All Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) not eligible for derogation must submit to the CAA their five-year Business Plan, Annual Plan, and audited accounts. 

In addition, ANSPs must submit a written declaration that they will produce, and send to the CAA, an Annual Report at the end of their reporting period and that this report will be made available to users as part of the consultation process.

Reference: Commission Regulation (EC) No 2096/2005 of 20 December 2005 laying down common requirements for the provision of air navigation services.

Business Plan

(Annex 1 para 2.2)

The Business Plan should cover a minimum period of five years and set out:

• the overall aims and goals of the provider and its strategy towards achieving them in consistency with any overall longer term plan of the provider and with relevant Community requirements relevant for the development of infrastructure or other technology;
• appropriate performance objectives in terms of quality and level of service, safety and cost effectiveness.

A Business Plan proforma can be found here.  This is intended to aid providers, especially those who may be producing such a document for the first time.

Annual Plan

(Annex 1 para 2.2)

The Annual Plan should specify further the features of the Business Plan and describe any changes to it.  The annual plan shall cover the following provisions on the level and quality of service such as the expected level of capacity, safety and delays to flights incurred as well as on financial arrangements:

• Information on the implementation of new infrastructure or other developments and a statement on how they will contribute to improving the level and quality of services;
• Indicators of performance against which the level and quality of service may be reasonably assessed;
• The service provider’s expected short-term financial position as well as any changes to or impacts on the business plan.

An Annual Plan proforma can be found here.  This is intended to aid providers, especially those who may be producing such a document for the first time.

Independent audit

(Annex 1 para 6.2)

In accordance with article 12(2) of the Service Provision Regulation, an ANSP shall demonstrate that it is undergoing an independent audit of its financial accounts on a regular basis.

Ability to meet financial obligations

(Annex 1 para 6.1)

The CAA has determined that an ANSP’s ability to meet its financial obligations will best be demonstrated by the ANSP undergoing an independent financial audit and receiving a positive auditor’s statement.   If an ANSP is deemed no longer to be a ‘going concern’ then the auditor will be compelled to make a statement to this effect as part of the overall auditor’s statement on the accounts.

Annual Report

(Annex 1 para 9)

The Annual Report shall include as a minimum:

• an assessment of the level and quality of service generated and of the level of safety provided;
• the performance of the service provider compared to the performance objectives established in the Business Plan, reconciling actual performance against the Annual Plan by using the indicators of performance established in the Annual Plan;
• developments in operations and infrastructure
• the financial results, as long as they are not separately published in accordance with article 12(1) of the Service Provision Regulation
• information about the formal consultation process with the users of its services
• information about the human resources policy

Note: if you are part of a wider organisation, the CAA will accept consolidated plans and reports, so long as these identify separately the activities at each of the airports where the organisation operates. Consolidated group audited accounts will be acceptable, these do not have to identify the different areas where the organisation operates. 

The CAA's policies on the implementation of the economic and financial aspects of the Common Requirements regulation are set out in the outcome of the consultation published in December 2005.  This is available here.