Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) fall into the following categories:

• Communication, Navigation, Surveillance (CNS)
  CNS service providers may provide one or more of the above services.

• Meteorological (MET)
  MET can be either providers of Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARS) and Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) or providers of local observations only. Meteorological forecasting and climatological services for civil aviation are provided on an exclusive basis by the UK Met Office.

• Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) 
  Aeronautical Information Services are provided on an exclusive basis by NATS (EN Route) Plc.

• Air Traffic Service (ATS) 
  ATS can be either an Air Traffic Control (ATC) or an Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS).

ANSP Requirements

All organisations intending to provide an air navigational service must be in possession of a certificate issued by the CAA in accordance with Regulation (EU) 550/2004, (the service provision regulation), article 7.

ATS providers will also be required to be ‘designated’ to provide their services on an exclusive basis within a specific airspace block, at a specific location, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 550/2004, article 8.

Where the ATS provider provides an Air Traffic Control Service they must also be certified as a Training Organisation in accordance with the requirements of regulation 2015/340.

See our guidance on ATCO training organisation certification.

Certification Requirements

To achieve certification as an ATS provider an organisation must demonstrate compliance with Annex III and Annex IV of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2017/373, (the common requirements for the provision of air traffic management/air navigation services).

To achieve certification as a CNS provider an organisation must demonstrate compliance with Annex III and Annex VIII of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2017/373.

To achieve certification as a MET provider an organisation must demonstrate compliance with Annex III and Annex V of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2017/373.

All applicants must demonstrate compliance with regulation 376/2014 (the reporting of occurrences in civil aviation).

Applicants for certification who do not intend to use their certificate outside the UK may apply for ‘Limitation’ from some of the financial and business requirements of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2017/373. Further information on limited certificates will be provided on application.

Please refer to the related information below before making an application for certification or designation.