ICAO to Develop Recommendations on Future Aircraft Tracking

After a special two-day conference this week, the international aviation community has agreed to begin working on new recommendations which will seek to improve the future tracking of aircraft. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) met on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the issue with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air-safety officials, airline representatives and industry suppliers.

What was agreed?

• Closer cooperation in the short term to provide airlines with options to better monitor the location of planes over long oceanic or polar routes.
• The implementation of non-hardware tracking improvements by the end of 2014, on a voluntarily basis, for airlines.
• Greater support for an industry task force in order to develop new Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) to improve long term aircraft tracking.

What are the next steps?

• ICAO will make recommendations in September 2014 highlighting the technologies required to improve aircraft tracking. This will focus on both the short term measures which can be put in place, alongside the development of longer terms standards.
• The development and presentation of Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) to the international community. This will be done through the work of the ICAO/IATA task force, and seek to ensure the adoption of globally recognised regulations in aircraft tracking.

Whilst the goal of new long-term SARPs in relation to aircraft tracking will be a significant challenge, there is renewed focus by government and the aviation community to improve the current situation. With the ongoing work in Europe through Single European Sky and in the US through NextGen, improvements in Air Traffic Management will also complement the work being undertaken by ICAO on aircraft tracking.

In addition, aircraft manufacturers and suppliers have key role to play in these developments as industry can provide the technical knowledge and expertise required to implement short term measures, as well as ensure there is a joined-up focus on the innovation needed to develop new technology.