IATA has confirmed the Aircraft Tracking Task Force (ATTF) will deliver draft options for “enhanced” global aircraft tracking to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) later this year.
Following the disappearance earlier this year of Malaysian flight MH370, IATA announced plans to establish an industry task force to develop recommendations to improve global flight tracking.
IATA has previously stated it wants better tracking to be available by the end of 2014.
The ATTF, which includes pilot representatives and aircraft makers, will look to plug tracking holes that exist in some regions, including over oceans, in Africa and Russia. The panel first met in May and the outcome was to make the implementation of aircraft tracking a priority.
Aviation industry wants to ensure an aircraft never 'simply disappears' againOver the next few months, the ATTF will develop a set of performance-based recommendations to better ensure global aircraft tracking – meaning its likely airlines will have a number of options to choose from.
These recommendations will be developed through an assessment of available products and services used for tracking commercial aircraft against specific criteria, including factors such as performance parameters, coverage, security and cost.
The ATTF will also define a minimum set of performance requirements that any system should achieve.
“Aviation stakeholders are united in their desire to ensure that we never face another situation where an aircraft simply disappears,” said Kevin Hiatt, IATA senior VP, safety and flight operations.
“While States work through ICAO to develop and implement performance-based global standards, the industry is committed to moving forward with recommendations that airlines can implement now.”