This week’s digest covers two adopted Commission Implementing Regulations, both in the air traffic management and air traffic controller field. One corrects Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2025/2143 to advance the application of the ATCO authority and instructor-related points concerning military instructor authorisation. The other amends Regulation (EU) 2017/373 so that ATM/ANS activities under Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 may be contracted only to organisations holding a certificate or declaration. Both are binding law, and affected authorities and providers should check their application dates.
Adopted regulations
Corrects ATCO Regulation Application Date for Military Instructor Authorisation
Reference: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2111 · Published: 24 September 2026
A Commission correction brings forward the application date of two authority-side provisions in air traffic controller (ATCO) licensing. The 2025 amendment allows people who hold or have held a national military controller licence to be authorised to instruct on synthetic training devices. The rule for this, ATCO.C.005, has applied since 13 May 2026. The matching provisions for national authorities in Annex II, ATCO.AR.A.010(ca) and ATCO.AR.D.001(a)(1a), would only have applied from 1 January 2029. These points give authorities new tasks and refer to ATCO.C.005(b) and (c). Without them, the authorisation could not be granted. The correction inserts a new point (ca) in the third paragraph of Article 3 of the 2025 regulation, so both provisions apply as soon as possible instead of in 2029. It entered into force on 24 September 2026, the day of publication, and is binding and directly applicable in all Member States. National authorities should apply the Annex II provisions immediately.
What this means for operators: National competent authorities must start applying the Annex II provisions now, which opens the way for military-background controllers and instructors to be authorised and for ATC training organisations to use them on synthetic training devices; others can ignore it.
Commission Tightens ATM/ANS Contracting to Certified Providers Only
Reference: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2031 · Published: 14 September 2026
The Commission has tightened the rules on contracting out ATM/ANS (air traffic management and air navigation services) activities. The change aligns the common requirements for providers with the revised Single European Sky rules, which require air navigation service providers to hold a certificate or valid declaration.
Under the replaced point ATM/ANS.OR.B.015, activities that have specific requirements in Annexes III–XIII may only go to organisations holding a certificate with the relevant terms of approval, or that have submitted a declaration. Only ‘ancillary activities’, now defined in Annex I, may go to non-certified organisations, and only where any effect on service provision can be effectively managed. Providers must regularly monitor contracted performance.
New point ATM/ANS.OR.B.016 requires external personnel or equipment to be fully integrated into the provider’s functional and management system. The provider keeps operational control and remains responsible, and a formal contract must be in place. The rules take effect on the twentieth day after publication. No transition period is stated.
What this means for operators: All ATM/ANS service providers should review their existing outsourcing arrangements now, as no transition period is stated, and their competent authorities will oversee compliance.
This digest is compiled from EASA’s official publications and reviewed before publication. It is general information, not legal advice. For how a specific change applies to your operation, get in touch.