Committee Chairman Capt. Robert Torn
Committee Vice Chairman Capt. Paul Vissers
Committee Vice Chairman SFO. Dieter Oakley

IFALPA monitors the Air Traffic Management (ATM) developments mainly through its ATS Committee. The standing members of the Committee meet twice yearly and actively represent the Federation at various forums in ICAO, Eurocontrol, EASA (the European Aviation Safety Agency), and RTCA participating as subject matter experts.

Terms of Reference

• To prepare and discuss working papers which review, modify and amend IFALPA policy concerning all aspects of communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) operations performed by air traffic service providers
• To prepare and discuss working papers dealing with the provision of Meteorological information for aeroplanes and with the provision and operation of Search and Rescue services
• To provide expert advice on air traffic, meteorological and search and rescue issues upon request to the Executive Board, other Committees, Advisory Groups, and interested external parties
• To contribute to the development of relevant ICAO Standards, Recommended Practices, and associated guidance materials

The ATS committee provides oversight on the following documents ensuring that the additions and proposed amendments are harmonized and ensure global interoperability;

• ICAO Annex 2, Rules of the Air
• ICAO Annex 3, Meteorology
• ICAO Annex 4, Aeronautical Charts for Use by the Pilot
• ICAO Annex 5, Units of Measurement
• ICAO Annex 10, Communications
• ICAO Annex 11, Air Traffic Services
• ICAO Annex 12, Search and Rescue
• ICAO Annex 15, Aeronautical Information Services
• ICAO PANS ATM (Doc. 4444)

Mission

The mission of the ATS Committee is to improve aviation safety worldwide, to promote a single level of safety to the highest standards possible, applying the professional experience and expertise of the members of the committee. Develop global harmonized policies and positions and to promote the adoption of such policies by ICAO, the respective Regional Body.

Coordination

The ATS Committee works very closely with IFALPA Regional groups such as ECA and ALPA International who in turn represent the global interests of pilots in Europe and North America.

The European ATM arena changes very quickly. ECA faces currently a double challenge: They are heavily involved in top level EU activities setting the scene for the future ATM, where a paradigm shift is needed to accommodate expected growth of traffic safely. On the other hand ECA and IFALPA oversee and influence gradual changes to the current ATM system that are necessary to secure safe and efficient air transport until the more radical changes have been developed and implemented.

The North American airspace system is undergoing a dramatic change as they try to update and improve the existing ATM system and move closer to ICAO standards.  ALPA International is providing technical consulting directly to the FAA and NAVCANADA and indirectly through the RTCA working groups and other venues on the NEXTGEN proposals.  The challenge is working with the proposed procedures and technology as to not to lose the human and specifically the pilot perspective and address our issues.