Activities in Civil Aviation  Various official entities come together to play an important role in airport operations.


Nationally

The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications (Ministério das Obras Públicas, Transportes e Comunicações) is the governmental department responsible for the determination and application of domestic policy in the area of public works and construction, of air, sea, river or overground transport, and communications, as well as the coordination and execution of tasks related to these activities.

The National Institute for Civil Aviation (Instituto Nacional de Aviação Civil) focuses on the supervision, regulation and inspection of the civil aviation sector. INAC licences and certifies infrastructures, equipment and systems to assure the smooth daily operation of both airport facilities and air traffic. It also oversees security measures in force for all types of air travel.

NAV - Portugal, EPE is responsible for General Air Traffic in the Flight Information Regions assigned to Portugal: Lisbon and Santa Maria. NAV guarantees compliance to all national and international regulations.



Internationally

The Airports Council International (ACI) is the only international association dedicated to the airport management industry, with its membership counting 475 operators and 1,200 airports in 150 countries worldwide. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, SA is a member of ACI.

The International Civil Aviation Association (ICAO) is an organisation created specifically for regulating civil aviation internationally.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) deals primarily with issues having to do with commercial air lines. 

EUROCONTROL is the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. This civil and military Organisation wich currently numbers 36 Member States, has as its primary objectivethe development of a seamless, pan-European Air Traffic Management (ATM) system.