International Civil Aviation Organization

World-wide CNS/ATM Systems

Implementation Conference

Rio de Janeiro, 11 – 15 May 1998

WW/IMP–WP/31

11/5/98

Item 6.1

Agenda Item 6:	Training needs

6.1	Identification of requirements

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING FOR

THE NEW TECHNOLOGY

(Presented by the Secretariat)

Information Paper

SUMMARY

This support paper outlines the progress to date on the Air Navigation Commission Task entitled "Regional Human Resource Planning and Training Needs" (PEL-9601). The outputs of the task include guidance material on human resource planning; a training needs assessment for the implementation of CNS/ATM systems and a framework to enhance the planning for training capabilities within a region.

1.	Background

1.1	Shortcomings in human resource planning and training are frequently cited as an important reason for the lack of implementation of Regional Air Navigation Plans. The Third Middle East Regional Air Navigation Meeting (27 March - 13 April 1984) agreed that "the lack of adequate, trained and experienced personnel was the most important factor that adversely affected the implementation of the plan [in the Middle East Region]". In addition, it was noted that "civil aviation administrations in the area faced many problems in manpower planning, personnel recruitment and training". It is anticipated that this problem could be further exacerbated with the implementation of the communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems.

1.2	Subsequently, the Limited Middle East (COM/MET/RAC) Regional Air Navigation Meeting (LIM/MID RAN, 7-17 January 1996) considered this issue and recalled that, while the human resources and training requirements associated with the implementation of the Regional Air Navigation Plans are discussed during regional air navigation meetings, they have never been incorporated into the plan itself. The current approach to the implementation of complex systems favours a systematic strategy where all aspects, including human resource planning and training, are considered together to ensure an efficient implementation of a plan. The meeting, therefore, recommended "that ICAO develop a human resource development and training component for all Regional Air Navigation Plans with the assistance of the regional planning and implementation groups as required."

1.3	As a follow-up to this recommendation, the Air Navigation Commission established the Regional Human Resource Planning and Training Needs Task (ANC Task No. PEL-9601) during 1996 as a part of ICAO's Technical Work Programme in the Air Navigation Field. The ANC also established the Human Resource Planning and Training Study Group (HRPTSG) to assist the Secretariat in its work. The goal of ANC Task No. PEL-9601 is to develop a model for human resource planning and training for use at the regional level as well as supporting guidance materials; analyze the changes to civil aviation job profiles as a result of new systems, and the consequential human resource planning and training requirements; assess whether all or portions of the output of the regional human resource and training planning process should be incorporated in the Regional Air Navigation Plans.

1.4	The need for human resource and training planning, on a regional basis, can also be illustrated by the initiatives in several ICAO regions where regional human resource and training planning processes have already started. The subject of training and human resource planning has been discussed frequently in the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Region and emphasized by the AFI Planning and Implementation Regional Group (APIRG). The South American Region has held several meetings that addressed the human resource and training needs of that region. The Asia and Pacific Region Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group has formed a CNS/ATM Training Task Force. Human resource and training planning meetings were held by the North American, Central American and Caribbean Regional (NAAC) Office and the European and North Atlantic Region (special GATE meeting on training for the eastern part of the European Region including Middle Asia) . The aim of these meetings was to facilitate co-ordination and co-operation in the training of civil aviation personnel.

2.	Discussion

2.1	It was envisioned that ANC Task No. PEL-9601 would produce two major outputs, as follows:

Output 1

Guidance material to assist States in human resource planning. The material would be designed for individual States to determine their current and projected personnel needs. It would take into consideration the needs that emerge as a result of the implementation of CNS/ATM systems and would also be adaptable in order to accommodate individual State's policies.

Output 2

The second major output would be a model for planning regional training capabilities. The model would provide a systematic methodology for analysing the aggregate of States' human resource plans within a region; determining the needs for national and/or regional training capabilities; and documenting the results. The resulting training plans could be stand-alone documents or incorporated in the Regional Air Navigation Plan Publication [including the Facilities and Services Implementation Document (FASID)].

2.2	In addition, the Secretariat assisted by the study group, is to assess the appropriateness of incorporating human resource and/or regional training planning information in the Regional Air Navigation Plans and reporting its findings to the ANC.

2.3	The first meeting of the Human Resource Planning and Training Study Group (HRPTSG) was conducted at ICAO Headquarters, Montreal, from 28 July to 1 August 1997. Eight members from six States and two international organizations attended the meeting.

3.	Approach to Output 1 – Human Resource Planning Guidance

3.1	Detailed discussions were held among the members of the study group regarding the content and the form of the human resource planning guidance material. The discussions resulted in the production of a draft flow diagram that could be used to identify national human resource needs. The flow diagram will be further developed and guidance material will then be produced, based upon existing materials, to support the use of the human resource planning flow diagram.

