APPENDIX
AIS-AIMSG/3-SN No. 5
Change Management Process
- Proposal -
Version: 0.9
Status: Proposed Release
Issue date: 30 Aug 2010
Developed by EUROCONTROL and FAA in consultation with the AIXM Stakeholders
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Purpose of the document
3 The current AIXM Change Management process
4 AIXM Stakeholder Groups
4.1States
4.2ANSP
4.3Flight plan and data service providers
4.4Airlines and airspace users
4.5Airports
4.6Manufacturing industry
4.7Military
4.8Eurocontrol and FAA
5 Proposal for the future AIXM Change Management process
5.1Principles
5.2Change Management Process
5.3CCB Membership
6 AIXM Versions and derived Standards
6.1Version policy
6.2Implementation Specifications
6.3Implementation of a new version
7 Change Proposal and Tracking Tool
AIS-AIMSG/3-SN No. 5
Appendix
1 Introduction
Within the context of a digital ATM environment that spans international boundaries, a complete perspective on how systems within a State and between States should communicate aeronautical information (AI) needs to be formulated to satisfy air traffic operations in increasingly capacity-constrained airspaces. The “ICAO Roadmap for the Transition from AIS to AIM”, discusses the need for fully digitizing AI in such a way that systems can transparently exchange information while maintaining data integrity, traceability, security, and consistency. This is not only a question of technology but also of international policy.
ICAO has undertaken work to update ICAO Annex 15 and to specify new requirements for Aeronautical Information Management (AIM). These include performance specifications to achieve timely and accurate exchange of digital data that correspond to the “Going Digital” Phase of the AIS to AIM Roadmap, resulting in the delivery of digital aeronautical information.
Guidance Material satisfying the digital data requirements specified in Annex 15[1]are being developed based on the Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM).Originally developed for the needs of the European AIS Database (EAD), AIXM has become, through an international development effort led by EUROCONTROL and FAA, the most complete and precise model of aeronautical information (AI) in global use. It provides a semantic and syntactic structure by which AI can be represented. AIXM includes semantic rules for its use that define, for example, how temporal events that affect aeronautical features[2] should be described, how aeronautical features should be identified, and how to specify relationships between aeronautical features.
AIXM includes a conceptual/logical model (UML class model, complemented by a Temporality concept, business rules and other high level concepts), sometimes referred to as the Aeronautical Information Conceptual Model (AICM). It also includes a data encoding/exchange format based on the Geography Markup Language (GML) and which is known as the “AIXM XML Schema”. For simplicity, the term “AIXM” is used to encompass the two.
AIXM is increasingly used in the implementation of various AIS systems worldwide and it is being adopted as ICAO Guidance Material, in support of the AIS to AIM Roadmap Transition. In this context, there is a need to clarify the interactions, roles and responsibilities between the different AIXM stakeholders, especially regarding its future evolution.
2 Purpose of the document
This document contains a proposal for the establishment of a more inclusive AIXM Change Management Process and for the responsibilities of the different groups concerned by the AIXM in relation to the change management process. The purpose of the document is to serve as a basis for discussions, in order to progress this matter.Finally, the ICAO AIS-AIM Study Group, for which this document has been drafted, will advise ICAO with regard to best approach tothe formalisation of the AIXM change management process.
First, the document provides the description of the current AIXM Change Management process. Afterwards, it lists the different ‘groups’ interested / concerned by the model and makes an initial proposal on how to articulate the change management process taking into account the interests of the different groups. Finally, it describesa formal issue/change proposal submission and tracking process.
3 The current AIXM Change Management process
AIXM is currently developed and managed jointly by the FAA and EUROCONTROL, under Action Plan 20 of their Memorandum of Cooperation. Other stakeholders, in particular developers from industry, are consulted and can get involved in the AIXM development through the AIXM Forum. This is essentially an informal process, in which decisions about changes in the model are taken by consensus. Theprocessis represented in the diagram below.
