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10.
The ATS Committee is expected to determine, for submission to the COM Committee, the changes in the requirements for air traffic services communications.
10.7
a)
b)
Matters which will need consideration include:
the changes in the communications requirements, including the need for printed communications as well as ATS direct speech circuits, should be considered in the light of Annex 11, Chapter 6, 6.2. Particular attention will need to be given to message transit time and reliability of performance; and
the changes in the requirements for air-ground communications channels based on submissions by States together with their proposed service range and height as specified in Annex 11, Chapter 6, 6.1 and Doc 9426, Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 8;
The ATS Committee is expected to review the existing short-range automatic terminal information service (ATIS) and long-range HF operational flight information service (OFIS) broadcasts, it is also expected to outline the need for short-range (VHF) OFIS broadcasts, designed to reduce the need for direct transmission of OFIS information by controllers to individual aircraft in flight in areas where such direct transmissions would result in overcrowding of the communications channels. The ATS Committee should also determine whether SIGMET information and special reports and amendments to aerodrome forecasts cf. PANS- RAC, Part VI, paras 1.3.2.1 and 1.3.3.2 should be passed to aircraft by directed transmissions or by VOLMET broadcasts. In this context, the requirement for a VOLMET broadcast plan in the area will need to be addressed. Essentially, the Committee will need to:
11.
11.1
a) review the current ATIS and HF VOLMET network plans in the area
under consideration.
b) examine the operational requirement for VHF OFIS broadcast.
c) advise the MET Committee of its decision.
Item 6: Airspace utilization, including area navigation
The ATS Committee is expected to update current procedures and plans to improve airspace utilization. Matters which may require consideration include:
a)
cruising levels to eliminate certain cases where air route level changes are still unnecessarily applied;
b) selection of ATS routes along which uniform values for the
longitudinal separation of aircraft might be applied through at least several FIRS to facilitate the operation at optimum levels for longer periods of flight;
c)
selection of areas/ATS routes where the concept of minimum navigational performance specifications (MNPS) could be applied;
d) adoption of planning and operational principles to facilitate operation along designated area navigation (RNAV) routes;