International Civil Aviation Organization

World-wide CNS/ATM Systems

Implementation Conference

Rio de Janeiro, 11 – 15 May 1998

WW/IMP-WP/50

25/3/1998

Agenda Item 3:	Financial matters

THAILAND'S CNS/ATM TRIALS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

(Presented by Thailand)

Information Paper

1.	Introduction

1.1	The Ministry of Transport and Communications, Thailand has established a CNS/ATM Implementation working group with main objective is to develop "Thailand's CNS/ATM Trials and Implementation Plan" based on two guidelines, namely the "Global Co-ordinated Plan for Transition to the ICAO CNS/ATM Systems" adopted by ICAO FANS (Phases II) Committee in October 1993 and the "Asia/Pacific Regional Implementation Plan for the New CNS/ATM Systems" developed by APANPIRG in March 1994 and subsequent modification issues.

1.2	The objectives in developing this Plan are as follows:

a)	To clearly identify the target dates for trials, demonstrations and implementation of various elements of the ICAO CNS/ATM systems in order for all organizations concerned to progress in a co-ordinated and harmonized way.

b)	To function as a benchmark for the evaluation of implementation progress.

This Plan will be modified, as needed, in the future depending on the changing situations.

2.	Thailand's Airspace

2.1	The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, Ltd. (AEROTHAI) has the responsibility in providing air traffic services to aircraft enrouting within Thailand's airspace which consists of the following areas:

a)	Bangkok Flight Information Region (FIR) embracing the area of 413,366.4 square kilometers.

b)	Area of Responsibility (AOR) in South China Sea, embracing the area of 42,596 square kilometers. This area is dedicated by Vietnam to AEROTHAI to provide air traffic control service to aircraft flying at the altitude of 24,500 feet and higher.

c)	Upper Flight Information Region (UIR) over Cambodia's airspace, embracing the area of 100,008 square kilometers. This area is dedicated by Cambodia to AEROTHAI to provide air traffic control service to aircraft flying at the altitude of 19,500 feet and higher.

2.2	The total area that Thailand has to provide air traffic services is 555,970.4 square kilometers which is approximately 0.1 % of the global airspace. It consists of oceanic, continental and terminal areas with both high and low air traffic density, as shown in Appendix 1. Air traffic control of the whole area is done by Bangkok Area Control Center only.

3.	Potential of Thailand's civil aviation activities

3.1	Thailand is so strategically located that enable it to be the hub of South East Asia civil aviation activities. At present there are 76 airlines from 57 countries flying into Thailand. The number of international passengers at Bangkok International Airport in 1996 was 22.9 millions which is 9.5 % more than the previous year.

3.2	There are 6 international airports in Thailand, namely Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, U-taphao and Chiang Rai as well as 28 domestic airports. The Second Bangkok International Airport project is targeted to be in operation in the year 2003 to cater for 20 million passengers per year in the first phase and expandable up to 100 millions in the future.

3.3	The national air carrier, Thai Airways International (THAI) is well recognized internationally in services and safety. It flies to 54 destinations of 35 countries in 4 continents of the world.

4.	Transition time scale

4.1	The ICAO FANS (Phase II) committee has provided the following broad indication of how the transition plan might proceed:

1990-1997	Developments, trials, preoperational demonstrations.

1993-2000	Gradual implementation and use of various elements of the system. Some aircraft and administration will use the CNS/ATM systems with back up from the terrestrial systems.

2000-2005	Full CNS/ATM services available in parallel with existing systems so that appropriately equipped aircraft could have operating credits solely on the CNS/ATM systems.

2005-2010	The terrestrial systems, not required for CNS/ATM, will be progressively dismantled.

2010 -	CNS/ATM is the sole system.

4.2	In general Thailand will be able to provide basic CNS/ATM systems available for use by suitable equipped aircraft since 1999. All Thai air carrier will also be fitted with the new systems by 1999. However, Thailand will retain the terrestrial systems, i.e. ILS/NDB/VOR/DME, until 2010.

