Air Navigation Services across Sri Lankan skies geared to embrace futuristic trends in aviation

By Rohan Manukulasooriya 

Look at the sky right above you! Day by day the sky is getting more and more congested with not only different modern types of aeroplanes but also with numerous other ‘flying devices’ joining – or even flooding – our airspace for professional and recreational activities as well. Examples of such activities include remote-controlled flying machines popularly known as drones, unmanned balloons, flying wish lanterns, aerial photography, flower dropping from aircraft etc. Thus, the airspace has become rather busy and is in a huge demand to be used at present. 

Initially the birds – ‘the original owner of the sky’ – were threatened by the emergence of the aircraft in the sky just one century ago after many centuries of their monopoly in the sky since the inception of the world. And now the birds and aircraft alike are all challenged by these new ‘strangers’ in the sky hovering in their numbers, thus implicating a huge safety threat, if they are all not regulated with some dynamic rules and regulations in order to sustain all forms of such activities in the sky (or as we may call it – in the airspace), which are vital for the growth of the aviation industry.

The Air Navigation Services (ANS) Section of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) is geared to fulfil this task in a pragmatic manner accommodating the needs, interests and priorities of each category of users of the sky/airspace, while the Aerodromes Section of CAASL grants/coordinates approvals to various high-rising sky-scraping buildings in the metropolis, which also form yet another group/category of the users of the sky, being stationary though, unlike the other categories mentioned above earlier on.

In this backdrop, it’s worthwhile and timely too, to understand the tasks performed by the ANS Section of the CAASL, which will in turn, help the public to make use of its services in an optimum manner towards performing/undertaking a share of work as a stakeholder of this challenging and ever-growing industry of civil aviation.

Air Travel – the safest and fastest mode of travel

The world’s safest mode of travel is said to be air travel beyond any doubt indeed. Not only is it the safest, but also the quickest/fastest, most popular and most rapidly developing as well. 

Every year – if not month – a new model of a modern aircraft joins the wide array of aircraft types available for use on a variety of purposes – ranging from public air travel to agriculture, from research purposes to air bombing at war.

Passenger air travel and air cargo transportation has shown an exceptional growth in the recent past and the Asia region has recorded the highest rate of growth with prediction of the highest growth of about 32% during the next decade.

Sri Lanka, our motherland known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, is at a distinct geographical advantage to exploit this growth to her economic benefit – if managed strategically well!

Sri Lanka being amongst 190 plus countries who are signatories to the Chicago Convention of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is obliged to offer the skies above and around her for international air transportation by way of providing safe, expeditious, orderly, economical and environment-friendly flow of aircraft movements into and out of Sri Lanka as well as across the vast airspace around her allocated to Sri Lanka by ICAO known as Colombo Flight Information Region (FIR).

Whilst securing and preserving the defence, security and sovereignty of the country, Sri Lanka endeavours to best utilise this airspace as a precious means of revenue of foreign exchange to the economy of the country by promoting the industry of civil aviation domestically, regionally and of course globally.

Safety is the key for the success of the aviation industry of any country – and Sri Lanka is no exception!

What is Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL)

Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) – a Government organisation under the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation holds the responsibility of ensuring primarily the safety and all other required standards at all our airports and across the airspace of Colombo FIR.

Thus, the primary function of the CAASL is to regulate the civil aviation industry in Sri Lanka in conformity with the applicable International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) whilst steering the sector as a prime contributor to the growth of national economy, enhancing the quality of life of the citizens of the country.

Key activities of ANS Section

• ANS Section handles the following key activities:
• Update local legislation and subsidiary legislation related to air navigation
• Development and promulgation of rules, directives and other advisory circulars as may be required for the effective implementation of ANS
• Development and promulgation of requisite guidance materials, job guides and updating existing guidance materials relating to ANS
• Local implementation of SARPs related to ANS
• Initial certification and continuous surveillance of ANS provider
• Making arrangements for the provision of effective ‘Search And Rescue’ (SAR) within the Colombo FIR in accordance with the applicable ICAO requirement and in coordination with all parties concerned
• Making arrangements for effective management of Sri Lanka air space in coordination with SLAF and ANS provider
• Office management, cadre update and man power development in the ANS Section
• Implementation of SSP component in relation to ANS

Accordingly, the following services are available for all aviation enthusiasts:

• Offering awareness on the international and local rules, regulations, standards and recommended practices applicable for pilots, air traffic controllers, airlines and any other users of the airspace
• Providing guidance on any ANS related matters in the aviation industry
• Issuance of certificates on ANS related functions
• Inspections to ensure strict compliance with all ANS-related rules
• Coordinate the provision of assistance to aircraft in distress including search and rescue any victims
• Granting approvals for non-scheduled overflights and landing for re-fuelling and/or other technical needs, drone operations, aerial photography, flower drops, wish lanterns and so on
• Issuance of timely notices to users of the sky on any significantly important information such as the changes of the status of equipment and/or facilities at airports, special activities in the sky including special military operations
• Provide assistance, supervision and oversight on ensuring an acceptable level of safety in air navigation functions.

Inspiring message to all inclusive of aviation stake-holders and general public

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka is geared and extremely prepared and willing to extend its fullest unstinted cooperation to assist and promote all your aviation-related activities with proper guidance and encouragement towards successful implementation of same as a profitable venture, tourism promotion and/or recreation activity.

You can visit our website: www.caa.lk for further elaboration including our contact details!

Come join us in a successful journey of rapid development in civil aviation.

(The writer is the Director – Air Navigation Services/CAASL).