Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1044

Contents

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and amending Regulations (EC) No 2111/2005, (EC) No 1008/2008, (EU) No 996/2010, (EU) No 376/2014 and Directives 2014/30/EU and 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 552/2004 and (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91^note, and in particular Article 68(3) thereof,Whereas:

(1)The availability of air traffic controllers in the Union, as well as the limited flexibility in the use of the available air traffic controller resources have been identified as factors restricting the capacity of air navigation service providers and thus leading to air traffic delays in the Union.

(2)Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340^note lays down the technical requirements and administrative procedures relating to air traffic controllers (‘ATCO’) licences and certificates. However, that Regulation does not provide for the acceptance of third-country air traffic controller licences and certificates.

(3)In order to meet existing and growing demand for ATCO capacity in the Union, both in regard to operational air traffic controllers and air traffic controllers in the capacity of practical instructors and assessors for air traffic controller training, national authorities should be able to accept licences, certificates and other relevant documentation attesting compliance with civil aviation rules, which were issued in accordance with the law of a third country. The purpose of the acceptance of those documents is to enable the issue of student air traffic controller licences or the provision of instruction and assessment for air traffic controller training organisations that are certified to provide initial training.

(4)This Regulation aims at ensuring an equivalent level of safety to that provided for in Regulations (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2015/340.

(5)This Regulation provides the possibility for shorter training periods prior to the issuing of a Union student air traffic controller licence, as well as the possibility of the allocation of additional resources for conducting initial training. Consequently, air navigation service providers would have the options to increase the capacity of their service provision more rapidly, where the need would arise.

(6)In accordance with Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, where international agreements on the subject matter of this Regulation are concluded between the Union and a third country, those agreements prevail; in all other cases this Regulation applies,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: