ALLPIRG/3–WP/14

31/3/99

THIRD MEETING OF THE ALLPIRG/ADVISORY GROUP

(Montreal, 6 – 8 April 1999)

Agenda Item 5.7:	Interregional coordination and harmonization mechanism – Y2K date change preparations

STATUS OF Y2K PREPARATIONS AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING

IN THE EUROPEAN REGION

(Presented by the Secretariat)

Summary

This working paper provides a short summary of the EUR Y2K Meeting (Paris, 16 – 18 March 1999). It recounts for recommendations made by the Meeting, which, by the nature of the Y2K problems are of worldwide interest and merit urgent attention.

1.	The Paris Office hosted, from 16 to 18 March 1998, the Meeting on EUR Year 2000 (Y2K) Contingency Planning, attended by 106 participants from 39 countries and 7 international organizations.

2.	The objective of the Meeting was to review the status of Y2K Programmes carried out by States of the EUR Region and to develop an ICAO EUR Y2K Contingency Plan.

3.	It was found that there were three levels of contingency planning in the European Region. The first level related to States themselves, the second level related to inter-State planning, and the third level related to the European region as a whole, and its interfaces.

4.	The Meeting conducted its work on the assumption that national Y2K preparations would have generally been successful and that normal flight operations should therefore be possible. In addition, the ICAO Contingency Plan assumed that all aircraft would be Y2K compliant, which was based on statements of the airline industry, covered by the responsibility of State of Registry or State of Operator. It was also assumed that the safety related elements of airports would be Y2K compliant or would be covered by normal contingency provisions. Therefore, the focus of the European Regional Y2K Contingency Plan was to rapidly identify and report to all concerned any unforeseen problems which may arise, around specific "critical dates", affecting the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system and to provide a mechanism to co- ordinate regional contingency action if required.

5.	The Meeting prepared the ICAO EUR Y2K Contingency Plan. The Plan concerned itself mainly with the third level of contingency planning, but also provides guidance on how to address levels one and two as necessary in an overall context. Considering the urgency of the matter, the States were requested to confirm to the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office in Paris their endorsement of the ICAO EUR Y2K Contingency Plan not later than 15 April 1999.

6.	One point of concern raised during the Meeting was the requirement for States to allow aircraft that do not normally land in its territory to do so, if required, because of Y2K related problems. It was considered that this matter should be handled as any other emergency and that no specific provisions needed to be made in the Contingency Plan for this occurrence. This specific aspect was drawn to the States' attention when finalising their own contingency arrangements.

7.	It was also stated that a complete list of contact persons dealing with the Y2K contingency planning within each State would constitute an essential factor contributing to the success of transiting safely into the next century. Therefore, States were requested to ensure that the list of contacts be duly completed/amended and sent together with their endorsement of the Contingency Plan, as the case may be.

8.	The Meeting stressed out the importance of the continued functioning of the AFTN and the negative impact its failure would have on aviation safety and regularity. It therefore urged States to take all possible action to ensure Y2K compliance of their AFTN switches, connections, infrastructure and associated systems.

9.	The Meeting formulated four recommendations, as follows:

Recommendation 1	–	Flight plan handling

That Eurocontrol, in co-ordination with States and airspace user organizations concerned, and ICAO, develop procedures for optimum flight plan handling during the critical time periods and promulgate these procedures in good time.

Recommendation 2	–	ICAO EUR Y2K Contingency Plan

That:

a)	the ICAO EUR Y2K Contingency Plan be circulated to all European Provider States and to Eurocontrol for their endorsement within three weeks from the distribution date;

b)	upon endorsement, the ICAO EUR Y2K Contingency Plan be sent to States adjacent to the European Region and international organizations concerned; and

c)	further to the above, be circulated to the governing bodies of ICAO for information, be posted on the ICAO and Eurocontrol Internet web sites and be disseminated as widely as possible.

Recommendation 3	–	AIRAC DATES coinciding with critical Y2K dates

That, because of their coincidence with identified critical dates related to the Y2K problem, ICAO consider to issue a State letter advising States not to use the 9 September 1999 and 30 December 1999 AIRAC dates for any major changes to the air navigation system.

Recommendation 4	–	Format of aeronautical information on Year 2000 compliance by States

That, pursuant to Assembly Resolution A32-10, ICAO develop and circulate as a matter of urgency, to all States an appropriate standard format for the publication of the aeronautical information on their year 2000 compliance to be issued by 1 July 1999.

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