Strengthening resilience through global air traffic management contingency planning

A crisis is unpredictable and can disrupt operations in various locations. ICAO is continuously working to enhance the preparedness and management of air traffic management (ATM) contingencies on a global scale. Substantial progress has been made towards the ICAO’s priority focus area—the ICAO Crisis Response Mechanism and Framework .

Following the One-ICAO approach the ICAO APAC and MID regions convened a pivotal ATM Contingency Planning Workshop from June 25 to June 27, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. A diverse group of more than 20 States from APAC, MID, and other regions, as well as international organizations participated in this event. The workshop was a collaborative effort involving all ICAO Regional Offices and ICAO Headquarters, and it underscored the global nature of aviation challenges and the need for cross-regional cooperation.

State ATM contingency plans outline actions to be taken in the event of disruptions to air traffic services and related supporting services within responsible airspace. Plans are developed with ICAO’s assistance and in coordination with adjacent airspace authorities and airspace users. The contingency scenarios includes meteorological phenomena, natural disasters, political and civil unrest, unavailability of ATC services, sudden or catastrophic failure of CNS/ATM systems, etc. It is imperative to consider versatility, scalability, responsiveness, and effectiveness when establishing a robust contingency framework.

The agenda for the Workshop was comprehensive, addressing a range of critical issues pertinent to ATM contingency and disruptions. Panel discussions delved into the revision and guidance material related to contingency arrangements, providing a platform for a thorough review of the current regional ATM Contingency Framework. Experts shared insights on ATM contingency planning and operations, recommendations and lessons learned, with a special focus on meteorological phenomena affecting ATM operations, ATM system outage/failure, and air traffic flow management (ATFM). The discussions aimed to enhance the Regional ATM Contingency Coordination Framework, considering the increasing relevance of space weather and the ever-present threat of cyber-attacks in the context of ATM.

A highlight of the workshop involved group exercises that were designed to demonstrate the effectiveness and benefits of ATM contingency response and coordination processes. Participants engaged in simulations of volcanic ash and earthquake contingency events, as well as military activities and GNSS signal jamming scenarios, to cultivate inspiration and improve their readiness for real-world contingencies.

Following the successful workshop, an ATM Contingency Tabletop Exercise was conducted on June 28, 2024. The exercise effectively showcased scenarios for managing typhoon and volcanic ash contingencies through the utilisation of role-play interactions among stakeholders.

The APAC/MID ATM Contingency Planning Workshop represented a proactive step towards strengthening the resilience of the global aviation network and sustainable growth of the global civil aviation system. By fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and engaging in practical exercises, the participating Administrations and ICAO Regional Offices are working collaboratively to ensure that the aviation industry is well-equipped to manage and respond to the dynamic and complex nature of modern air traffic challenges.

The outcomes of this workshop are expected to collaboratively establish future harmonised Contingency Procedures and Arrangements and to contribute significantly to the enhancement of global ATM contingency planning and operations, ensuring safe and efficient air traffic management under all predictable or unforeseeable circumstances.