The AIXM Design Team established by FAA (supported by NGA[3]) and EUROCONTROL is currently performing nearly all the technical work related to the definition of the model. This group is also in charge of the ‘administrative’ work related to the change management process (communication with the AIXM stakeholders, replies to enquiries concerning the models, maintenance of the Web site, of the AIXM Wiki and of the AIXM Forum).
The AIXM Forum is the main channel used for interaction with the stakeholders.This Forum has around 1000 members representing more than 350 organisationsfrom 87 States around the world: ANSP[4]/AIS[5],industry, airlines, etc. In particular, the comments received from the developers are critical as they are the result of practical implementation experience in the development of systems used by ANSP/AIS.
In addition, for internal European coordination, a formal AIXM Focus Group was established for each AIXM version. This enabled the European ANSP/AIS to review and validate the work done by the Eurocontrol Agency in the development of a new AIXM version. The Eurocontrol AIXM Focus Group meetings have regularly enjoyed the participation of the FAA members of the Design Team and are open to participation by any non-European State.
Starting with AIXM version 5, another contributor to the validation and evolution of AIXM has been the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), through the “test bed” activities organised by it, for which FAA and Eurocontrol have co-sponsored AIXM related work. OGC is the developer of the ISO 19100 series of standards, which are the foundation of AIXM version 5 for spatial concepts (GML), temporal concepts, metadata, etc.
The AIXM website ( including the AIXM Forum and the AIXM Wiki, is currently the repository for the model and all the associated change management information.
The AIXM is thecopyrightof the FAA and EUROCONTROL and it is published under an “open source” BSD licence. This form of license allows the use of the model for both open source and proprietary developments, which facilitates the use of the AIXM in commercial applications.
4 AIXM Stakeholder Groups
The AIXM is and will be used by different stakeholder groups for different purposes. The correct identification of the main AIXM stakeholder groups and of their specific interests is key for the establishment of the future AIXM Change Control Board (CCB).Of particular interest is the identification of established organisations that can represent a stakeholder group, such as ICAO for its Member States, CANSO[6] for ANSP, etc.
4.1States
At the global level, through the AIS-AIMSG, AIXM is being adopted as ICAO Guidance Material in support for the AIS to AIMTransition Roadmap. The fact that the AIXM is currently implemented and used by a large group of its Member States is expected to facilitate this process, which, for example, follows a similar path with the adoption of the WGS-84 Guidance Material.
Once ICAO has published the AIXM based Guidance Material, the ICAO Member States will de-facto become the principal stakeholder group.
Some ICAO Regions might need to develop specific extensions of the model, which represent regional Air Traffic Management (ATM) operational concepts. This might also imply the development and approval at regional level of more constraining specifications. For example, as part of the European Commission Single European Sky (SES) initiative, an Interoperability Regulation for Aeronautical Data Quality (ADQ) has been issued. This is a European Union law and it requires the definition of corresponding means of compliance. One of these will be derived from the AIXM model, complemented by some limited model extensions that correspond to regional concepts, such as the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA)[7]. In the medium to long term, once AIXM is ICAO Guidance Material, the need for regional specific Means of Compliance is likely to disappear, as the objective of ADQ is to strengthen the ICAO requirements for data quality and not to deviate from them.
The FAA might also need to derive from the AIXM model specific Standards; (including legal requirements like certification, etc). These Standards will be defined by integration in the FAA Enterprise Architecture, FAA Data Governance Board matters, as well as FAA Orders or advisory circulars which will define how information is conveyed between groups.
The outcome of the approval/standardisation processes of these groups can, in turn, impact the contents of the new AIXM model versions.
4.2ANSP
At the national level, ANSP are the typical user of the model. ANSP invest in the development or purchase of systems that implements the AIXM model. Traditionally, this has been done in the area of their AIS units. However, the transition towards AIM and system-wide information management (SWIM) principles shows that the AIXM is being used for integrating the data needed by other ANSP departments.
CANSO, the trade organisation of Air Navigation Service Providers, has an AIS-AIM Workgroup that is addressing the issues surrounding the transition to AIM, which includes the provision of digital aeronautical information.
