Article 3
Data collection characteristics 1. Each Member State shall collect statistical data relating to the following variables: (a) passengers (b) freight and mail (c) flight stages (d) passenger seats available (e) aircraft movements. The statistical variables in each area, the nomenclatures for their classification, their periodicity of observation and the definitions are set out in Annexes I and II. 2. Each Member State shall collect all data set out in Annex I for all Community airports in its territory with traffic in excess of 150000 passenger units annually. A list of Community airports covered by the first subparagraph shall be drawn up by the Commission and, if necessary, updated in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 11(2). 3. For airports, apart from those having only occasional commercial traffic, which are not covered by paragraph 2, Member States shall transmit only an annual return of the data specified in Table C1 of Annex I. 4. Notwithstanding paragraphs 2 and 3, for airports: (a) with fewer than 1500000 passenger units a year for which no collection of data corresponding to those specified in Annex I exists on the date of entry into force of this Regulation, (b) and for which the introduction of a new data collection system proves very difficult, a Member State may for a limited time not exceeding three years from 1 January 2003, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 11(2), transmit data less complete than those referred to in Annex I. 5. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, for airports: (a) for which no collection of data corresponding to those specified in Table B1 of Annex I exists on the date of entry into force of this Regulation, (b) and for which the introduction of a new data collection system proves very difficult, a Member State may, until 31 December 2003, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 11(2), transmit only existing data.