Part A — Objective and Scope

1. The objective of the Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) function is to:

(a) ensure the achievement of an efficient utilisation of the available capacity of the UK ATMS

(b) facilitate the planning, coordination and execution of ATFM measures taken by all operational stakeholders.

(c) facilitate accommodation of military requirements and crisis management responses;

(d) ensure regional connectivity and interoperability of the European network within the ICAO EUR Region and with adjacent ICAO regions.

2. ATFM and contingency procedures referred to in point 15 of Part B of this Annex shall ensure better traffic predictability and optimise the available capacity of the UK ATMS (including at airports) and aim at increasing the consistency between airport slots and flight plans.

3. ATFM function shall follow detailed working arrangements for the implementation of ATFM measures. All operational stakeholders involved shall adhere to rules and procedures that ensure that air traffic control capacity is used safely and to the maximum extent possible;

4. The ATFM function shall cover all ATFM phases (strategic, pre-tactical, tactical and post operations) as identified in the ICAO provisions referred to in the Appendix. It shall comply with these ICAO provisions.

5. The ATFM function shall apply to the following parties, or agents acting on their behalf, involved in ATFM processes:

(a) aircraft operators;

(b) air traffic service (ATS) providers, including ATS units, ATS reporting offices and aerodrome control service units;

(c) aeronautical information services providers;

(d) entities involved in airspace management;

(e) airport operators;

[...]

(g) local ATFM units as referred to in point 6 of Part A of this Annex;

(h) slot coordinators at coordinated airports.

6. ‘Local ATFM Unit’ means a flow management entity operating on behalf of one or more other flow management entities as the interface between the unit providing central ATFM and an ATS unit or a group of ATS units. It can operate at ATS unit level, at national level, or at any other sub-regional level;

6a. ’Central ATFM’ means the air traffic flow management functions provided centrally by Eurocontrol where it compares flight plans with available airspace capacity and makes adjustments to minimise delays in air traffic;

7. The local ATFM units shall support the execution of the ATFM function.