4.3Flight plan and data service providers
The term “flight plan and data service providers” encompasses commercial organisations that provide flight planning, FMS[8] data, briefing, aircraft runway performance calculations and related services to airlines and other airspace users. Such organisations are natural AIXM stakeholders since they use data officially published by the States. Traditionally, the data was encoded starting from the paper publications (AIP) and from NOTAM messages. Within the global transition towards the provision and use of digital data, for safety, data integrity, quality assuranceand efficiency reasons, the re-typing of the data needs to be replaced with direct ingestion of the digital data issued by the States.
The “International Aviation Software Association”, established in 2009, seems to have as members several representative companies in this category. However, it is not clear to what extent this organisation could represent the interest of this stakeholder group or if there are other organisations that could represent this group.
4.4Airlines and airspace users
Airlines are impacted by the model, as they are using tools and services that process the aeronautical information and present it in a format suitable for airline operational centres and pilot briefing. Other airspace users (VFR community) are less interested in a data model, as they typically use dedicated services and tailored views.
IATA[9] is an example of an established airline representative organisation at global level, which also has activities in the area of aeronautical information provision (for example, obstacle databases) for its members.
4.5Airports
Airports are typically originators of aeronautical information. Traditionally, the information is provided to the AIS offices of the State in paper format. The global move towards digital AIM also requires that, for efficiency and data integrity reasons, airports make the data available directly in digital format to the AIS. Airports may have particular interest with regard to some parts of AIXM, such as the encoding of surface contamination data (SNOWTAM). Airports are also users of certain categories of aeronautical information.
The Airports Council International (ACI) pursues airports interests in discussions with international organisations. It has a global coverage and the organisation has already demonstrated interest in information management projects.
4.6Manufacturing industry
Commercial companies that develop software able to store and process AIXM formatted data are a key stakeholder. AIXM based systems have been developed either in response to a specific call for offers launched by a StateANSP or as their own commercial initiative. The developers and domain experts of these companies have accumulated strong AIXM experience and they are always an important contributor to the evolution of the model, through change requests and comments made on change proposals.
There is no known organisation that could represent the interests of this important category of stakeholders. CANSO includes many such commercial companies as associated members. Some of these commercial companies are also members of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), which has recently established an Aviation Domain Working Group.
A particular segment of this stakeholder group is composed by avionics manufactures, which have a strong interest in aeronautical data models since the airborne systems rely on them (eg. ARINC 424, ARINC 816). As data consistency between ground and onboard systems becomes more and more important, the avionics industry needs to have the possibility to influence theAIXM evolution. This could be achieved through cooperation with EUROCAE and RTCA, which are established organisations for avionics manufacturing standards.
4.7Military
The military organisations of many States have established aeronautical information units and services, which provide data and briefings for their operations and which interact with the civil ANSP and general air traffic.
Some military organisations have acquired systems for aeronautical information management that use AIXM for storage, input or output of the data. They have specific interests for modelling data which is only relevant for military operations. A few of these data items (such as Aerial Refuelling procedures) exist in the core model because they are also of interest for civil operations. Some other military concepts (such as missions, airspace reservations, etc.) require specific extension.
The National Geospatial Agency (NGA) of United States had provided a significant contribution to the development of AIXM version 5. Their involvement is expected to continue, both as users of the model and contributors to its further development.
Military alliances such as NATO might have workgroups dedicated to aeronautical information management. EUROCONTROL has a Civil-Military ATM Coordination (CMAC) Directoratethat represents the interests of the military in its Member States.
4.8Eurocontrol and FAA
As current owners of the model, EUROCONTROL and FAA have a strong interest that the investment made by the two organisations in the development of the model is preserved and continues to benefit their stakeholders. The experience gained during the development of AIXM up to version 5 can significantly facilitate the CCB work for the further maintenance and evolution of the model.
SESAR in Europe and NextGen in US are important Regional ATM Research and Development programmes that include the development of new requirements for information management. For SESAR, AIXM is a key input for the AIM domain. In FAA, AIXM is at the core of the AIM Modernisation programme of NextGen. The SESAR and NextGen developments are likely to provide input for the long term evolution of the AIXM model.
