1. International Air Transport Association
NAM/CAR/SAM Air Traffic Services Quality Assurance Program Seminar Mexico D.F October 2000
by Peter Cerdá Assistant Director, Operations and Infrastructure - Latin America & Caribbean

2. REGIONAL OVERVIEW
39 FLT INFO REGIONS (FIRs)
44 CAAs & AUTHORITIES
OVER 400 AIRWAYS
MORE THAN 150 INTL APTS
76 IATA AIRLINES
OPERATING IN REGION
OVER 13,400 FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO, FROM, & WITHIN THE REGION
57 MILLION PASSENGERS TO, FROM, & WITHIN THE REGION IN 1998
120 MILLION PASSENGER EXPECTED BY 2010
AVERAGE ANNUAL TRAFFIC GROWTH IS 6.5%
Before I begin discussing the current Flight Safety status regarding ATC ATC Incidents & Airmisses…………I believe it is important that a regional overview be provided.
TRAFFIC FLOWS
CAR/SAM REGION
HEAVY
MEDIUM
LIGHT

3. CURRENT REGIONAL FLIGHT SAFETY SITUATION
Region is not unsafe
Airlines & air traffic services operate safely.
Press & statistics are misleading.
The environment needs improvements.
State compliance with safety standards required.
Regional airlines - development of top-notch flight safety organizations.
Quality programs will improve operating safety.
Reduction in ATS incident/ airmiss frequency is a must.
1. IATA as well as other organizations believe that significant steps are being taken within the airlines and the States to assure that safety is maintained.
2. Our region has been heavily attacked in the past as an unsafe region. This is not the case…Many time the press does not provided factual information.
3.However, we are not out of the wood and considerable work is required to maintain and enhance our flight safety environment.
4. States in the region have made great progress in improving their safety programs in areas such as training, and infrastructure.
5. Significant work has also been undertaken by the airlines. Many of the regional airlines now have established excellent safety programs within the organizations. Furthermore, the Flight Safety Manager or director reports directly to the CEO. So the CEO is directly involved in all safety initiatives.
6. Programs such as PAAST will assist the DGACs and airlines improve safety by providing them with safety tools such as training guides.
7. Airlines, States, ICAO, IFALPA, IFATCA, and IATA have a responsibility to work together to reduce the frequency of incidents

4. CURRENT REGIONAL FLIGHT SAFETY SITUATION
There are critical flight safety factors that contribute to ATC Incidents / Airmisses
Traffic growth
Facilities & services saturation
Crew and controller complacency
Skill Levels lagging…. Not enough training
International Safety Compliance
1. As I mentioned during the regional overview this is the fastest growing region in the world, and we must be ready to meet these new demands by improving infrastructure and training.
2. The current infrastructure in many parts of the region will not be able to keep up with the current growth in traffic. Areas of improvements are Airport infrastructure such as NAVAIDs, highspeed taxiways, maximize the airspace.
3. Until recently, pilots from this region had been afraid to voice or report faults in the ATS system because of repercussions that could occur such as suspension of license.
4. Both airlines and ATC controllers do not receive sufficient training in areas such as ATC English and Spanish phraseology or new technologies. Although some States are beginning to offer enhanced training to controllers, the majority do not. 5.

5. ATC INCIDENT/ AIRMISS REGIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
ATC Incident/Airmiss reports are a yardstick of safety risk
IATA Regional Sample Survey
The IATA ATC Regional Sample Survey indicates
ATC Incidents/Airmisses are a major concern for airlines & civil aviation in the region
This survey helps IATA define where we should concentrate our efforts to correct deficiencies.

6. ATC INCIDENT/ AIRMISS REGIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
The survey does not contain all the ATC incidents experienced by all the airlines.
It is a sample survey based on reports provided by participating airlines.
Results of the survey are useful in establishing the trend and magnitude of the problem.
It is not the intent of IATA/Airlines to identify or categorize States/ FIRs as good or bad.
It is not the purpose of the survey to assign fault or seek punitive measures for reported ATC incidents.
The objective of the survey is to identify actions that reduce risk of midair accidents/ incidents.
1. IATA estimates that the office receives only 40-50% of actual ATC incidents in the region.
2. Not all airlines participate in this survey only a handful of airlines are involved.
3. This permits us to concentrate on the problem and try and resolve the deficiency affecting flight safety.

