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Safety, Quality, Security and Compliance

Integrated Management System

Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd. (MATS), the designated Air Navigation Service Provider responsible for Apron Management Services (ATC) at Malta International Airport and the Malta Flight Information Region, is fully committed to provide a safe, secure, high quality, and efficient service in accordance with international regulations.

MATS considers Safety, Quality, and Security as well as the overall Compliance thereof as its overriding responsibilities, and consequently they are accorded the highest priority notwithstanding any commercial, financial, operational, and social pressures and constraints.

MATS continuously seeks improvement of its services, processes, and systems through an Integrated Management System which meets the requirements of the International Standard ISO 9001: 2015 and all relevant national and international obligations pertaining to Air Navigation Services Providers. This is also achieved through the involvement of employees at all levels of the organization.

To ensure the expected levels of Safety, Quality, Security, and Compliance in the service provided,  all employees

  • abide by procedures and regulations ensuring that the Safety, Quality and Security levels are maintained
  • ensure Compliance with EU and national regulations, as well as conformity to Worldwide Standards and Recommended Practices
  • are adequately trained as necessary to retain competence in their area of expertise
  • report occurrences, hazards, or any matter/situation which may impair Safety, and/or Quality and/or Security, within the Just Culture framework,
  • are encouraged to forward suggestions and recommendations to improve the Safety, Quality, and Security levels of the service offered.

The Integrated Management System plans to meet the objectives of air traffic service and provide customers with the assurance that the services offered to comply with the aeronautical requirements.  

MATS is implementing the Integrated Management System which meets the requirements of the International Standard ISO 9001: 2015, ICAO SARPs, and the respective EU Regulations related to Air Navigation Service Provision, which comes into force from time to time.

The scope of the MATS IMS is “providers of air traffic services to commercial, cargo and military aircraft, including air traffic management and communication, navigation, surveillance and aeronautical information services for aircraft flying in the Malta flight information region”

MATS also ensures that it meets “the ATM requirements of all airspace users whether civil or military within the airspace of the Malta FIR in a safe and efficient manner based on international standards, laws, and regulations”.

The Management Systems Manual describes how MATS applies guidelines in the day-to-day operation to ensure that objectives in terms of Quality, Safety, Security, and Compliance including customer satisfaction are achieved and continuous improvement takes place.

The integration of a Safety Management System (SMS), a Quality Management System (QMS) and a Security Management (SecMS), in order of Compliance

“Safety is the top priority in aviation. The main purpose of Air Traffic Management (ATM) services is to ensure the safe separation of aircraft in the air and on the ground while maintaining safe, efficient, secure, and cost-effective operational conditions”.

The management systems being integrated are the following:

  • The Safety Management System

The SMS is concerned with the ATM system (ground component) as a whole; equipment, procedures, and people.  Human resources have been integrated into all the functions of the SMS. Within the SMS all occurrences are documented, reported, investigated (when necessary), and stored in accordance with the organization’s policy.

The SMS is intended to help MATS in guaranteeing the provision of safe services and serves as an assurance to external authorities that MATS has developed and implemented a Safety Management System that is compliant with national and international requirements.

The SMS mainly applies to the Operations, Flight Data Support Unit/ Aim Training, and Technical Section; however, nothing precludes the application of SMS procedures and techniques to other sections of the company.

Reference Documents:

  • ESARR 3: Use of Safety Management Systems by ATM Service Providers

 

  • The Quality Management System  

ISO 9001:2015 provides MATS ensures the implementation of standards at all times.

  • The Security Management

ATM/ANS security is concerned with those threats that are aimed at the ATM/ANS, such as cyber-attacks. ATM/ANS Security is a subset of Aviation Security which is itself a component of Transport Security. ATM assets are to be protected against the following:

    • Service Degradation
    • Physical Attack (e.g. terrorist and criminal)
    • Insider ill doing
    • Cyber-attack on information or data processing (e.g. hacking or malware)
    • Electromagnetic attack (e.g. interference, with the CNS services)

The security function also forms part of the collaborative support for the security of the airspace. In the Air Navigation Service industry, Safety, Quality, Security, and Compliance are intrinsically related. 

  • The Compliance Monitoring Management

Compliance Monitoring is managed in an integrated approach as hereabove stipulated. Compliance Monitoring Management at MATS is not only held against Air Navigation Service Provision regulation, but also through established International Standards.

Figure 1: Single European Sky Structure

Figure 2: The structure of the ISO 9001:2015 PDCA cycle

FOIA – MATS list of documents

1. General and administrative documents, procedures, and policies
2. Annual Reports
3. Minutes of Meetings
4. MATS Management Organogram
5. MATS Functional Diagram
6. Memorandums

Some data is available in the net on:

• ICAO – http://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx
• EASA – https://www.easa.europa.eu/
• TM-CAD – http://www.transport.gov.mt/
• Eurocontrol – http://www.eurocontrol.int/
• Skybrary – http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Main_Page
• EU Legislations for SES – https://trainingzone.eurocontrol.int/doc/seslex.htm
• Summary of regulatory developments – https://trainingzone.eurocontrol.int/doc/futurelex.htm

1. Safety, Quality, Security and Compliance Section
• SQSC/QUA 11-07 IMS Manual
• SQSC/QUA 09-06 Document and Data Control Procedure
• SQSC/SAF/PROC 43-15 Standard Operating Procedure
• SQSC/QUA 12-07 Control of Quality Records Procedure
• SQSC/QUA 13-07 Corrective and Preventive Action Procedure
• SQSC/QUA 14-07 Control of Non-Conforming Service/ Product
• SQSC/QUA 15-07 Internal Auditing Procedure
• Knowledge Management Processes
• Business Risk Assessment

2. Operations Section
• Operations Document Control
• Emergency Evacuation of the ATC complex
• Unit Competence Scheme [UCS]

3. Technical Section
• Technical Procedures
• Technical Documents
• Maintenance Schedules
• Technical Work Instructions
• Technical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Technical Planned Preventive Maintenance Procedures
• ICT Policy and Procedures

4. AIM Section
• Manual of Instructions Document Control
• Manual of Instructions General
• Manual of Instructions Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network
• Manual of Instructions European Aeronautical Database
• Manual of Instructions Operational Support Unit
• Manual of Instructions Competency & Training
• NOTAMS issued

5. Training Section
• Training Manual
• Unit Training Plan

6. HR and OHS Section

  • ADM/HR/MATS Job Descriptions 20-13 Ed 2.7
  • HR & OHS Knowledge Management Document
  • OHS policy
  • HR Manual
  • Collective Agreements

7. Finance and Admin Section
• Document Control and Records
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Policies
• Training and Competence
• Data Protection
• Memorandums

8. Projects Management
• PjC Document Control