3.2	Case studies will also be prepared to support the guidance materials. The case studies, in conjunction with the flow diagram, could then be used by States as models to assist them, as needed, in the development of their specific approaches towards human resource planning. Case studies would be produced as prototypes that would undergo "beta testing" with one or two States. It was also recommended that field workshops be developed and conducted to assist States in the implementation of such tools.

3.3	A major consideration was to determine the range of job disciplines that are to be addressed through the human resource planning guidance materials. It was agreed that only those job disciplines needed to support the implementation of facilities and services outlined in the Regional Air Navigation Plans will be included. The HRPTSG is presently finalizing a listing of the job categories that will be included in the guidance material.

3.4	An integral part of the human resource planning guidance material will be a technology impact model. While job profiles (i.e. job descriptions) vary from State to State, the overall inventory of job duties or responsibilities necessary to support air navigation services within any State, using similar levels of technology, are the same. The technology impact model will identify a sample inventory of job duties necessary to support the facilities and services of an air navigation plan within a State, based upon the range of existing technologies. The model will then identify the changes to those job duties as a result of the introduction of each of the CNS/ATM systems technologies. The job duty change could then be used to identify the impact of technology on both human resource planning and training needs (see Figure 1).

3.5	An additional undertaking of ANC Task No. PEL-9601 is a preliminary study of the magnitude of change to job profiles as a result of the introduction of CNS/ATM technologies. While this study will not provide precise and detailed indications, it will, however, give States a timely indication of the impact of the new technologies on human resource planning and training. Furthermore, this initial information will be very valuable and, if provided early enough, will give a timely indication of the human resource impact and costs associated with the implementation of CNS/ATM systems to managers responsible for implementation of the systems. The basis of this study will be an earlier study conducted by the ICAO TRAINAIR Programme on the same topic.

4.	Approach to Output 2 – A Model for Planning of Regional Training Capabilities

4.1	The HRPTSG produced a second flow diagram identifying resource planning factors for training. The flow diagram receives its input from the results of the human resource planning flow diagram, or any other process that would identify human resource needs. The factors in the model include: whether training is for existing or new staff, staff availability, training programmes and their success rate, required number of training starts, selection process, identification of sources of training, training techniques and planned durations. The outputs of this second flow diagram are recruitment targets and training schedules.

4.2	Considerable deliberations were undertaken by the HRPTSG to determine the methodologies that should be used to obtain the data required from States necessary for regional training planning. It was agreed that in order to obtain consistent and appropriate data from States regarding training needs, capabilities and capacities, a form of standardized questionnaire would be produced through ANC Task No. PEL-9601. This approach would also enable the use of a standardized approach towards regional training planning in all ICAO Regions. The outputs from the questionnaire should provide sufficient data for a regional group to plan for the most effective and cost-efficient utilization of training resources within a region. This planning procedure would also be useful in defining a training plan in support of the implementation of CNS/ATM systems within a region. The questionnaire should provide the information needed to facilitate a "consultative State-to-State" planning approach that could be carried out in a regional or sub-regional planning meeting.

5.	Regional Air Navigation Plans

5.1	An initial assessment of incorporating human resource and/or regional training planning information in the Regional Air Navigation Plans was made. The initial impression is that it would be valuable to incorporate the output of regional training planning process in the Regional Air Navigation Plans and that this information would be most suitable for incorporation within the Facilities and Services Implementation Documents (FASIDs). The Secretariat will be in a better position to assess the situation when the objective of ANC Task No. PEL-9601 is fulfilled.

6.	Conclusions

6.1	It is economically justifiable to conduct some types of training in a majority of States within any Region. However, there are other types of specialized training where it is difficult, if not impossible, for a single State to support the development and implementation of specialized training to meet national training needs alone. The "Regional Training Centre" concept is an effective and cost-efficient approach to meeting these needs. In the future, however, the planning method for regional training capabilities should be enhanced. The basis for planning regional training capabilities should be founded on the States' aggregate demand within a region for human resources in the various aviation disciplines. Decisions concerning the "regional courses" needed should also be assessed regularly and co-ordinated through a regional planning body. The guidance material to be produced through this new ANC Task should assist States in assessing their needs for trained human resources and then in planning for the training resources needed within a given Region.

6.2	Information related to the training required to implement, operate and maintain ICAO CNS/ATM systems is needed on a priority basis. Given the time that is necessary to develop the training capabilities to support these systems, a delay in the availability of this information may adversely affect global transition to the new systems. ANC Task PEL-9601 should assist States in the development of their training capabilities by identifying the training needed to implement current and future systems, including those related to CNS/ATM.

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