are employed in administrative, operational and technical functions. The corresponding negotiations have enabled the terms and policy of this salary system to be finalised for a two-year period. These discussions also saw the first-time involvement of a new union, the VPOD/ SSP, which was recently officially recognised by the company. Future-manager promotion and management skills Air traffic management is a demanding specialist activity. And the demands which are placed on its managers are increasing all the time. Skyguide Executive Management has now established a management skills reference system to be used in conjunction with the various management training activities which the company already offers. On trial until the end of 2003, the new system will be used in 2004 to assess the company s management staff. The results should then enable the managers concerned to take specific action to further develop particular management skills. The first part of the programme was due to be completed when all the implementation plans for all the company s divisions are submitted to the CEO in spring skyguide Annual Report 2003

23 Finance Skyguide has been suggesting means of regulating the system of financing the air navigation services provided in Switzerland. But developments in 2003 confirmed once again that it is virtually impossible to respond swiftly to a changed market situation. Need for action identified in the present financing system Skyguide has been pointing out the shortcomings of the present arrangements for financing air navigation services for several years now, and has been actively campaigning for corresponding changes. In an action initiated by the Federal Office for Civil Aviation and with the involvement of the Swiss Air Force, the Federal Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, the Federal Department of Finance and MeteoSchweiz, skyguide calculated the financial impact of the present system in the course of The revenue shortfalls caused by the fact that skyguide receives no remuneration for the air navigation services it provides for the German, Austrian and Italian airspace delegated to its control and is unable to cover all its costs at regional airfields amount to some CHF 46 million a year. Other factors, such as the rising costs of Eurocontrol and meteorological services and the expenditure for introducing European safety norms (ESARRs) and establishing the new airspace structure for Zurich in the light of Germany s implementing regulation pose further financing problems, since all these costs have not so far been debited to the parties causing them and must therefore be met by skyguide. The Swiss Federal Council considered the issue on several occasions in 2003 and resolved a number of short-term and long-term actions which are intended to improve the present system. The Federal Council also commissioned additional investigations which are intended to ensure that skyguide can secure and maintain a favourable and competitive position in the future single European airspace environment. No opportunity to adapt The effects of the war in Iraq on European service providers were slighter than had been feared. But the outbreak of SARS in the Far East triggered a slump in passenger numbers on international routes and, as a result, the cancellation of a large number of flights. As these cancellations were announced at short notice, skyguide was unable to take advantage of the lower demand for its services to redistribute its resources or resize the scope of the services concerned. Operating costs within budget parameters A combination of prudent planning and a slight increase in traffic volumes did, however, permit skyguide to achieve its revenue targets for the year. A number of exceptional items also made their contribution to the favourable overall result. These included the reimbursement of value-added tax up to 1995 in connection with the French airspace delegated to skyguide s control. The positive financial results are also the product of strict cost controls which skyguide has been practising for some years and which are now bearing fruit. Adoption of IFRS accounting standards 2003 also brought a radical change in the way skyguide presents its annual financial statements. The adoption of IFRS accounting standards made good progress, and all the company s main financial statements are now compiled using these norms and the currently applicable regulations. Not all the company s accounting practices yet comply with IFRS requirements. But 2004 will see the adoption of IAS 16 for tangible fixed assets and, as far as possible, of IAS 19 for pension funds, insofar as the financing of such funds is secured. Most of the adjustments which the adoption of IFRS practices entailed were effected without any major impact on operating results and thus without any repercussions on route and approach charge levels. skyguide Annual Report

