The Asia/Pacific (APAC) Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) – Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) Implementation Task Force (AAITF) was formed by the APAC Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group (APANPIRG) to support AIS/AIM implementation through studying the means of aeronautical data management, examining aeronautical data exchange, assisting States to implement Quality Management Systems (QMS) for aeronautical information, developing training material and conducting workshops, monitoring technical and operational developments in AIS, and monitoring the transition from AIS to AIM.
The output of AAITF includes the publication of the first version of the APAC Plan for Collaborative AIM, containing regional AIM performance expectations, together with general guidance material on regional AIS/AIM matters. Separately, the Guidance Manual for AIS in the APAC Region, maintained by AAITF and first published in 2002, provides guidance on AIS quality systems, the selection and training of AIS personnel, and regionally agreed procedures for the management of NOTAMs. The Collaborative AIM Plan and the Guidance Manual will be updated and consolidated by AAITF after publishing the global AIS/AIM guidance documents currently under preparation – the AIS Manual (update), Quality Management Manual (new) and AIS Training Manual (also new). The regional AIM plan, guidance manual and other AIS-related regional documents are available on the APAC Regional Office eDocuments web-page (ATM Section, AIM sub-section).
In recent years, the work of AAITF/13 (2018), AAITF/14 (2019) and AAITF/15 (2020) has included workshop activities on the topics of Quality Management of Aeronautical Information, Electronic Terrain and Obstacle Data (ETOD), World Geodetic System – 1984 (WGS-84), and the Aeronautical Data Catalogue (ICAO Doc 10066 Appendix 1). The ICAO APAC Regional Office has also conducted detailed analyses to support AAITF, including NOTAM proliferation, and non-compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) and Procedures in NOTAMs and Aeronautical Information Publications (AIPs).
A significant challenge for the APAC Region involves quality management of aeronautical information. Accordingly, and noting the criticality of quality-managed aeronautical information to the safety and efficiency of aviation, the ICAO APAC Regional Office has in the last three years conducted, hosted and/or supported a range of AIS-related workshops and seminars, in collaboration with champion States and International Organizations:
- ICAO AIS to AIM Transition Workshop, held in conjunction with the 55th Conference of Directors General of the Asia and Pacific Regions (DGCA/55) in Nadi, Fiji, in October 2018;
- European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) ARISE Plus AIS-AIM Workshop for Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) States, and European Union (EU) South Asia Aviation Partnership Project AIS-AIM Workshop, both held at the ICAO APAC Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand, in June 2019; and most recently
- Workshop on Building Effective Safety Oversight of AIS and AIM, led by the Federal Aviation Administration of the USA, also held at the ICAO Regional Office in January 2020.
The ICAO APAC Regional Office has also visited States to provide on-site AIS/AIM technical guidance and is developing a programme of AIS/AIM Go-Teams, to further support the robust implementation and improvement of AIS/AIM in the Region. States or International Organizations wishing to participate in this activity, particularly those able to contribute expertise to Go-Teams, are invited to contact the ICAO Asia/Pacific Regional Office (apac@icao.int).
