1. ICAO Forum on Integration and Harmonization of NextGen and SESAR into the Global ATM Framework 8-10 September 2008
Lex Hendriks
Deputy Director DAS, EUROCONTROL
ASAS-TN Final Workshop, Roma, 12 November 2008
ICAO hosted the Forum on Integration and Harmonization of NextGen and
SESAR into the Global ATM Framework at the ICAO Headquarters from
8 to 10 September The event was attended by approximately 370 participants from
52 contracting States, 18 international organizations, air navigation services providers, industry
and academia.
The objective of the Symposium was twofold:
a. Provide a venue to listen to the aviation community regarding its needs for
standards and recommended practices for the new generation of aviation
systems currently being developed; and
b. Provide a venue to widen the circle of information regarding the progress
of these two key aviation systems and open the floor to any developments
underway in other States.
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation

2. The Event SESAR & NextGen presentations Other Perspectives
Performance, concept, architecture
Roadmap, transition programmes
International cooperation
Other Perspectives
ASECNA, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russian Federation
Standard organisations
Airspace users, ANSP, Airports associations
Staff associations
Only indirect comparisons
ICAO framework acknowledged but seen as insufficient
Air transport crisis in the background
General reference to ICAO Global Concept and Global Plan
Expectations on direct local benefits from cooperation with SESAR/NextGen, but with short-term focus
A summary of the agenda (2 main parts) and main impressions
All presentations on ICAO web site.
Very infomative, especially the efforts and programmes from other regions; they have different, sometimes basic problems to solve.
SESARand NextGen presentations were consecutive per toic, no joint presentation, no direct comparison made.

3. Around the Event
EC, EUROCONTROL & SESAR JU formed a European common front in promoting the SESAR programme
A number of bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum with relevant third countries to explore next steps for cooperation in the SESAR framework

4. SESAR-NextGen Comparison
Overall: broad alignment
Both operational concepts consistent with ICAO Global Concept
Key common tenets
Performance orientation
Trajectory management/operations, gate-to-gate
Advanced automation
New separation modes
SWIM
“Devil is in the detail”: more discussions and validation needed
Terminology
Assumptions
Roadmaps
Just a few words in this presentation
Some of the questions to be jointly clarified if we want to achieve actual interoperability:
Language/definitions around trajectory based operations, for example: who can modify what, when?
Decision control loops across the ATM roles (ATFM, planning ATC, tactical, AOC vs pilot, etc)?
Same decision/control loops across the ATM roles?
Similar goals, definitions & timeline of the applications?
Can we identify & use common definitions for the same notions and different ones for different notions? For example “SWIM” is not used in the same way on both sides
Assumptions on concepts need be explicit/shared
Need detailed scenarios on trajectory based operations

5. SESAR & ICAO
ATM Master Plan underlines the importance of ICAO action, leading to global interoperability, in particular
Timely availability and effective application of SARPS & PANS material based on validated concepts/technologies, allowing regions with early needs to progress at the pace required by their traffic volumes/density
Coordinated, synchronised implementation plans for synergies across regions and consistent requirements on airspace users
European presentations influenced significantly the conclusions drawn by ICAO

6. SESAR & ICAO SESAR needs more ICAO material to ensure interoperability
Common time reference
New flight plan / flight object
Information Management (data models, quality of service requirements, sharing rules, distribution process)
4D Trajectory exchange format
Trajectory exchanges & “contracts” procedures
D/L applications for trajectory data exchange
New wake vortex separations based on time
Procedures for delegation ATC/Pilots
Time based separations
Suggested area for particular attention
UAS (sense & avoid: new rules & technologies)

7. Forum’s Conclusions by ICAO Secretariat
ICAO only common global framework, facilitate harmonisation and interoperability through timely production of necessary SARPs
ICAO will
Need to move from standardizing “pieces” to “packages or groupings” of capabilities and procedures to deliver a specific level of operational capability and performance (with targets)
Need to restructure itself to be responsive to demands
Work with other international standards-making bodies
Prioritize the supporting technical specifications to be addressed
Work with SESAR JU and the US to review needs for standards
Review structure & terms of reference of all ICAO Panels & Groups, and reset priorities
Host periodic Future Aviation Systems Forums

8. Conclusion
SESAR: a new dimension to European ATM & regional integration efforts
SESAR is for all airspace users, global interoperability is a priority
ICAO has an essential role for this
SESAR / NextGen cooperation is not a beauty contest but a vehicle to converge
Airspace users requirements should drive the process
Cooperation SESAR/NextGen is essential and active
Joint successes have already been achieved, more need be achieved
We should be even more ambitious to find common solutions
We need a responsive ICAO