5.	Communications

5.1	At present air-ground communications for ATS purposes within Bangkok FIR are done via VHF.

5.2	According to the Plan, air-ground communications will be making use of all three modes of communications, namely VHF, AMSS and SSR Mode S Data Link to provide all four categories of services, namely ATS, AOC, AAC and APC as shown in the table below.

CATEGORY	VHF

(voice and/or data)	AMSS

(voice and/or data)	Mode S1

(data only)
Air Traffic Services

(ATS)

X

X

X
Aeronautical Operational Control (AOC)

X

X
Aeronautical Administrative

Communication (AAC)

X

X
Aeronautical Public Correspondence (APC)2

X

Note 1. Depends on future technological development.

Note 2. Depends on future requirement.

5.3	AMSS in the above table is accomplished via lnmarsat satellites. The Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) has set up a ground earth station (GES) to provide all four categories of communications, on a worldwide basis, at Nonthaburi by joining the "Skyways Alliance" Consortium.

5.4	AEROTHAI will be operating the VHF and SSR Mode S Data Link in the above table. However justification in SSR Mode S Data Link operation will depend on future technological development.

5.5	ATN Routers will be set up both in the air (by THAI) and on the ground (by AEROTHAI, CAT and THAI) to establish an air-ground and ground-ground networks, thus enabling end users to communicate among themselves effectively based on ISO/OSI reference model. In the near future, AEEC (ARINC) 622 specification will be employing in Thailand as an interim measure.

5.6	Table of Communication System Transition & Implementation is shown in Appendix 2.

6.	Navigation

6.1	At present Thailand has already installed a complete network of radio navigation aids; i.e. NDB, VOR, DME and ILS, to provide services to aircraft on all phases of flights. However, these radio navigation aids have inherent operational limitations and shall eventually be withdrawn.

6.2	In the Plan, GNSS which is now being deployed through GPS and GLONASS satellites will be used to navigate aircraft during enroute phase instead of NDB, VOR and DME.

6.3	As for approach and landing, Thailand will use GNSS instead of ILS in the future.

6.4	At present, a majority of THAI aircraft have already been equipped with INS/IRS, VOR/DME, Radio Altimeter, ILS and FMS. THAI is planning to install GNSS and MLS avionics in accordance with the airports' equipment that it intends to land.

6.5	Table of Navigation System Transition & Implementation is shown in Appendix 3.

7.	Surveillance

7.1	At present AEROTHAI is operating 4 Primary Radars at Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket International Airports and 4 Mono-Pulse Secondary Radars at Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani and Surat Thani Airports. The coverages of the above four SSRs cover the whole Bangkok FIR. They are capable of being upgraded to Mode S when needed.

7.2	THAI is using a voice position report procedure when flying in a non-radar coverage airspace.

7.3	THAI and AEROTHAI are jointly conducting trials and demonstrations on ADS via VHF.

7.4	Table of Surveillance System Transition & Implementation is shown in Appendix 4.

8.	Air Traffic Management (ATM)

8.1	Thailand's airspace is divided into 2 parts, namely Controlled Airspace and Uncontrolled Airspace. Generally, civil as well as military aircraft flying in the Controlled Airspace will be provided with Air Traffic Services; consisting of Air Traffic Control Service, Flight Information Service and Alerting Service. But when they are flying outside the Controlled Airspace, they will be provided only with Flight Information Service and Alerting Service. At present, a minimum longitudinal separation of 10 minutes is practiced in most airways. There are no co-ordination problems with adjacent FIRS. Generally meteorological Information is issued every 30 minutes except when bad weather condition occurs, special reports will be provided in no time, in accordance with ICAO recommendations.

8.2	When ICAO CNS/ATM system is introduced, Thailand will be able to reduce the minimum longitudinal separation down to 5 minutes while still maintaining the existing level of safety or better, hence reducing congestions in the air and terminal areas.

8.3	Table of Air Traffic Management Implementation is shown in Appendix 5.

APPENDIX 1

[Please note Appendices 1 - 5 are 'cut and paste' appendices (maps)]

APPENDIX 2

APPENDIX 3

APPENDIX 4

APPENDIX 5

APPENDIX 5 (Cont.)