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AIS-AIMSG/6-SN/6
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International Civil Aviation Organization / AIS-AIMSG/-SN/6
10/05/12

AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICES-AERONAUTICAL

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT STUDY GROUP (AIS-AIMSG)

SIXTH MEETING

Buenos Aires, Argentina 21 to 35 May 2012

Agenda Item 3: AIM responsibilities and functions
3.1 AIM domain functions

ORIGINATION OF AERONAUTICAL DATA BY AIS

(Presented by The Rapporteur of the Ad-hoc Group Investigating the Scope of AIS functions)

SUMMARY
This paper reports on the analysis done by the Ad-hoc Group charged with investigating the scope of AIS functions. The group, in particular, was to investigate the
appropriateness, usage and impact of the description of the function stages specified in paragraph 3.1.7 especially the inclusion of the term “and/or originate” in
conjunction with “receive”. The paper discusses the potential relevance of including the term “and/or originate” and concludes with a recommendation for amendment of the current paragraph 3.1.7.

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1During AIS to AIM SG #5 there was a long discussion around Annex 15, paragraph 3.1.7, where it indicates that ‘An aeronautical information service shall receive and/or originate collate or assemble, edit, format, publish/store and distribute aeronautical information/data…’. In particular, there was a question over the inclusion of the word ‘originate’, and whether this put a responsibility on a State AIS to originate aeronautical data/information when it had not been provided.

1.2That discussion was inconclusive and an ad-hoc group was created consisting of Steve (Rapporteur), Francois, Paul, Marcelo Elena, Stefan, and Stephane and was tasked to investigate the appropriateness, usage and impact of the description of the function stages specified in paragraph 3.1.7 (new paragraph 2.2.2) with particular reference to the inclusion of the term and/or originate in conjunction with receive, and report to the group at AIS-AIMSG/6 their findings and any recommended changes.

2.DISCUSSION

2.1Annex 15 defines State obligations, these are the provision of the AIS (the Service) and the products that shall or should be provided (the elements of the IAIP). Annex 15 and the supporting ICAO Documents describe in more detail what information is to be provided and the format in which it will be provided.

2.2Para. 3.1.7 of Annex 15 indicates that ‘An aeronautical information service shall receive and/or originate, collate or assemble, edit, format, publish/store and distribute aeronautical information/data concerning the entire territory of the State as well as areas in which the State is responsible for air traffic services outside its territory. Aeronautical information shall be published as an Integrated Aeronautical Information Package.’

2.3Para. 3.1.7, as currently written, could be interpreted to imply that when data/information is missing, the AIS has a responsibility to originate what is missing. However, with the exception of the words ‘shall originate’ in para. 3.1.7, there is no other indication within Annex 15 of what aeronautical information/data the AIS shall originate. In turn, this could be further interpreted to indicate that the AIS should originate all missing information/data. The possibilities of this activity range from the AIS obtaining a telephone number to arranging for the conduct of an obstacle survey.

2.4With the exception of the inclusion of the word ‘originate’, the remainder of the paragraphdefines a service that shall receive, manage and publish aeronautical information. This implies a passive service that waits for data/information to be delivered. Annex 15 does not define any standards, requirements or activities specific to the AIS organisation in the information/data origination or collection phase (prior to publication). The word ‘originate’ is un-supported elsewhere in Annex 15.

2.5Within some States, a National level responsibility may be imposed on the AIS to originate aeronautical information/data, and this may be a key revenue earning function of the provider. It is important to understand which organisation can impose this obligation on the AIS provider, is it ICAO or the State?

2.6Annex 15 imposes responsibilities on the State, and defines the required service and products, as well as what data is to be published within these products. With the exception of the one word (originate) in para 3.1.7, the implication of Annex 15, when taken as a whole, is that other organisations have the responsibility of originating/collecting data/information and delivering this to the AIS for publication.

2.7This is re-enforced by the new text agreed for Amendment 37 of Annex 15, which indicates "2.1.1.3 The State shall ensure that formal arrangements are established between originators and the aeronautical information service in relation to aeronautical data and aeronautical information provided." This text clearly identifies in Annex 15 the different roles of the originator and the AIS.

2.8If ‘origination’ is to be left in 3.1.7, then Annex 15 will need to include some parameters such as identifying what data and when it is to be collected. This would add further complexity to the issue as Annex 15 would describe a role, the proportions of which cannot estimated in advance, and therefore the financial aspects of providing this origination service are completely unknown.

2.9It could then be argued that there is strong case for the removal of the word ‘originate’ from the current Para. 3.1.7. However, recognition should still be given to those AIS providers that may be given a National level responsibility to originate data/information. This could be addressed simply by extending the new 2.1.1.3, or adding a new paragraph, such as;

Where a State imposes obligations on the AIS to originate data/information, these obligations are to be clearly identified within the formal arrangements established between the State and the AIS provider.

2.10This approach would show recognition of the activity by ICAO, though impose an obligation on the State to describe specific activities. In turn this statement would need to be supported earlier in 2.1 with a statement such as;

The State shall ensure that formal arrangements are established between the relevant State Authority and the aeronautical information service provider in relation to the services to be provided.

2.11In addition, para. 3.1.7 (new 2.2.2) repeats the geographical sphere of coverage that the AIS will manage data for. The possibility of an AIS providing a service to a State other than its own is already introduced in 3.1. (new 2.1), so this need not be duplicated in para. 3.1.7 (new 2.2.2)

3.CONCLUSION

3.1At present, the term ‘originate’ is out of place in Para 3.1.7, and it is unsupported within Annex 15. While the AIS may be given a National level responsibility to originate data/information, the scope of the task will vary from State to State and cannot be accounted for by ICAO. Recognition should be given to the fact that an AIS may be tasked by a National authority to carry out an origination task, though recognition is all that is possible in Annex 15.

3.2Annex15 Para. 3.1.7 (new 2.2.2) should be amended to include responsibilities for the State to put in place formal arrangements between itself and the AIS provider, and to identify within those arrangements any additional data origination responsibilities.

4.ACTION BY THE AIS-AIMSG

4.1The AIS-AIMSG is invited to:

a)note the information in this paper;

b)agree to the development of an amendment to Annex 15, para 3.1.7 (new 2.2.2) to address the data origination issue; and

c)discuss the removal of the geographical sphere of coverage from para 3.1.7 (new 2.2.2).

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