July 27, 2015
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has posted three new bulletins that may be of interest to international operators.
B15-06: North Atlantic Reduced Lateral Separation Minimum (RLatSM) Trials
Advancements in avionics and air traffic management flight data processing systems are driving an initiative to analyze whether the lateral separation standard in the current North Atlantic track minimum navigation performance specification (MNPS) airspace can be reduced, leading to increasing capacity at optimum flight levels.
Phase I of the Reduced Lateral Separation (RLatSM) trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 12.
Track spacing for MNPS-approved aircraft is currently 1 degree of latitude, which equates nominally to 60 nm. The proposed change will introduce 0.5-degree spacing between the two core tracks of the NAT-organized track system from FL 350 to FL 390 inclusive in the Gander and Shanwick Oceanic Control Areas.
During the trial, only operators authorized for RNP 4 and using ADS-C and controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) will be accommodated on the designated RLatSM tracks between FL 350 and 390.
B15-05: ICAO Flight-Plan Content
This bulletin addresses two subjects that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has requested IBAC alert operators to:
First, ICAO said there often are inconsistencies between information regarding datalink equipage information and the actual use of the datalink.
Second, air navigation service providers using ADS-B Out capability and ADS-C/CPDLC conduct a correlation between the aircraft address down-linked during log-on and the aircraft address provided in the flight plan. This verification is of particular importance when the separation of aircraft in an ADS-B environment is provided on a so-called “mixed-mode” basis.
Operators and flight planning service providers are being asked to correct incorrect equipage information regarding a specific airframe.
B15-04: Carriage of Battery-Powered Portable Electronic Smoking Devices by Passengers and Crew
ICAO has issued an amendment that prohibits passengers and crew from carrying battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices (such as e-cigarettes) in checked baggage and from recharging the devices in the cabin.
Several incidents had been reported involving e-cigarettes overheating when their heating elements are accidentally activated, resulting in a fire in checked baggage. By carrying such devices in the cabin, such incidents could be immediately mitigated.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.