24

25 The Company

26 Corporate Profile Skyguide integrated air navigation services for greater flexibility Skyguide is an advanced high-performance provider of air navigation services at the heart of Europe. The company currently has eleven operating locations in Switzerland and a workforce of some employees. Its administrative head office is in Geneva. Duties and mandate Skyguide provides, in the public interest, high-quality customer-focused air navigation services in Swiss airspace and the airspace of neighbouring countries delegated to its control. In doing so, the company performs a legal mandate issued to it by the Swiss Confederation. This mandate requires skyguide to ensure the safe, smooth and cost-effective management of Switzerland s air traffic. The mandate, which is specified in Article 40 of the Federal Aviation Act and Article 2 of the Ordinance on Air Navigation Services, extends to civil and military air traffic management, telecommunications services, the aeronautical information service and the technical services required to install, operate and maintain the company s air traffic management and air navigation systems. Core competence With its many years of experience in handling the dense and demanding air traffic above Switzerland, skyguide is Europe s specialist in managing air traffic in complex airspace. The company is also a competence centre for aeronautical information management (AIM), radar and communications technology and data processing for the aviation sector. Its Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) is ISO certified. And its integration of civil and military air traffic management under a single organisational roof is a pioneering achievement through which the company has demonstrated the many benefits that flexible airspace management can offer in terms of increasing overall airspace capacity. Social importance The safety and efficiency of its air transport services are fundamental to Switzerland, in terms of both its overall development as an attractive business location and the general mobility of its visitors and inhabitants. Skyguide also provides the services required by the Swiss Air Force to maintain the sovereignty of Switzerland s skies. The company further creates highly specialised jobs in a technically demanding field, helping nurture skills with strong future potential for the country as a whole. Skyguide is also an active member of various international organisations, and thereby helps enhance Switzerland s presence in the European arena. Locations and responsibilities The company has its head office in Geneva and operations at Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Lugano airports and at the country s military airfields of Dübendorf, Emmen, Payerne, Sion, Meiringen, Alpnach, Locarno, Lodrino, Mollis, Buochs, Turtmann and Interlaken. The company s military operations control centre is located in Dübendorf, where a new air navigation centre is currently under construction which will gradually come into use from summer 2005 onwards. At Grenchen, St. Gallen Altenrhein and Les Eplatures regional airfields, air navigation services are delegated by skyguide to the local airport operator. Of the total flight kilometres managed by skyguide, about 55% are within Switzerland s borders, while about 45% are in the airspace delegated by neighbouring countries to skyguide s control. History Skyguide traces its origins back to Marconi Radio AG, a telegraphy company founded in Marconi Radio was renamed Radio Schweiz AG in Three years later, the Swiss Federal Air Office entrusted the company with responsibility for providing air navigation services in Switzerland. With a view to ensuring a clearer focus on its present-day core business, the company s air navigation services were spun off in 1988 into Swisscontrol, Swiss Air Navigation Services Ltd. Swisscontrol became a financially autonomous company in In 2001, the Swiss Confederation mandated Swisscontrol to provide military air navigation services the first time in the history of European aviation that civil and military air navigation services have been provided by the same organisation. The company renamed itself skyguide to underline its new strategic thrust and provide a new common identity for its integration endeavours. 24 skyguide Annual Report 2003

27 Personnel Skyguide personnel numbers* on January Source: skyguide Human Resources Military By division Geneva Zurich Berne Lugano locations Total Directorate Air Navigation Services Technics Corporate Secretariat Finance & Controlling Human Resources Total Apprentices and trainees , Temporary staff * In full-time-equivalent terms skyguide Annual Report

28 Annual Objectives and Strategy Skyguide pursues a clear corporate strategy to ensure the provision of safe, smooth and costeffective air traffic flows in an exceptionally demanding operating environment and in the light of traffic trends. Assessment of corporate objectives for 2003 The company s annual objectives for 2003 and its strategic corporate objectives were focused on two key concerns: developing its core activities in a European environment and enhancing corporate performance. Both these goals were largely met in the course of the year. Core activities Skyguide s prime goals within its core activities focused on the European Commission s Single European Sky project and on implementing, under the aegis of Eurocontrol, the action plan for harmonising air traffic management systems. The company s second focus for implementing its corporate strategy was to raise its overall performance which for skyguide covers safety, capacity and cost-effectiveness. If skyguide is to position itself successfully in Europe s future air traffic management landscape, due regard needs to be paid to its performance in the broadest sense and as an objective assessment criterion: the company must deliver an above-average performance in every area in which it aims to play an influential role. This strategic focus itself entails two clear actions on skyguide s part. First, the company must further develop its competitive advantage, by maintaining delays at levels which are acceptable to the airlines and simultaneously stabilising costs at their current levels while paying due and full regard to all safety requirements; and second, skyguide must continue with the steps it has taken so far to reduce certain corporate risks, especially those relating to its customers, its services and its geographically-limited market. The Single European Sky Europe s air navigation services providers are striving to substantially enhance their performance. One of the key conditions for doing so is that flight operations should be handled in larger interlinked areas of airspace. These airspace areas should not be determined by political considerations as they are at present, but should be organised according to their users needs. The rigid division between civil and military airspace must also be abolished. The project to achieve this which is known as the Single European Sky has been actively supported by skyguide virtually since its inception. Skyguide already benefits from contractual agreements with Switzerland s neighbouring countries which envisage that control sectors could be managed irrespective of national borders. Indeed, about 45% of the flight kilometres managed by skyguide are flown outside Switzerland a clear confirmation that airspace can be successfully organised and managed according to operating criteria. The background to the FBA Alps project The European Parliament and the Council of Ministers approved the Single European Sky initiative to create a unified airspace over Europe in The approval, which followed a mediation process which had lasted a full year, marked a milestone in these endeavours. The project s formal approval has permitted work to proceed on implementing its plans since January 1, Skyguide is continuing its own efforts to ensure that the company can be integrated as effectively as possible into the new airspace organisation. These include the launch at the end of 2003 of the strategically-important Functional Block of Airspace (FBA) Alps project, which will be vigorously pursued throughout FBA Alps will give skyguide the best possible form of airspace organisation in the transalpine region. Since this can only be achieved in partnership with its neighbouring air navigation services providers, skyguide established its first bilateral contacts on this issue in These links will be further developed in the course of Certification of air navigation services providers The Single European Sky project will also entail a formal certification procedure for the providers of air navigation services within the new airspace environment. Skyguide is the air navigation services provider of a country that is not a member of the European Union; but it wishes to be fully integrated into the Single European Sky project. Indeed, such integration forms the foundation of its future strategy. Swiss aviation already meets the Single European Sky requirements in terms of the separation of its regulatory functions (which are performed by the Federal Office for Civil Aviation) from its air traffic management (which is provided by skyguide). It also more than meets the requirements for cooperation between the civil and the military sector, since Switzerland amalgamated its civil and military air navigation services back in Skyguide has been actively involved in developing the European Commission s Single European Sky initiative, and its contribution has been acknowledged and appreciated. The next steps will be to assess the concrete impact of this future concept on the company, and to take any steps required to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Single European Sky. To this end, the company has now launched a formal project to achieve its corporate vision, on the basis of the findings of preliminary studies which it has already carried out. 26 skyguide Annual Report 2003

