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Asia / Pacific

Runway Occupancy Time- Mumbai Airport

In March, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) and IATA jointly presented to an audience of 60 Indian aviators a proposal seeking ways to reducing Runway Occupancy Times (ROT) at Mumbai Airport. Representatives included Delhi and Hyderabad Airports, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Air Traffic Control and local airlines.

IATA proposed a three-phased approach and the creation of a task force to oversee progress. MIAL will lead this initiative with support from IATA’s Singapore and Delhi offices.

With a reduction of five seconds per aircraft on the MIAL runway during peak period, operations could be increased by two to three aircraft movements. Also, some relief from delays would be realized if the five second or better reduction is achieved.

Training Cooperation Seminar in Vietnam

In March, IATA, in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, presented a seminar on Training Cooperation to country representatives from airports and airlines. The seminar addressed safety, efficiency, infrastructure with the opportunity taken to promote IATA training and development courses, and the benefits of IATA Operational Safety Audit ( IOSA) and IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations ( ISAGO).
Following the success of Ho Chi Minh Airport Consultative Committee, the aim of the seminar was to continue developing the relationship between the Vietnamese Airports and Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam.

As a result,  ISAGO accreditation was achieved by one of the government owned ground service providers plus increased attendance figures of personnel at ISAGO training courses.

Continued assistance is envisaged to witness an improvement in operating standards and further enhances the role of IATA in Vietnam in promoting ''working in partnership'' with all the airports and aviation authorities to the benefit of all.

North Asia

A Memorandum of Understanding Signed Between IATA & CAMIC

A Memorandum of Understanding between IATA and the Civil Aviation Management Institute of China (CAMIC), a subordinated agency from the Civil Aviation Administration of China ( CAAC), was signed between IATA and CAMIC on 14 May. This is a step forward of implementing the IATA- CAAC MoU of Strategic Cooperation signed in August 2008. Both parties agreed on working together on the promotion of safety and operational initiatives, cooperation in research projects and training.

Speech at China Aviation Development Forum

Guenther Matschnigg, IATA Senior Vice President, delivered a speech at the China Civil Aviation Development Forum held in Beijing, China on 14 May. He indicated that the main challenges in China are the Pearl-River-Delta (PRD) issue, route improvements and flexible use of entry/exit points. IATA will focus on these and propose a solution involving the cooperation of CAAC and other relevant authorities.

Chinese Flexible Entry Points

In May, IATA met with the China State Air Traffic Control Committee to discuss the earlier implementation of the flexible usage of China entry/exit points across China boundary on international air routes.

Prior to this meeting, IATA had submitted a proposal to the Chinese authorities requiring 15 entry/exit points out of 26 to be selected by carriers one hour before departure, based on weather information of the day. The consensus for these 15 entry/exit points was made by ASPAC/NASIA RCG early this February, and a paper trial conducted later on showed that the annual savings will not be less than 13,260 tonnes of fuel, or 1,240 hours flying time, or 41,016 tonnes of CO2 reduction, and the initiative will be beneficial for the traffic stream of Europe-China and beyond, as well as those of the cross polar operations.

New route Opened in China (G338 & W113)

Resulting from IATA's suggestion about optimizing the air space structure, CAAC opened two new air routes on 9 April 2009. One is linking Hailar in China and Choibalsan in Mongolia (KAGAK-SARUL-CHOIBALSAN), and the other one links Yancheng in China and the route W113 in the Republic of Korea (YANCHENG-GORPI-IKADI), consequently saving 90nm/11min and 60nm/8min respectively.

Africa

Implementation Programme for Safe Operations in Africa (IPSOA)

The initial IPSOA workshop was successfully conducted at the regional office on 28 May with a total attendance of 12 delegates. Five member airlines are covered under this sponsored program and depending on the global economic climate in 2010 more members may be added.

ECAA Supports the Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO)

Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) openly supported the ISAGO programme in May 2009. This makes ECAA the first authority in the region to document their support for the programme.

