EUROCONTROL has recently completed CHAIN – the Programme for Controlled and Harmonised Aeronautical Information Network. Launched in March 2005, CHAIN has delivered a suite of solutions to support States in improving the quality of their aeronautical data. The solutions allow a step-wise approach towards enhancements in the most critical areas.

“Present and future navigation and air traffic management systems are and will be increasingly dependent on aeronautical data which requires reliable, traceable and quality-assured processes and procedures,” stated M. Unterreiner, CHAIN Activity Manager. “CHAIN solutions will support aeronautical information regulators and service providers with the implementation of enhanced processing throughout the data supply chain, from the point of origination to the point of publication to implement a traceable and controlled data chain.”

CHAIN achieved its objectives through a three-phase approach involving system-wide awareness, the development of a suite of guidelines, and the provision of implementation support and training. Its success is based on a European plan, the ECIP objective INF05, and due consideration of European regulations, most notably the future Single European Sky implementing rule on data quality.

“The transition from a product-specific and paper-based environment to one in which data would be made available in a managed, digital and interoperable form is totally reliant on the availability of quality data and the challenge of enabling this assurance lies at the heart of CHAIN,” says K. Reid, Head of Aeronautical Information Management.

Putting the achievement into context, G. Kerkhofs, Director of Air Traffic Management Programmes said: “Without aeronautical information of the right quality, the requirements for future ATM and the ambitions of SESAR cannot be realised. The challenge is now to exploit all CHAIN deliverables to the maximum, to put supplementary building blocks in place and to fully translate the substantial investments made in CHAIN by EUROCONTROL and its stakeholders into national operational benefits”.

EUROCONTROL completed CHAIN at the end of October 2007, and the final meeting of the Steering Group endorsed the deliverables and unanimously confirmed that CHAIN had achieved its mandate on time and well within budget. The Steering Group underlined that this had been accomplished efficiently and effectively through collaborative interaction with all stakeholders at all stages and at all levels.