ICAO
By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata
Lagos, March 15, 2018 (NAN) The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council has taken an important step toward a more integrated and responsive global air traffic management (ATM) system, President of the Council, Dr Bernard Aliu, has said.
He said during the council’s ongoing 213th Session in Montreal, Canada that it had adopted a new amendment to Annex 15 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) covering Aeronautical Information Services.
A copy of Aliu’s speech was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
He described the amendment as an important step toward a more integrated and responsive global air traffic management (ATM) system.
Aliu highlighted that the new Amendment 40 to Annex 15 “sets an important milestone as aviation continues its current transition toward System Wide Information Management (SWIM) environments for modern aviation.
“This latest decision by the ICAO Council will now enable global air transport operations to complete the transition from product-centric and paper-based aeronautical information services (AIS) legacy processes, to a fully data-centric aeronautical information management (AIM) environment for global civil aviation.”
According to him, amendment 40 to Annex 15 defines the minimum data scope for interoperable digital data exchanges, strengthens the importance of quality controls along the aeronautical data process and supports the integration of modern aeronautical information products (digital data sets).
He said this allows for automatic validation and verification procedures as well as minimise the necessity of human intervention.
The ICAO council president said it would also enable new capabilities to airspace users, consistent with the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan.
“Better aeronautical information is essential if we are to have an integrated and interoperable ATM system which enables air navigation service providers to safely handle more traffic in the same amount of space during the same amount of time.
“It is expected this new development will accelerate current transitions toward a global ATM capability which reduces costs and environmental impacts while improving access to congested airspace and remote airports in developing countries.”
He said the impact of the new technical changes on ICAO Member States and industry was expected to be minimal, and the amendment allows States and industry to set their own pace to migrate their systems and services.
“The council has appreciated that this important transition can be accomplished through a phased-approach that facilitates returns on investment and ensures that a solid foundation is available prior to the move to more advanced techniques.
“This will result in overall economic gains for States and operators by improving aeronautical information management through a faster, quality-controlled, and cost-effective exchange of data.”
He disclosed that an effective date of July 2018 for the new Annex 15 changes was adopted, and a proposed applicability date of Nov. 8, 2018 was agreed for the related implementation. (NAN)
WAC/ASO/BOLA/SOA
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Oluwole Sogunle