29 Safety Management Safety is skyguide s paramount criterion in the fulfilment of its formal mandate. The company s safety management is based on European and national guidelines, standards and requirements. And it was further developed and refined in the course of Skyguide s safety management system, which saw further development in 2003, is based on the Skyguide Safety Policy and the four pillars of safety assessment, safety auditing, safety monitoring and safety improvement. The system meets all national and international norms and requirements, including those of the Federal Office for Civil Aviation, Eurocontrol and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Safety assessment If modifications to the air traffic management system are likely to have an influence on existing procedures, equipment or humans, the corresponding safety assessment is designed to identify and document the risks involved. This enables skyguide to take any corrective action required in good time, and to eliminate any unacceptable risks. Five full safety assessments were conducted at skyguide in The most important of these related to the new southerly approaches to Zurich Airport introduced in response to Germany s new implementing regulation on the use of its airspace. The assessment was conducted in close collaboration with the regulator and was approved by an independent specialist report. A specialist company commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications also confirmed skyguide s professional approach. Safety auditing The function performed by safety assessment for changes to air traffic management systems is performed by safety auditing on existing systems. Regular safety audits are conducted within the company s operations and technical services to check the safe functioning of processes, manuals and equipment. These safety audits have been performed at skyguide for several years now. In 1999, the company co-founded the TriNET audit organisation together with the German and the Austrian air traffic management organisations. TriNET conducted eight audits within skyguide s operations and one within its technical services in And skyguide s auditors performed an equal number of audits at the company s German and Austrian counterparts in the course of the year. Safety monitoring Safety monitoring entails systematically evaluating any incidents which occur to identify weak points and analyse trends. On the operational front, these duties are performed by regional investigation teams of specially-trained staff who work together with the managers concerned, draw the appropriate conclusions from their investigations and initiate any action required. In the technical sector, all incidents are also systematically recorded and communicated to the relevant maintenance or engineering specialists for further processing and resolution. All the data concerned are stored in the TOKAI database provided by Eurocontrol and made available to the regulator and to Eurocontrol. Safety improvement 2003 also saw the introduction of a new safety improvement reporting system which should make a major contribution to further raising safety levels. The new system gives every employee the opportunity to communicate directly and in confidence to the Safety Management unit any concerns they may have about safety, or any suggestions they may have on how it could be further improved. Over 100 such reports have already been received. A further key component in the company s safety improvement activities is the communication to staff of the improvements effected and progress made. This is achieved via the companywide Safety Bulletins and Safety Letters, which were introduced in The Safety Bulletin is published four times a year and informs staff on a wide range of safety-related issues. The Safety Letters are published at each skyguide unit, and are aimed at the air traffic controllers within each specific unit. Some 20 Safety Letters were published for skyguide s operations staff in The company also has the new ALANIS analysis tool, which is able to analyse and evaluate all short-term conflict alerts (STCAs), and thus makes its own important contribution to the constant enhancement of airspace structure and procedures. skyguide Annual Report