7. ATC INCIDENT/ AIRMISS REGIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
Data
Total number of reports received by the regional office Reports.
Type of reports Incident & 143 Airmiss.
77 State replies were received by airlines.
Airline participation:
12 Regional (AR, AV, CU, JJ, LA, LR, MJ, MX, PL, RG, TA, VX)
09 North American (AA, AC, CO, CP, DL, FX, QN, UA, 5X)
10 European (AF, AZ, BA,CV, DE, IB, KL, LH, MP, SR,
02 African/ Asian (JL, SA)
2000 YTD: 58 reports
1. As I mentioned before, the 450 reports are actually a fraction of the total number of incidents.
2. Incident represents a failure to maintain appropriate separation between aircraft. An airmiss represents a midair accident was emittment unless evasive aviation was not taken by the aircraft.
3. States need to take action within their organization that investigations are undertaken and reported to the airlines involved.
4. This number only represents a small number of the airlines. More airline participation is required. You do not have to be an IATA airlines to participate. Safety should have no boundaries.
5. Just for your information we have received 58 reports for this year up to this point. 6

8. ATC INCIDENT/ AIRMISS REGIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
Phase of Flight
1. As you can see 13% of the incidents & airmisses occurred in the approach phase.
A: most common incidents occurred with general aviation aircraft intruding the flight path of the approaching aircraft.
B:Another example, the failure of ATC to provide adequate separation between aircraft. This goes back to what was mentioned before..the increase of traffic while operating under the same infrastructure conditions of years ago.
THE RESULT OF THESE TWO EXAMPLES IS GO-AROUND
2. Two areas where IATA is concern…
Enroute - The high number of incidents is alarming. This stage of flight should represent the least amount of difficulties for ATC, and pilots since the aircraft is leveled and flying at a constant speed.
B: Many incidents occur because aircraft (GA) intrude or cross airways without ATC authorization. In many cases these aircraft don’t have the transponder on.
C: Another area of concern is poor ATC coordination between centers. Aircraft will fly from on FIR to another without authorization or incorrect flight levels.
Ground: The second area of concern is the increase of incidents on the ground. Over the last two years we have seen a significant increase. Many of these incidents are related to runway incursion. We have not reached the concern level of the US, but we need to take steps to reduce runway incursions….Poor markings and lighting.

9. ATC INCIDENT/ AIRMISS REGIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
Type of Warning
As you can see by this graph, TCAS is the number one means of altering the pilot of possible danger with other aircraft.

10. ATC INCIDENT/ AIRMISS REGIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
Aircraft Action Required
43% of the reports indicated that aircraft were required to make an altitude deviation to avoid incoming traffic.
28% indicated that the pilot did not initiate any action. The pilot simply monitored the passing traffic.

11. ATC INCIDENT/ AIRMISS REGIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
Improvement Areas
Coordination between ACC units.
Effective verbal communications between pilots and controllers.
Controller training - Phraseology and English language skills - Procedure refresher.
Pilot training - Phraseology - ICAO ATC system familiarization.
Greater airline involvement in reporting incidents.
Analysis of reported ATC incidents and airmisses.
Mandatory use of TCAS and Mode-C Transponder operation.
Instrument procedures clean-up.
1. We continue to see that in some areas poor coordination between ATC centers occurs. Poor transfer of flight.
2. We need that controllers and pilots clearly and crisp instructions and feed back.
3.&4. We need to be concern with the level of English phraseology being used by controllers and pilots. We also need to examine Spanish phraseology. We have seen that Spanish phrases change from country to country.
5.Need more involvement from all airlines who fly to the region.
6. CAA need to take responsibility in conducting investigations in a timely fashion.
7.Need to press for mandatory usage of TCAS & Mode C. This is vital for enhancing safety.
CAA need to eliminate step-down approaches. 7

12. ATC INCIDENT/ AIRMISS REGIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
Conclusions
Frequency of occurrence is too high and indicates a flight safety problem.
The problem is widespread in the CAR/SAM region.
Airline reports are not submitted expeditiously to the DGAC.
Response to incident reports from ATS authorities is not being provided.
TCAS is a very valuable operational safety tool. Mandatory Mode-C Transponder operation must be implemented in all controlled airspace.
1. Too many incidents for the number of flights in the region.
2. There is no country that is worse or better. Every State has experienced some sort of incident.
3. In order for States to conduct adequate investigations of the incidents we need for airlines to report within 30 day of the occurrence.
month for a response is acceptable, but 10 months serves no purpose.
5. States should take steps to require all operators to be equipped with Mode-c transponders and those aircraft with 30 seats or weighing 15,000kg carry TCAS. 8

13. Closing Thoughts
Everybody has a stake in Safety: Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, Airlines, CAA, ICAO, IATA, etc.
Increase awareness through programs such as PAAST, GEDIATS.
Flight Safety works best before accidents occur.
Flight safety has a high return on investment for both ATC Providers and the airlines.
Safe skies  Efficient operations  High quality factor.

14. IATA Latin America & Caribbean Operations & Infrastructure Office
MUCHAS GRACIAS