The North Atlantic Systems Planning Group (NAT SPG) met virtually for its 57th Meeting from 21 to 24 June 2021 to address a number of items in order to advance the overall NAT work programme.
The Group considered actions to be taken for the development of a new NAT Height Monitoring System (HMS), RVSM monitoring of State aircraft, filing of RNAV 10 or RNP 4 in addition to MNPS/HLA and endorsed the prioritization and feasibility of the NAT 2030 Vision goals, objectives and improvements.
The meeting also reviewed and approved updates to a number of NAT documentation, including the NAT 2020 Annual Safety Report, the NAT SUPPs (ICAO Doc 7030), the NAT Operations and Airspace Manual (NAT Doc 007), the EUR/NAT Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan (EUR/NAT VACP, NAT Doc 006, Part II), the new PBCS Monitoring and Reporting Guidance (NAT Doc 011) and several NAT OPS Bulletins.
In considering the organization of the NAT meetings in the second half of 2021, the NAT SPG noted that, despite the improving public health situation, there were still challenges and uncertainties ahead due both to pandemic imposed and fiscal constraints. Some NAT members expressed willingness and readiness to host face-to-face meetings as planned. Therefore, it was agreed that the Fall 2021 NAT meetings be held in a hybrid mode. The host States will take the necessary measures to ensure that meeting facilities are appropriately equipped to hold such meetings. The NAT regular Chair Team meetings will discuss the challenges, such as the need to take into account time differences, and closely monitor the outcomes of the first hybrid meetings in September 2021 and keep the NAT SPG members informed.
The NAT SPG/58 is planned to be held from 28 June to 1 July 2022. With regard to the possibility of a NAT SPG ad-hoc meeting in January 2022, it was agreed that the evolving situation would be monitored and coordinated with the NAT SPG members, should the need for such a meeting be determined during the Fall 2021 meetings.
A total of 91 participants from 17 States, 5 International Organizations (EUROCONTROL, ICAO, IATA IFALDA, IFALPA) and the NAT Central Monitoring Agency (NAT CMA) participated at this NAT SPG meeting. The participation of a number of States from the South Atlantic (SAT) was appreciated. Further considerations on how exchange of information between the NAT and SAT can be further formalized will be taken onboard as part of future work on revision and alignment of the NAT SPG Subgroups with the generic PIRG/RASG ToRs.
The following is the link to the full report of the meeting:
https://www.icao.int/EURNAT/EUR%20and%20NAT%20Documents/NAT%20Documents/NAT%20SPG%20Reports/NATSPG_57%20(2021)%20Report.pdf