30 The Safety Net Task Force The Safety Net Task Force was originally founded as the STCA Task Force back in 2002, and initially concerned itself with issues relating to the Short Term Conflict Alert system. Thanks to the efforts of its members, and with the support of Executive Management, the group was able to standardise and substantially improve the functions of this safety system within less than a year. In the wake of this, the group had its brief expanded, and now dedicates itself to all current and future Ground Based Safety Nets such as MSAW (Minimum Safe Altitude Warning), RIMCAS (Runway Incursion Monitoring and Collision Avoidance Subsystem), APW (Area Proximity Warning) and MOCC (Minimum Obstacle Clearance Chart). Local runway safety teams Eurocontrol has noted a Europe-wide increase in the number of runway incursion incidents. While Switzerland s airports remained free of any serious runway incursions in 2003, skyguide has established local runway safety teams for its Zurich, Geneva and Bern operations. The teams work closely with the airports and their users, taking appropriate action to constantly enhance runway safety. The new ground radar will provide the requisite technical support for these activities. 28 skyguide Annual Report 2003

31 Management The General Assembly of Shareholders The General Assembly of Shareholders is the highest body of the company and has the following non-transferrable powers and authorities: to adopt and amend the Articles of Incorporation; to elect and dismiss the Board of Directors, its Chairman and the statutory auditors; to approve the annual report and financial statements; to discharge the Board of Directors and Executive Management from their responsibility for the conduct of business during the previous financial year; to pass resolutions on any other issues assigned to its sole authority by law or under the company s Articles of Incorporation, or presented to it by the Board of Directors and to wind up the company. The General Assembly is quorate if a minimum of two-thirds of the company s shares are represented. The Board of Directors The Board of Directors comprises a maximum of seven members, who are each elected by the General Assembly of Shareholders to serve for a three-year term of office. They may be re-elected. Board members retire from the Board at age 65 or after having served for a maximum of twelve years. The majority of Board members must be Swiss nationals. The Board of Directors is empowered to take decisions on all business which is not the sole responsibility of the General Assembly of Shareholders or another corporate body. The Board is responsible for the ultimate management of the company. Executive Management Skyguide Executive Management consists of the CEO, the heads of the Technics, ATC Operations, Human Resources and Finance divisions and the Secretary General. The CEO may also appoint further management members to form an Enlarged Executive Management. Executive Management is responsible, under the leadership of its CEO, for the management of the company within the parameters of its statutory duties and authorities. The CEO The CEO is responsible for leading the company within the overall framework of the owner s objectives specified by the Board of Directors, the overall corporate strategy and the company s general business policy guidelines, and thus for the definition and the achievement of its corporate objectives. The CEO also represents the company towards the authorities, the public, its customers, its shareholders, its suppliers, its staff associations and similar parties. The Safety Steering Group The Safety Steering Group, which consists of members of Executive Management and holders of CEO staff functions, is responsible for defining skyguide s safety parameters, guidelines and regulations. These are then implemented by the company s Quality & Safety Management unit (which includes Risk Management), in collaboration with the various divisions. Cost control Cost control is a permanent process for all employees with budgeting responsibility. To assist them with their jobs, all these employees have direct access to the company s SAPbased management information system, which features various reports with real-time accounting and budgeting information. These reports are compiled and updated by the Controlling & Charges unit. Financial control and reporting Financial control is the responsibility of the Controlling unit. The unit monitors the observance of the four-year finance plan (which is part of the overall business development plan), the annual budget and the executive information system (a quarterly budget reassessment) in collaboration with its partners within the various divisions. The annual budget is the prime foundation on which route and approach charge levels are set. A balanced scorecard approach is also adopted to monitor observance of the strategic guidelines set at all corporate levels. Process enhancement and the quality management system Skyguide has been developing a process-driven quality management system based on ISO 9001:2000 since the end of 2001, with the aim of securing the corresponding certification for the entire company in spring Parts of the company, such as the Aeronautical Information Service, have been certified for several years. Measures to enhance processes within the company have been taken since 1991, based on the findings of regular audits of its air traffic management activities. These audits were extended to the Technics division in skyguide Annual Report

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