IBAC Technical Report Summary
Subject: NAT Operations and Air Traffic Management
Meeting: North Atlantic (NAT) Air Traffic Management Group 34th Meeting
(ATMG/34)
IBAC File:
Reported by: Brian Bowers
Summary: ATMG/34 was held in Lisbon, Portugal, September 07-11, 2009. Mr. Dave Rose
chaired the meeting and Mrs Carole Green from the ICAO European and North Atlantic
(EUR/NAT) Office, was the Secretary.
The ATMG reviewed a draft plan for the implementation of reduced longitudinal separation of 5
minutes between ADS-C/CPDLC equipped aircraft. The detailed comments of the group will be
appended to the ATMG34 report and forwarded to the NAT IMG.
The ATMG examined a draft concept of operations for the use of “non-integrated” SATCOM
voice systems in the NAT Region and agreed that the airspace under consideration should be
limited to FL280 and below, in order to ensure avoidance of NAT MNPS airspace. A more detailed technical description is also required to differentiate between “non-integrated” and “integrated” as it pertains to the current NAT SUPPs proposal for amendment regarding the routine
use of SATCOM voice for ATS.
The ATMG was advised that some operators were not aware of the correct validity times of the
NAT Organised Track System. This information is included in the NAT Track Message, however
it had been found to be incorrect in the operations manuals of some operators. Documentation
should be in accordance with the information published in the NAT MNPS Airspace Operations
Manual (Section 2.3 – NAT Track Message).
The NAT Contingency Plan first edition will be published and posted on the NAT PCO website in
early October and will become effective on 22 October 2009.
There will be a Global Air Traffic Management Forum on Civil/Military Cooperation at ICAO
Headquarters in Montréal from 19 to 21 October 2009 and plans are underway to convene a
High-Level Safety Conference from 29 to 31 March 2010.
NAV Portugal will be hosting a workshop on Monday 12 October 2009 in Lisbon. The workshop
will discuss NAT oceanic procedures, contingency procedures, errors; and safety management
system processes to ensure currency and to implement procedures to address errors and develop mitigation strategies. NAT operators and regulatory authorities from NAT provider States are
invited to participate and the ATMG was encouraged to disseminate this information within their
organizations. More information regarding the workshop is available from Mr Virgilio Belo, Head
of ATM Investigation, NAV Portugal, via e-mail: Belo@nav.pt.
There is a NAT SUPPs proposal for amendment being circulated for State comment regarding
the application of SLOP. The purpose of this amendment is to re-introduce NAT Region provisions regarding the SLOP and encourage flight crews to adopt SLOP so as to maximise its risk
reduction potential in the NAT Region. The ATMG noted that some operators do not include
information regarding SLOP in their flight operations manuals and/or do not properly inform flight
crews regarding the procedure.
The ATMG was notified by the representative from IATA that there are concerns as to whether
airline operators will be able to equip in time to meet the current deadlines specified in the NAT
Region data link mandate. IBAC also reminded the Group that accommodation for many International General Aviation (IGA) aircraft would also be required because the equipment specified in
the NAT data link mandate is not yet available for International Business Aircraft. The ATMG
noted that NAT SPG Conclusion 45/11 requires the NAT IMG to ensure that the implementation
plan for the NAT data link mandate included provisions for aircraft not able to be equipped within
the specified deadlines. The Group was advised by IATA that these concerns would be brought
to the attention of the NAT IMG and the NAT EFG.
There is a planned implementation of Free Route Airspace within the Shannon UIR, NOTA and SOTA
above FL245. The initiative will allow flights to file direct routes from landfall to an exit point in the airspaces
concerned as of 17 December 2009. The IRISH AIC 011/2009 has been issued and the Irish AIP ENR 1.10
and 2.2 had been updated to provide the necessary information for operators. The ATMG noted that the
landfall fixes currently located at 12° West would be replaced by fixes at 14° West for use by traffic exiting
the NAT Region.
The ATMG noted the offer by IATA to host the next meeting (NAT ATMG 35) in Miami, USA from 8 to 12
March 2010.
Implication for Business Aviation: Business Aviation should remain abreast of new requirements and availabilities within the NAT Region and adjoining interface airspaces.
Note. Some operators are not aware of the correct validity times of the NAT Organised Track
System. Documentation should be in accordance with the information published in the NAT
MNPS Airspace Operations Manual (Section 2.3 – NAT Track Message).
Note. The NAT Contingency Plan first edition will be published and posted on the NAT PCO
website in early October and will become effective on 22 October 2009.
Note. Flight crews should adopt SLOP so as to maximise its risk reduction potential in the NAT
Region. Include information regarding SLOP in flight operations manuals and properly inform
flight crews regarding the procedure.
Note. NAV Portugal is hosting a workshop on NAT oceanic procedures, contingency procedures,
and errors; as well as safety management system processes; Monday 12 October 2009 in Lisbon.
Note. IATA, IBAC and some military aircraft will not be ready with equipment to meet the 2015
NAT and European mandates for datalink equipage. This needs to be remembered and addressed in implementation plans.
Note, The planned implementation of Free Route Airspace within the Shannon UIR, NOTA and
SOTA above FL245, effective17 December 2009.
Decisions Required:
In-depth consideration of the NAT areas under discussion is necessary to keep on a par with or ahead of requirements.
To determine the impact on international business aviation of the 2015 datalink mandate in European and NAT airspace
in order to develop strategies to mitigate the problems.
To determine the timely acquisition of equipment, degree of training and certification required to meet the requirements to
efficiently continue accessing NAT airspace.
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are given, or should be assumed, as to their accuracy. The content is under the copyright of the author and
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