Paris ( France) – 3 December 2009 – States represented in the ICAO European Air Navigation Planning Group (EANPG) issued today more than 60 safety-related recommendations and proposals which, in line with the increase in air traffic, will support the continuous improvement of air navigation activities throughout the Region. After three days of joint analysis and debates, more than 60 representatives of 28 Member and Non-Member States agreed to take action on a variety of issues such as: the development of new ATM Safety Key Performance Indicators; the amendment to the European Basic Air Navigation Plan regarding the Originating Code Assignment Method (ORCAM); improvement in the use of aeronautical frequency spectrum; increased harmonization of ILS classification; national plans for the transition from AIS to AIM; provision of eTOD Area 2 data, Performance Based Navigation implementation and a lot more.

The 51st EANPG meeting, also attended by observers from nine international organizations including the European Commission - was held from 1 to 3 December 2009 in the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office, the first of the seven Regional Offices established by the Organization to discharge its continuing responsibilities within and applicable to defined geographical areas.

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EANPG/51 Meeting. From left to right : Mr. Karsten Theil (ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Director and Secretary of EANPG Annual Meetings), Mr. Phil Roberts (EANPG Chairman) and Mr. George Firican (ICAO EUR/NAT Deputy Regional Director)

EANPG is in fact the decisional body of the ICAO European Region - a huge geographical area of 56 States that ranges from Ireland to the Russian Federation and from Norway to Israel.
During EANPG sessions, which are usually held once a year, the States to which the ICAO European Office is accredited take vital decisions for the safety, efficiency and sustainability of Aviation which have a direct affect on the whole area and, an indirect affect on the rest of the world.

In fact, through those decisions, the ICAO EANPG Member States mainly ensure the continuous and coherent development of the European Air Navigation Plan in a manner that is harmonized with adjacent regions and consistent with the ICAO global safety provisions. The Group also facilitates the implementation of the international operational requirements, assists States or State groupings in their planning and implementation efforts (if and when required) and facilitates the co-ordination of the air navigation related programmes of other international organizations (i.e. the European Commission, ECAC, Eurocontrol, the Interstate Aviation Committee, NATO Air Traffic Management Committee, IATA, IBAC, IACA, IFALPA, IFATCA, etc).

During the 51 st EANPG meeting, other issues were highlighted such as the need to consider the EUR/NAT Office as the focal point for cooperation between the European SESAR and U.S. NEXTGEN programmes with regard to the Oceanic airspace (zipping the two continental airspaces cited- see map below) in order to avoid unnecessary costs to the operators. “Just to make and example, over the Atlantic Ocean, we need Data Link for improved surveillance and intervention capability while over the adjacent continents we need it to ease frequency congestion meaning that different needs bring different solutions with increased associated costs,” said Mr. Asgeir Palsson, Chairman of the NAT SPG, the air navigation planning group in charge of safety issues in the North Atlantic airspace. During the meeting, the representatives of the EC and U.S.A. confirmed that discussions were underway between the relevant administrations to conclude a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation between the two programmes.

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