ASBU Implementation

​Multi-disciplinary Working Group on the Economic Challenges Linked to the Implementation of the Aviation System Block Upgrades (MDWG-ASBU)

Historical evidence shows the air transport industry has doubled every fifteen years and current forecasts indicate this trend to continue. The ASBU concept described above is the technical roadmap for the aviation industry to facilitate the projected growth and ensure that ground and air infrastructure and equipment can accommodate the increase in aircraft and passenger traffic.

The development of the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and the implementation of the ASBU Modules was a key discussion point of the Twelfth Air Navigation Conference (AN-Conf/12) held in November 2012. The AN-Conf/12 recommended ICAO to refer the relevant conclusions from the Conference regarding economic, financial and social aspects of ASBUs to the Sixth Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf/6). The goal is to develop solutions that would support a safe and sustainable air navigation system.

The Sixth Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf/6), held in March of 2013, recommended to establish a working group to consider the economic and operational challenges associated with the air navigation services upgrades in particular, and with financing the air transport system in general. The working group will consider the challenges associated with the establishment of operational and economic incentives, such as service priority:

• to allow early benefits of new technologies and procedures, as described in the aviation system block upgrade (ASBUs) modules,
• to support operational improvements,
• while maximizing safety, capacity and overall system efficiency,
• taking into account the specific needs expressed at the 12th Air Navigation Conference (AN-Conf/12)

Furthermore, the ATConf/6 concluded that the relevance of the recently updated ICAO policies and guidance material contained in ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services (Doc 9082) and the Manual on Air Navigation Services Economics (Doc 9161) should be assessed in the context of the modernization of the air transport system.

Multi-Disciplinary Working Group

Following the recommendations from the AN-Conf/12 and ATConf/6, ICAO established a Multi-Disciplinary Working Group (MDWG) to assess the economic challenges associated with the implementation of the ASBUs.

The first meeting of the Multi-disciplinary working group on the economic challenges linked to the implementation of the aviation system block upgrades (MDWG-ASBU) was held at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, Canada, from 18 to 20 February 2014. Read the MDWG-ASBUs/1 Report for more information.

The reports produced by the sub-working groups of the MDWG-ASBUs/1 can be found below.

Sub-working Group 1    Sub-working Group 2    Sub-working Group 3​    Sub-working Group 4
 
The second meeting of the Multi-disciplinary working group on the economic challenges linked to the implementation of the aviation system block upgrades (MDWG-ASBU) was held at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, Canada, from 9 to 10 February 2015. Read the MDWG-ASBUs/2, Report for more information.

The findings of the MDWG-ASBUs will be assessed during the fifth meeting of the AEP-ANSEP in May 2015.

Checklist for cost-benefit analysis for infrastructure investment projects