Seamless operations are dependent on the coherence of the minimum requirements for the separation of aircraft applied within the airspace of the single European sky.

In order to ensure interoperability, common principles should be applied when surveillance data are exchanged between systems. In addition, minimal capabilities and performance applicable to airborne constituents of surveillance systems should be identified.

The capabilities of the airborne constituents of surveillance systems should give the flexibility to the air navigation service providers to choose the most appropriate ground based surveillance solutions for their particular environments.

The implementation of this Regulation should be without prejudice to the deployment of other surveillance applications and technologies bringing benefits in specific environments.

Operators need sufficient notice to equip new aircraft and existing fleets with new capabilities. This should be taken into account when defining dates for mandatory equipage.

Criteria for possible exemptions, based in particular on economic or compelling technical consideration, should be identified allowing operators exceptionally not to equip specific types of aircraft with some of the required capabilities. Appropriate procedures should be established to allow the Commission to take decisions in this respect.

The 24-bit ICAO aircraft address should be assigned and operated in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements in order to ensure the interoperability of the air and ground surveillance systems.

The foundation established through the implementation of ADS-B ‘Out’ capabilities by aircraft operators should enable the deployment of ground applications and should also facilitate the deployment of future airborne applications.

The EATMN systems should support the implementation of advanced, agreed and validated concepts of operation for all phases of flight, in particular as envisaged in the ATM Master Plan for the development of the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR).

The performance of the systems within the scope of this Regulation and of their constituents should be regularly assessed taking into account the local environment in which they operate.

The uniform application of specific procedures within the airspace of the single European sky is critical for the achievement of interoperability and seamless operations.

Spectrum used by surveillance systems should be protected to prevent harmful interferences. Member States should take the necessary measures in this respect.

This Regulation should not cover military operations and training as referred in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004.

With a view to maintaining or enhancing existing safety levels of operations, Member States should be required to ensure that the parties concerned carry out a safety assessment including hazard identification, risk assessment and mitigation processes. Harmonised implementation of these processes to the systems covered by this Regulation requires the identification of specific safety requirements for all interoperability and performance requirements.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 552/2004, implementing rules for interoperability should describe the specific conformity assessment procedures to be used to assess either the conformity or the suitability for use of constituents as well as the verification of systems.

In the case of air traffic services provided primarily to aircraft flying as general air traffic under military supervision, procurement constraints could prevent compliance with this Regulation.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Single Sky Committee,