FIFTH MEETING

SADIS OPERATIONS GROUP

(Dakar, Senegal, 5 to 9 June 2000)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.	Introduction

1.1	The fifth meeting of the SADIS Operations Group (SADISOPSG) was held in the headquarters of ASECNA, Dakar, from 5 to 9 June 2000. The meeting was attended by forty-one experts from nine States and three international organizations (the Agency for the Safety of Aerial Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)).

1.2	Mr. T.J. Potgieter, the member from South Africa, was Chairman of the meeting.

1.3	Mr. W.C.M. van Dijk, member from the Netherlands, was elected Vice-Chairman of the group.

2.	Annual statement of SADIS operational efficacy and update of SADIS inventory

2.1	The group reviewed the operation of the SADIS during 1999/2000 based on responses from forty-seven States to the annual questionnaire, the annual management report from the service provider, reports from members representing regions concerned, and IATA. The group concluded (Conclusion 5/5) that the operational efficacy of SADIS had continued to be satisfactory meeting all operational requirements. As is customary, this statement will be sent to the Chairman of the SADIS Cost Recovery Administrative Group for the EUR Region ((E)SCRAG).

2.2	The group noted that a number of VSATs were inoperative due to FRAD card failures, that had been traced to a faulty batch manufacture. It was noted with appreciation that the satellite service provider (Matra Marconi Space (MMS*) had already instituted a structured returns procedure for the affected VSATs at MMS expense.

2.3	The group recommended SADIS VSAT first-line maintenance training by MMS and the testing of SADIS workstation software by the SADIS Provider State (Conclusions 5/2 and 5/4 respectively).

2.4	The inventory was updated to reflect the enhancement of the SADIS Hub to support the enhanced two-way trials which are expected to begin in late 2000 or early 2001 and the implementation of the SADIS gateway function from January 2001 (Conclusion 5/7) (see also paragraph 4.3 below).

2.5	It was noted that 122 SADIS VSATs were now installed in 87 States and, taken together with the two ISCS satellite broadcasts provided by the United States, the three broadcasts now served over 150 States.

Maintenance of the current SADIS broadcast and organization of the flow of OPMET message traffic

3.1	The group reviewed the current Annexes 1, 2 and 3 of the SADIS User Guide based upon two analyses of OPMET data actually available on the SADIS broadcast. It was noted that data was frequently missing (in percentage order) from the PAC, ASIA and AFI regions. The group agreed to recommend the MOTNEG establishment of a special monitoring procedure of the SADIS broadcast by the EUR Bulletin Management Group. The automated analysis of the monitoring would be provided quickly to the MOTNEG and SADISOPSG and to regional offices concerned for appropriate follow-up action in respect of missing OPMET data (Conclusion 5/8).

3.2	In response to a request by the EANPG, the group arranged for tests of the distribution of NOTAMs for volcanic ash, ASHTAMs and volcanic ash and tropical cyclone advisories on the SADIS. The test for NOTAMs and ASHTAMs will make use of a dummy WMO abbreviated header in much the same manner as is done in the ROBEX and AMBEX schemes (Conclusions 5/9 and 5/10).

3.	Development of the SADIS

4.1	The discussions of the group were based on reports from the rapporteurs of its Gateway Working Group, Strategic Assessment Team, Two-way Operational Clearance Team and Technical Developments Team.

SADIS enhanced two-way capability

4.2	It was agreed that, as the offer to take part in the SADIS enhanced two-way VSAT trials had been declined by Singapore, Thailand (Bangkok) and the Russian Federation (Moscow), the fourth two-way VSAT should be installed in Dakar, Senegal (Conclusion 5/12). It was also agreed that interim two-way trials should begin as soon as Pretoria and Zurich were ready, and a final trial begun when the Dakar two-way became operational (Conclusion 5/13). Regarding the fifth SADIS enhanced two-way VSAT (and last one purchased for the trials), as Kenya (Nairobi) had also declined the offer, the group discussed a number of options and agreed that the VSAT should be offered as an operational unit to any State that the PIRGs considered would benefit OPMET exchanges and was prepared to meet the installation and running cost. The cost of the VSAT itself had already been paid for as part of the general SADIS costs (Conclusion 5/14).

SADIS gateway function

4.3	The group was informed by the SADIS provider State that the procurement exercise did not identify a supplier who could deliver, with a high degree of confidence, the required level of functionality for the SADIS gateway as specified. A new approach was undertaken in which suppliers were invited, through the European Journal, to submit descriptions of "off-the-shelf" solutions which would satisfy the very high-level list of requirements for the data management system specified for the SADIS gateway function. This process had been completed and a new functional specification would be distributed to suppliers who had demonstrated their ability to provide operationally proven systems. The responses would be subject to a tender evaluation board for assessment.

4.4	The group agreed that the SADIS provider State should circulate details of the proposed technical solution to members of the SADISOPSG Gateway Working Group and MOTNEG Working Group and arrange for the Rapporteurs of the SADISOPSG Gateway Working Group and MOTNEG Working Group to call a meeting of the two groups to assess the suitability of the proposed technical solution. If the combined groups agreed that the proposed technical solution was satisfactory, then it could be approved on behalf of the SADISOPSG (Conclusion 5/15).

SADIS BUFR trials

4.5	The group was pleased to learn that the tests transmitting BUFR messages on the PVC 3 port had been successful with no reports of interference with the data on the other ports. It was agreed that the BUFR messages would continue to be sent in "test" mode on SADIS to permit those States who wished to do so to test BUFR decode procedures. It was noted that the WAFS Study Group had recommended that the two WAFCs should consult with software vendors and work together in developing appropriate software to decode BUFR messages and manipulate the output to produce charts to specification.

Future technical developments

4.6	The group noted that the satellite service provider had developed two TCP/IP interface options, the first as a replacement FRAD card and the second as an external converter. This interface was now available to those States willing to purchase it from Matra Marconi Space.

SADIS strategic assessment tables

4.7	The group reviewed the tables provided for the AFI, ASIA and EUR regions; no meeting of the MIDANPIRG COM/MET subgroup having been held since SADISOPSG/4, these tables were not available.

5.	SADIS User Guide and amendment process

The group reviewed and approved the amendments to the SADIS User Guide, including new Annexes 2 and 3 based on the EUR Bulletin Management Group OPMET exchange tables. It was noted that the SADIS provider State "SADIS" web site was fully operational. The ICAO "SADIS" web site was also the functioning and would include the updated SADIS User Guide soon after the meeting. It was noted that Annex 1 to the SADIS User Guide, which comprises the operational requirements for OPMET data on SADIS, would be included for reference purposes only and would not be down-loadable from the web site.

6.	Future work programme

The group reviewed and updated its work programme and executive summaries for the tasks in the work programme.

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