2009 Aeronautical Mobile Communications Survey

The objective of the survey is to determine the state of communication coverage (VHF/HF, frequency) within the region in order to identify deficiencies and arrive at corrective action plans in coordination with States and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs).

While there were some improvements in communication, particularly in HF frequency over Angola, some flight information regions such as Brazzaville showed a slight dip due to unserviceability of some (VHF Frequency) remote stations.

The  survey report (pdf) has been distributed to the concern ATS units for review and corrective action. It is not meant to "name and shame" but to provide a platform for feedback from IATA member airlines and also give the Air Navigation Service providers an opportunity to improve on their services.

Middle East and Africa

Operational and Infrastructure Improvements in Libya

During a recent technical mission to Libya, major improvements to airspace and infrastructure were verified. Flexible use of airspace involving sharing of airspace with military authorities has now been implemented in most of the country. Substantial upgrades to aeronautical telecommunications and surveillance are presently in their final stages.

Route Efficiency Project

A project which will improve enroute capacity and efficiency in the Bahrain and Emirates Flight Information Regions and adjacent airspace is under way. By re-designing the route structure involving performance-based navigation, the airspace will safely handlermuch more traffic than presently. The actual design process as well as consultations with authorities and the most concerned stakeholders will take place during the third quarter of 2009, followed by formal presentation to ICAO during the fourth quarter. Implementation is expected in early 2010.

Europe

Europe/US International Aviation Safety Conference in Athens 

This year’s annual Europe/US conference, jointly organized by European Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA), focused on aviation safety in times of economic hardship. The conference took place in Athens from 2-4 June 2009.

IATA outlined the seriousness of the current crisis, highlighting what activities have been undertaken and giving a clear indication of how it expects regulators and industry to work in partnership to overcome safety disparities across the globe.

Some 300 international aviation experts examined the current situation and the relationship between industry and regulators to identify potential areas for improvement. Representatives from airlines and aviation authorities presented their views towards a more harmonized implementation of rules and eliminating global disparity.

IATA clearly stated that new regulations e.g. fuel flammability will be not supported as they are not improving safety.
More information on the conference.

Runway Incursion Prevention Technology

In April, a workshop organized by Aéroport de Paris discussed the proposed introduction of Runway Status Lights (RWSL) at CDG airport.

The RWSL technology was developed in the USA and adopted by the FAA. It is a fully automatic, advisory safety system designed to reduce the number and severity of runway incursions and thus prevent accidents without interfering with airport operations. RWSL is designed to be compatible with existing procedures. It is comprised of Takeoff Hold Lights (new) and Runway Entrance Lights.  More information.

SESAR Project Moves Forward

The blockage by non-EU States regarding the finalization of the legal agreement between Eurocontrol and the SESAR Joint Undertaking ( SJU) for the development of the next generation of ATM systems has been removed. Consequently, the work programme of the SJU can now begin as the first wave of development projects are launched in June.
IATA has responded to call for tender issued by the SESAR JU for the involvement of civil airspace users in the various projects now being progressed.

Resolution of SSR Code management issues

Following concerns raised by ICAO regarding code management issues in Europe, IATA responded to the need for a new strategy to avoid a shortage of Mode 3/A codes in Europe.

The new strategy is based on a downlinked aircraft identification, which guarantees the unambiguous and continuous identification of individual aircraft regardless of the surveillance technology. Further development of the strategy, including the economic impact assessment, will take place under the Surveillance Performance mandate issued by the European Commission to Eurocontrol. 

Draft Proposal to upgrade Traffic Collision Avoidance Sysem (TCAS) in Europe

Discussions continue between the EASA, Eurocontrol and the European Commission regarding the need to upgrade the software on TCAS to meet an identified safety hazard in Europe.

IATA is evaluating its position while the safety authorities in Europe consider the economic and international implications of a mandate which, if pursued, could have implications for non-EU Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) holders.

