Infrastructure

The new ICAO Flight Plan - the most significant Air Traffic Management (ATM) system upgrade will occur on 15 November 2012. The basic flight plan format remains unchanged but several new fields have been added / modified to reflect current aircraft navigational and communications capabilities.  The primary benefit of the changes is to allow better management of the airspace by ensuring aircraft operate on the most efficient routings available.   

IATA will continue to work closely with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (ICAO), Eurocontrol, the Civil Air Navigation Service Organisation and other service providers to help ensure the harmonized implementation of the new format.  IATA priority actions include the co-ordination with airlines to establish their preparedness and the development of guidance material to manage their transition.  The guidance material will be distributed in early June.