Formation of Sri Lanka Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Review Group

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka has identified the need for the formation of an expert group representing all key State organisations involved in local air navigation activities for planning, management and coordination of Sri Lanka airspace and the Colombo flight information region under a national air navigation plan which is to be developed in conformity with requirements in the ICAO Regional Air Navigation Plan for implementation.

The first meeting of the above group was convened by the DGCA and CEO of CAASL on 13 August at CAASL. The relevant senior officials from CAASL, AASL, SLAF and the Department of Meteorology including DGCA and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of AASL participated at this meeting.

CAASL DGCA and Chief Executive Officer H.M.C. Nimalsiri was appointed as the Chairman of the Group which is named as ‘Sri Lanka Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Review Group’ (SLANPIRG).

The SLANPIRG was initially tasked to develop the Sri Lanka Air Navigation Plan taking into account of the Aviation System Block Upgrades which has been introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO) under its Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP). It presents a framework for harmonising avionics capabilities and the required air traffic management (ATM) ground infrastructure as well as automation. The framework is the Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBUs). An ASBU is a package of capabilities (modules) which has essential qualities of:

Clearly defined measurable operational improvements with appropriate metrics to determine success

Necessary equipment and/or systems in aircraft and on the ground along with an operational approved or certification plan

Standards and procedures for airborne and ground systems.

Positive business case over a clearly defined period of time

The ASBUs provide a roadmap to assist air navigation service providers in the development of their individual strategic plans and investment decisions with a goal of global aviation system interoperability.

Once the National Air Navigation Plan is developed in line with ASBU principles, it will provide an overview of the processes that will guide decision makers’ selection and implementation of the ASBUs to ensure global interoperability and satisfy both national and regional requirements.