International Civil Aviation Organization

World-wide CNS/ATM Systems

Implementation Conference

Rio de Janeiro, 11 – 15 May 1998

WW/IMP–WP/53

18/3/98

Item 2

Agenda Item 2:	Institutional issues

CO-OPERATION ASPECTS

(Presented by 53 African Contracting States*)

Action Paper

SUMMARY

This paper highlights the efforts being made by the African States to co-operate in various forms for the implementation of the CNS/ATM. It also stresses the need for increased and closely co-ordinated co-operation among the various entities at the national, regional and international levels.

1.	Introduction

1.1	ICAO Member States, international organizations and user community have endorsed the use of satellite technologies to enhance safety and offer operational and economic benefits to all stake holders. The decision and responsibility to implement the ICAO CNS/ATM systems ultimately lies with the States since they have the responsibility of providing air navigation facilities and services in accordance with the provisions of the Chicago Convention.

1.2	The new systems demand interaction between space segment, user segment and control segment and require close co-operation among various intervening parties.

1.2.1	The new systems will also involve ownership, financial, managerial, organizational, legal and co-operation aspects that are basic to the development and establishment of underlying structures or framework through which a State, group of States or the international community at large, may implement and operate CNS/ATM system or components thereof.

1.3	The proposed mechanism for the implementation of the GNSS concept which is the umbrella of the CNS/ATM system is under the control of certain individual States and their military organizations. Therefore there must be a proper legal framework to govern the operation and availability of the GNSS system; since any unilateral withdrawal of this umbrella could make the whole system collapse. Although ICAO through its legal panel is developing a legal framework to take care of this concern, there is a need to underscore co-operation at the highest level e.g., national, regional and international levels as the proper approach to remove such risks.

1.4	Administrations and users will face unprecedented challenges in managing the new opportunities and responsibilities.

2.	Co-operation endeavours and constraints

2.1	Co-operation within Africa

2.1.1	African countries have already expressed the will and commitment to go into joint ventures and involve all stakeholders in implementing the CNS/ATM systems.

2.1.2	The following cases illustrate the attempts already made by the African States in co-operating for the implementation of the CNS/ATM systems. These attempts include joint management of their airspaces.

a)	Agency for the Safety of Aerial Navigation in African and Madagascar (ASECNA)

Besides co-operation, ASECNA is an aeronautical integrated institution	of 15 African States and France in charge of providing air navigation services in six (6) FIRs of 16 million sqkm. A resolution of the Board of Member States Civil Aviation Ministers re-affirms ASECNA's role in the design, implementation and managing CNS/ATM systems on their behalf, and to make any appropriate legal, organizational, financial and institutional arrangements to discharge this duty.

b)	Southern African States Development Community (SADC)

SADC, comprising 14 African States, has already started implementing some provisions of the CNS/ATM Plan on a co-operative basis. For example, the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network is already under implementation. Furthermore several studies are underway to address organizational issues like optimum number of Area Control Centers that can be managed and operated as regional organizations.

c)	The Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)

This organization which comprises 5 African States is considering to co-operate in the management of their airspace.

d)	The East African Co-operation Member States

This organization which comprises 3 African States has reaffirmed the need for establishing a Unified Upper Area Control Centre which has resulted in the implementation of the East African Regional Air Navigation Project.

e)	Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

This organization which comprises 19 African States is considering the implementation of the CNS/ATM systems as a regional co-operative venture.

f)	The AEFMP Plan

This plan is for the harmonization of the different air navigation systems with a view to improving air traffic management in Algeria, France, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. It includes airspaces which belong to two different ICAO Regions (Eur and AFI).

g)	Roberts FIR

The Roberts FIR comprises Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which have decided to pool their resources and means for the management of their airspace.

2.2	Co-operation outside Africa

2.2.1	Africa has a working experience with all the continents, including Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia with which it shares 80% of its traffic.

2.3	Constraints

2.3.1	The constraints which have hampered the implementation of the CNS/ATM systems at national and regional levels, include amongst others;

a)	inadequacy of financial means due to the high level of investment involved and difficulty to access capital markets;

b)	technical training and the conduction of feasibility studies in preparation for support and actual implementation;

c)	lack of proper co-ordination amongst various entities.

3.	Potential areas of further co-operation

3.1	These include all aspects of CNS/ATM implementation and involve the following:

a)	acquisition of equipment;

b)	contributions to standardization and planning;

c)	technical, operational and legal developments; and

d)	effective and efficient implementation of CNS/ATM components.

4.	Conclusions

4.1	African Countries are organizing themselves for the implementation of CNS/ATM systems and are co-operating with other regions in this regard. To facilitate this endeavour it will be necessary to have an appropriate legal framework at a world wide level.

5.	Recommendations

The Conference:

Considering that the implementation of CNS/ATM Systems will redistribute and create new responsibilities to Contracting States;

Noting the need for the highest co-operation among all parties involved for that implementation.

Recognizing that all systems providers and users should play their respective roles;

Urges the Contracting States to create a conducive environment for the implementation of CNS/ATM Systems. In this regard, ICAO should expedite the development of necessary, appropriate legal framework for the implementation of GNSS; and States should incorporate these aspects into their national laws and regulations;

Requests ICAO to assist and coordinate the establishment of multinational charges collection agencies upon request by relevant Contracting States;

Appeals on ITU to fully take into account the needs of the CNS/ATM Systems in terms of frequency allocation;

Encourages ICAO to co-ordinate and collaborate with other UN agencies on the use of satellite technology and frequency allocation.

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