IBAC Technical Report Summary
Subject: NAT Operations and Air Traffic Management
Meeting: North Atlantic Systems Planning Group 45th Meeting (NAT
SPG/45)
IBAC File:
Reported by: Brian Bowers
Summary: NAT SPG/45 was held in Paris, France, 23 to 26 June, 2009. Mr. Asgeir
Palsson chaired the meeting and Mr. Karsten Theil, Regional Director; EUR/NAT Office
of ICAO assisted by Mr. George Firican, Mr. Jacques Vanier, Mrs. Carole StewartGreen, Mr. Elkhan Nahmadov and Mr. Léon VonLanthen from the same Office and Mr.
Walter Amaro and Mr. Masoud Paydar from ICAO Headquarters. Additional assistance
was provided by Mrs. Nikki Goldschmid from the EUR/NAT Office of ICAO.
The Agenda was adopted as follows: 1) Developments, 2) Planning and
implementation, 3) Air navigation system review, 4) Support System, 5) Any other
business.
Amendment No. 1 has been approved for Doc 4444 effective on 15 November 2012.
This Amendment will lead to a significant change to flight plan provisions and the flight
plan form itself. The importance of planning for a smooth transition from the existing
flight plan to the modified one has been recognised. A phased implementation could
prove to be problematic and therefore a “synchronised big bang” approach to
implementation is supported. A mechanism is being put in place to ensure continuity of
services and a smooth transition.
Amendment No. 2 to Doc 4444 effective on 19 November 2009 incorporates changes
to the Special Procedures for in-flight contingencies in Oceanic airspace and is fully in
line with the material developed for the NAT Region. The provisions related to
Strategic Lateral Offset Procedures (SLOP) have been moved from Chapter 15 to
Chapter 16.
The NAT SPG Handbook will be updated to describe the revised structure and working
methods of the NAT SPG.
The NAT Region contingency plan will be posted on the ICAO EUR NAT web site as
well as on the NAT Programme Coordination Office (PCO) website and will be available
for download from either of the following URLs:
ICAO EUR/NAT: http://www.paris.icao.int/documents_open/subcategory.php?id=106
NAT PCO:
http://www.nat-pco.org/
The Application of the 5 minute climb/descend longitudinal separation minimum
between GNSS equipped aircraft was implemented on 15 January 2009 in the Gander,
Reykjavik and Santa Maria oceanic control areas. Flight crew guidance material, to
be used until the amendment to Doc 4444 is approved, will be included in the NAT
MNPS Airspace Operations Manual. In the meantime, the guidelines will be posted on
the ICAO EUR/NAT Web site.
The concept of operations for the implementation of lateral separation of 25 NM will be
implemented in three phases. Phase 1 – 2012 –½ degree spacing between the two
core tracks, FL350 to FL400 inclusive; (only aircraft with the appropriate RNP approval,
ADS-C and CPDLC would be permitted to operate on the ½ degree spaced tracks).
Phase 2 – 2013 –½ degree spacing through the entire NAT Organized Track System
(OTS), FL350 to FL400 inclusive; (only aircraft with the appropriate RNP approval,
ADS-C and CPDLC would be permitted to operate on the ½ degree spaced tracks).
Phase 3 – 2015 – 25 NM lateral separation throughout the entire NAT Region,
including for converging and intersecting track situations, between FL350 to FL400
inclusive (between aircraft with the appropriate RNP approval, ADS-C and CPDLC).
The application of the reduced separation standard between targets of opportunity will
be permissible in any part of the NAT Region outside the OTS (i.e. mixed mode
operations). The concept of operations takes account of the need to maximise the
benefits for operators who are already equipped with data link capable avionics and for
those that equip early.
Note: Phase 2 would likely enable an overall reduction of the lateral extent of the OTS,
thereby increasing the flexibility for random operations and providing both economic
and environmental benefits.
In order to obtain the full benefit of implementing the concept of operations outlined
above, it is necessary to mandate the use of data link equipment required to support
the reduction in separation. The intent of the mandate is to require the use of CPDLC
and ADS-C in the area concerned.