Consistency between Airports slots and Flight Plan Data

Following IATA's rejection of a European Commission (EC) draft rule to link airport slots with flight plan data with major implications for operations at European hub airports, the key industry players have agreed to an alternative proposal which if endorsed by the airports, slot coordinators and commercial carriers. This could be a way forward for a more realistic approach by the EC in the management of airport slots in the European Air Traffic Management network.

Deadline set by ICAO for major flight plan amendements

ICAO has announced an important amendment regarding the content of flight plans to permit modern navigation and communications capabilities to be indicated on various ground systems. A deadline of 15 November 2009 has been set and Eurocontrol will coordinate the deployment programme . 

Latin America and the Caribbean

IATA’s involvement in Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures were inaugurated at Peru’s Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. These procedures will save approximately 95% of weather-related diversions. Estimated savings are 33,450 kg of fuel and 960 tonnes of CO2.

Airport operational assessments were conducted at the following airports:

• Mendoza Int. Airport (MDZ),Argentina
• Ingeniero Aeronautico Ambrosia L.V.
• Taravella Int. Airport (COR), Argentina
• San Carlos de Bariloche Int. Airport (BRC), Argentina 
• Rosario- Islas Malvinas Int. Airport (ROS), Argentina
• Ministro Pistarini Int. Airport (EZE), Argentina

The report will be available upon request.
The current Air Traffic Management (ATM) and airport infrastructure were evaluated.  All of the airports surveyed met the minimum requirements as a destination or alternate airport.
 
IATA met with the Brazilian Departamento de Control do Espaco Aéreo (DECEA) to discuss the regular use of Clearance Limit Point (CLP) on all northbound departures from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.  Participants included representatives from UPS, American Airlines, Continental, Copa, Delta, TAM, LAN Chile, TAP Air Portugal, United, International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Association ( IFALPA), Allied Pilots Association ( APA) and IATA.  DECEA agreed with IATA's position to develop an action plan to eliminate the regular use of the procedure. 

Another issue discussed was the use of Strategic Lateral Offset Procedure (SLOP) in Brazilian airspace. DECEA informed that SLOP is not an approved procedure in their airspace but are conducting a risk assessment.

North Atlantic and North America

Free Route Airspace within Lisbon FIR/UIR (Flight Information Region / Upper Information Region) above Flight Level 245 was implemented.  Average savings per flight is 5 minutes. This will provide the users with savings of 11.7 M kg of fuel and reduce CO2 emissions by 37,300 tonnes.

NAV Canada implemented at Montréal International Airport (YUL) reduced separation departures for all non heavy, wide body aircrafts. These procedures save 45 seconds per departure. They will also save 161,300 kg of fuel and reduced 515 tonnes of CO2 per month. Annual savings are 1,452,000 Kg fuel and by 4,625 tonnes of CO2.

IATA participated at the NAV Canada Air Transport Operations Consultation Committee (ATOCC) meeting. NAV Canada agreed to find ways to reduce separation of aircraft exiting oceanic environment and entering the Vancouver Control Area.  Progression of Automatic Dependant Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B)/Hudson Bay will provide an estimated USD $18M in savings, and it is expected to accrue in the spring 2010. 

NAV Canada will continue to pursue efficiencies in the Windsor, Toronto, Montreal airspace redesign, and High Frequency (HF) optimization in the northwest region.

IATA has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) to enhance random routes in the US northeast corridor for flights westbound to the North Atlantic Organized Track System (NAT OTS). The test procedure extends to 30 September and eligible departure airports now include Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT), Orlando (MCO), Washington Dulles (IAD), Miami (MIA) & George Bush (IAH), Houston. Carriers with flights transiting thorough Boston Center and transiting to the North Atlantic structure are encouraged to participate.

IATA participated in the New York Kennedy Airport (JFK) Customer Focus meeting to discuss traffic flow and issues related to ongoing airport construction. JFK stakeholders met on 18 June to discuss status and performance metrics of current Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) 77 initiatives, and development and implementation of future initiatives.  The FAA will provide operational performance related to alternative international departures offload, and expected impact to airport efficiency due to 2010 taxiway and runway rehabilitation. The operational performance has already improved by two minutes.