CANSO welcomes decisions by States and ICAO that will actively facilitate the changing face of ATM

CANSO welcomed the outcomes of the ICAO Thirteenth Air Navigation Conference. States approved CANSO recommendations on enabling investment in ATM infrastructure; harmonising the approach to standards around the world; adopting a performance-based approach to regulation; embracing new technologies and airspace users; and tackling cyber security. CANSO is committed to working with States and industry partners to implement the results of the Conference.

CANSO Director General, Jeff Poole, said: "We are delighted that States have strongly supported and approved the recommendations in all nine CANSO papers, which address challenges including growing air traffic, new entrants to airspace such as drones, high altitude and space vehicles, and the cyber threat. These decisions will enable the ATM industry to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by a range of new technologies in the years ahead. In particular, we are pleased that States are taking a performance-based approach to regulation – looking at what is to be achieved rather than prescribing how to do it or which specific solutions are to be used."

As the global voice of air traffic management (ATM), CANSO plays an important role in advising and working with States and ICAO to enhance the safety and improve the efficiency of global airspace. The CANSO delegation played a full part in the ICAO Thirteenth Air Navigation Conference (AN-Conf/13). CANSO will also take the key recommendations forward at the 40th Session of the ICAO Assembly in 2019.

Jeff Poole continued: "The decisions made at this Conference will facilitate and provide further impetus to the tremendous improvements in air traffic management that are already happening and which will increase in pace in the coming years. We will now work together with ICAO, States and industry partners to implement the decisions and fully exploit the opportunities they offer and facilitate. CANSO will also play a key role in evolving and ensuring delivery of the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan and its ICAO Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBUs) and the revised Global Aviation Safety Plan. Effective implementation is crucial, so I am pleased that ICAO has accepted my suggestion to form a small group to ensure that we have a common understanding of what is required, the challenges and opportunities, and how best to speed up implementation across the globe."

CANSO also recognises that safely implementing the latest technologies, such as automation and artificial intelligence, impacts air traffic control staff. A high level of performance from the humans in the system has never been so important. Adaptation and flexibility are necessary in order to keep ATM safe, efficient and effective at global, regional and national levels. CANSO is therefore developing a Standard of Excellence in Human Performance Management to help ANSPs manage these changes and improve human performance. The Standard of Excellence and its implementation will be discussed in detail at the CANSO Global ATM Safety Conference in Banff, Canada, on 26-30 November and will be launched in 2019.

Jeff Poole concluded: "The Thirteenth Air Navigation Conference delivered important decisions for improved ATM that will contribute to global connectivity and the economic and social benefits of aviation. With good cooperation from all stakeholders, these decisions provide a strong foundation for all levels of airspace to be managed safely, effectively and seamlessly for any airspace user and to be able to embrace new technologies and procedures now and in the years to come."

Details of CANSO's papers can be found below and here