ATCEA.com - the need to standardise ATM procedures worldwide is possibly the most safety critical aspect we need to undertake at this time - urgently. ICAO set the standard which almost all countries have signed up to.
Eurocontrol (representing 41 European States) are working very hard on this aspect, in all areas of ATM. See
eurocontrol.int/acas/ and go to the Bulletin pages for more info. Some good stuff there, based on the ICAO provisions.
One example: "One of the main messages for pilots to note from the ACAS training material is an emphasis on the need for pilots to ‘follow the RA’. Indeed, ICAO Doc.8168, ‘Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Aircraft Operations (PANS-OPS)’, Volume 1, Part VIII, Chapter 3, Paragraph 3.2 c) 1) of Amendment 12, states that: "in the event of an RA [Resolution Advisory], pilots shall respond immediately by following the RA as indicated, unless doing so would jeopardise the safety of the aeroplane".
Now wouldn't it be nice if the same could be said for the FAA, where they could standardise phraseology aspects on the other big issue, Runway Incursions, and move from "taxi into position and hold" to the ICAO parlance of "line up and wait". Everyone can be a winner.
Where theres hope.......