5 Proposal for the futureAIXM Change Management process
In order to manage the further evolution of the AIXM in the interest of the largest number of stakeholders, it is proposed to establish a formal process, under the supervision of a Change Control Board (CCB) with international participation. The CCB will be the primary body that will decide on the further evolution of the model, will schedule the publication of new versions and will give a final approval tothe set of changesto be included in new versions.
In order to take decisions that are in accordance with the stakeholder requirements, the CCB needs to be representative of the various stakeholder groups. The CCB will be supported by a Secretariat, which will provide the technical and human resources for the actual drafting of the change proposals, the maintenance of the AIXM model files and associated documentation, the maintenance of the communication means (Web site, AIXM Forum, Change Submission and Tracking System, etc.)
5.1Principles
A number of key principles are proposed for the definition of the future AIXM Change Management process:
- Responsibility forModel maintenance and evolution. The CCB will be primarily responsible for the maintenance of the AIXM model, which includes the AIXM UML model, the AIXM XML/GML Schema and the Temporality Concept. Various stakeholder groups might develop derived models, extensions and implementation specifications. These are, in principle, outside the scope of the CCB, unless the stakeholder group concerned delegates their maintenance to the AIXM CCB and the CCB members have an interest to accept this delegation (for example, when it concerns a significant CCB sub-group). However, the CCB will have to take into account the evolution requirements of the derived specifications.
- The CCB shall also have responsibility for the AIXM associated documentation, such as UML to XSD Conversion, Business Rules, a CodeSpace policy for the Universal Unique Identifiers (UUID), validation of profiles of the underlying standards (GML, metadata), etc.
- The AIXM change management process shall be driven by consensus. All change proposals shall be submitted to and discussed with all AIXM stakeholders in an open and transparent process. Consensus rather than voting shall be used for two main reasons: (a) voting would require the allocation of complex and potentially arbitrary voting rights to various stakeholder groups; (b) consensus requires “collective agreement” and strengthens interpersonal relationships in the group, while voting may damage the cohesion of the AIXM stakeholder’s community;
- The main role of the CCB is to guarantee a fair and transparent AIXM Change Management process. It would be impractical to ask the CCB members to vote for each individual change proposal, because of the effort and short deadlines associated with such a process. Instead, the CCB shall issue a global statement of approval for a new AIXM version, witnessing the correctness and transparency of the process for each of the individual changes that have been agreed upon by the AIXM stakeholder community.The CCB members will also have the important role of working for developing consensual solutions on change proposals that show a split in the stakeholder’s opinions;
- The CCB members shallbe representatives of stakeholder groups, not of individual stakeholders. The objective is to keep the CCB size at a manageable level andto ensure anefficient progress. A maximum limit of 20 members is proposed. For the stakeholder groups that do not have a formal representative association (such as for the manufacturing industry), a limited number of representative individual stakeholders could be invited to participate, by the decision of the other CCB members.
- Ensure visibility and the possibility to contribute inchange managementprocess to all AIXM stakeholders.The AIXM Forum has today more than 1000 members from more than 350 organisations.All AIXM stakeholders shall have the possibility to raise issues and suggestions for the evolution of the model, comment on change proposals and have full visibility on the approval and implementation of each change.
- EUROCONTROL and FAA to provide and maintain the infrastructure for the CCB process and the AIXM maintenance(Secretariat). The two organisations, under their Memorandum for Cooperation, have established the resources and have the required experience for this activity. This implies the provision and maintenance of tools for Change Management Processing, maintenance of the model source files, Web sites ( AIXM Forum, AIXM Wiki, organisation of conferences, trainings and seminars, etc.
5.2Change Management Process
Based on these high-level principles, the proposed AIXM Change Management Process is presented in the following diagram. This diagram describes the evolution of an “issue” submitted by an AIXM Stakeholder, into one or more Change Proposals submitted to AIXM Community for evaluation and finally to the CCB for formal approval (as part of a new AIXM version).