Possessing a degree in law, Bruno Franchi is associate professor of aeronautical law at the law faculty of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. After a long career in the aronautical sector, he served in several ministerial commissions as a legal and aeronautical safety expert. In 1999 he was nominated president of Italy's Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (National Flight Safety Agency - ANSV), established with legislative decree no. 66 of February 25, 1999.  In 2004 he was nominated special commissioner of ANSV; in 2005 he was confirmed, for a second term, as president of the agency. Since March 1, 2010 he has been the special commissioner of ANSV.

Which reasons have led to the signature of the new ANSV-ENAV technical protocol on 3rd August 2010?

From a chronological point of view, the technical protocol of 3rd August 2010 is the third to have been undersigned between ANSV and ENAV.  In fact, the first one dates back to 21st December 2000 and the second one to 25th January 2005.  In this regard, I am pleased to say that the first technical protocol undersigned by ANSV the day after its establishment was actually with ENAV, which responded to ANSV's request of establishing in an punctual manner procedures for signalling relevant aeronautical events connected with flight safety.  In light of the acquired experience stemming from the application of the 2005 protocol, the new protocol replaces the previous one; the new protocol better defines the way in which events concerning flight safety as well as interface procedures between the two bodies should be communicated to ANSV.  Furthermore, it will also increase flight safety levels by providing information exchanges for preventive purposes, in compliance, in any case, with legal provisions and reciprocal roles.  In other words, the new undersigned protocol is the result of knowledge that has been acquired by applying of the two previous ones, getting rid of a few problems of the past so that more efficient and prompt preventive actions can be ensured. The new protocol will certainly reinforce the positive and long-lasting institutional cooperation relationship between ANSV and ENAV S.p.A.

Would you say that other aspects concerning the new protocol are worth mentioning?

ANSV strongly believes that its activities together with procedures related to their implementation should be well-known.   With regard to flight safety, transparency is fundamental in order to guarantee a more efficient preventive action.  Our contact with air traffic controllers has made us to realize that, at times, their vision of ANSV's activities and investigative procedures is not fully clear and precise. For this reason - also as a result of ANSV's positive experience at ENAV's Academy in Forlì last 11th November 2009, when ANSV had the opportunity to describe its organisation and operational processes - it was considered appropriate to include in the protocol that ANSV should provide ENAV's personnel with indications concerning on-going investigative procedures and problems arising from carrying out technical enquiries.  In this context, ANSV has also expressed its availability to facilitate visits to its technical laboratories by ENAV's personnel, so as to facilitate direct understanding of the ways FDR (Flight Data Recorder) and CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) are managed and evaluated. ANSV hopes that ENAV will enhance this protocol element, considering that an improved reciprocal knowledge makes it easier to resolve potential difficulties, with the aim to improve preventive activities.

Shortly the "Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation" will come into force and will abrogate EU Directive 94/56/EC. Has this been borne in mind by the new technical protocol?

ANSV has actively taken part in community meetings concerning the new European Regulation, providing its own contribution based on experience.  Therefore, the protocol of 3rd August a number of changes that will be introduced by the aforementioned community Regulation are already taken into account: for example, with regards to follow-up indications