The Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) work carried out by ICAO is fundamental to ensuring the safety, efficiency, and interoperability of global air navigation. Within this mandate, ICAO supports the development and maintenance of key international standards and guidance materials that enable harmonized CNS systems across regions. This includes close coordination with Member States, industry stakeholders, and other UN bodies to ensure the global aviation community can effectively manage spectrum use, maintain system compatibility, and adapt to evolving technologies.
Through ongoing refinement of technical specifications and support for strategic planning, ICAO helps ensure that CNS infrastructure continues to meet the operational needs of international civil aviation in a cost-effective and forward-looking manner.
The ICAO Asia and Pacific (APAC) Regional Office plays a vital role in maintaining ongoing coordination with its accredited States, as well as with regional civil aviation bodies, relevant organizations, and UN agencies and programmes. It provides Member States and stakeholders with technical guidance and support to help implement ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS), Regional Supplementary Procedures (SUPPs), and the Air Navigation Plan (ANP). Within this framework, the Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) section of the APAC Office is responsible for all matters related to CNS and for supporting the safety of aircraft operations across the region.
To meet these objectives, the CNS section organized various seminars and workshops in addition to regular meetings, to increase participants’ awareness and understanding of the ICAO requirements needed to support regional planning and implementation activities, including the implementation of the global air navigation plan, the Asia/Pacific Seamless ANS Plan, and the Beijing Declaration. This article shared details of some of the key events for information for Member States.
In Q3 of 2024, three workshops and seminars were organized that focused on the APAC region’s critical aspects of aviation management. These events included the Flight Inspection and Procedure Validation (FIPV) Seminar, the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Implementation Workshop, and the Seminar on Frequency Use. Each event aimed to address unique challenges, enhance understanding, and promote the implementation of advanced aviation technologies to ensure safety, efficiency, and harmonization in the increasingly congested airspace.
The ICAO Asia/Pacific Flight Inspection and Procedure Validation (FIPV) Seminar was held from 30 July to 1 August 2024 at the ICAO Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand. The seminar was organized in response to Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs) identified during Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) audits in some States/Administrations. These concerns stemmed from Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) not meeting quality assurance requirements. The event provided a platform to exchange and deliberate on FIPV methods for newly implemented facilities such as PBN procedures, GBAS, and ADS-B, as well as to share related experiences from diverse perspectives.
The ICAO APAC ADS-B Implementation Workshop was held from 14 to 16 August 2024. The workshop specifically targeted challenges Least Developed Countries (LDCs) faced implementing ADS-B technology. This workshop underscored the importance of capacity-building initiatives to ensure the successful adoption of ADS-B technology, which is critical for enhancing regional air traffic management.
Another seminar on Frequency Use was held from 16 to 18 September 2024 at the ICAO Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand. The primary objective of the seminar was to address challenges in aeronautical frequency management, with a particular focus on the unique issues faced by the APAC region. The event facilitated the exchange of best practices and experiences, especially in frequency use, to support the harmonization of frequency assignment procedures across the region.
In addition, the CNS section conducted seven additional seminars/workshops to support States in ANS implementation. These workshops and seminars exemplified ICAO’s commitment to enhancing aviation safety and efficiency in the APAC region and beyond. ICAO APAC Office will continue to put all efforts into preparing APAC states to meet future air navigation capacity and efficiency requirements.