Note: The EUR Region mandate requires data link equipage from 7 February 2013 for
the core area of the EUR Region and from 5 February 2015 for many of the remaining
FIRs. However, aircraft with an individual certificate of airworthiness first issued before
1 January 2014 and fitted with data link equipment certified against requirements
specified in RTCA DO-258A/EUROCAE ED-100A (or ED-100) are exempted for the
life of that particular airframe.
IBAC informed the Group that data link equipment for business jet aircraft operating
within the NAT airspace would probably not be available or certified in time to meet the
data link mandate proposed for the NAT Region. IBAC also stated that, as the
implementation progresses the benefits for each new phase would be less and the
costs to operators of equipping to maintain access would increase and in fact equipping
by business aviation may not even be possible.
The NAT SPG recognised the position stated by IBAC but, the EUR Region mandate
would also affect them; therefore it was agreed that the best solution for all concerned
was to mandate data link equipment certified against requirements specified in RTCA
DO-258A/EUROCAE ED-100A (or ED-100) for the NAT Region using the same dates
as the EUR Region mandate.
This should to the extent possible eliminate the need for double equipage. It was
therefore agreed that data link equipage should be mandated in the NAT Region
effective 7 February 2013 and that all aircraft would need to be equipped by 5 February
2015. The NAT SPG also agreed that the NAT IMG, when drafting material to
support the mandate, should make provisions to accommodate aircraft that
could not be equipped in the time frame.
Bearing in mind the current economic situation, it was agreed that it is not an opportune
time to convene a NAT users conference. When the economic situation has improved,
consideration will again be given to convening a users meeting.
The MNPS Airspace Operations Manual - Edition 2008 was published electronically at
the end of August 2008. The document can be downloaded from the following URL:
http://www.nat-pco.org/mnpsa.htm.
The NAT SPG/46 will be held at the ICAO EUR/NAT office 22 to 25 June 2010.
Implication for Business Aviation: The provisions related to Strategic Lateral Offset
Procedures (SLOP) in Doc 4444 have been moved from Chapter 15 to Chapter 16.
Amendment No. 1 has been approved for Doc 4444 with applicability date 15
November 2012. A “synchronised big bang” approach to implementation is being
coordinated globally.
The NAT Region contingency plan will be posted on the ICAO EUR NAT web site as
well as on the NAT PCO website.
Flight crew guidance material on the application of the 5 minute climb/descend
longitudinal separation minimum between GNSS equipped aircraft will be posted on the
ICAO EUR/NAT Web site.
2015 – 25 NM lateral separation is implemented throughout the entire NAT Region
between FL350 to FL400 inclusive. Only aircraft with the appropriate RNP approval,
ADS-C and CPDLC will be permitted to utilize the reduced separation standard.
Note: Data link equipage is mandated in portions of the NAT Region effective 7
February 2013 and all aircraft will need to be equipped by 5 February 2015.
Note: the European datalink implementation: 7 February 2013 for all IFR flight above
FL285 in the core European area and 5 February 2015 within the remaining airspace of
the EC member States above FL285. Aircraft with an individual certificate of
airworthiness first issued before 1 January 2014 and fitted with data link
equipment certified against requirements specified in RTCA DO-258A/EUROCAE
ED-100A (or ED-100) are exempted for the life of that particular airframe.
Note: This means that If business jet operators are equipped for the NAT and will
operate into the core European area, they will not need to equip for the ATN if they
meet the requirements stated above.
The MNPS Airspace Operations Manual can be downloaded from the following URL:
http://www.nat-pco.org/mnpsa.htm.
Decisions Required: Operators, flight training institutions, flight planning agencies
and other service providers must keep aware of ICAO Document amendments, and
future airspace/navigation requirements.
NB: Data link equipage is mandated in the NAT and EUR Regions effective 7 February
2015. Business jet aircraft will have to equip as well as commercial and military
aviation.
Note the potential for benefits using reduced separation applications of 25 NM lateral
separation throughout the entire NAT Region between FL350 to FL400 inclusive
effective in 2015. Aircraft will require the appropriate RNP approval, ADS-C and
CPDLC to utilize the reduced separation standard.
This report contains material for the sole information of IBAC Members and no guarantee or undertakings
are given, or should be assumed, as to their accuracy. The content is under the copyright of the author and
IBAC, and may not be distributed to third parties without specific agreement of the IBAC Director General.