"Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the safety of air navigation today officially released new guidelines to help States and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) identify and decide their contingency strategies and operational practices best suited to their needs in various circumstances.

The States and ANSPs are primarily responsible in the event of failure and or disruption of their Air Navigation services. The Guidelines provide them with additional information and processes for contingency planning. They also describe the roles and responsibilities of the different bodies including the State, ANSP and airspace users, and set out the essential consultations that need to take place within the planning process.

The guidelines recognise that many States already have contingency plans in place. Therefore, as well as catering for those who wish to conceive and develop contingency plans further, there is also an accompanying Contingency Planning Reference Guide (RG) which is aimed at those institutions who are more familiar with the subject. The RG provides a menu of checklists and graphics and, along with the main guidelines, may be used by ANSPs and States to validate their own processes and existing plans against the advice provided.