| 11th May 2006 |
| 10-12 May 2006 Plenary Session of NATO Air Traffic Management Committee (NATMC) took place in Ukraine |
 It was the first time Ukraine hosted NATO Air Traffic Management Committee (NATMC) Plenary Session. However, it’s not the first time Ukrainian experts actively participate in work of NATMC, the main target of which is provision of civil-military co-ordination in airspace of NATO Member and Partner Countries where Ukraine is now involved.
Particularly, the Ukrainian representatives work in ATM/CNS working groups of NATMC and in joint NATMC-EUROCONTROL working group on ATM safety.
Such co-operation enables us to keep abreast of the World Aviation Community, get familiarised with current information on Air Traffic Control and Airspace Management and National ANS development, to consider the latest achievements both theoretical and practical ones, and participate in efficient dialogue with foreign partners.
In the context of global integration processes and Ukraine-NATO partnership the Alliance expressed constant interest in sharing the Ukrainian experience in ASM civil-military co-operation. In 1999 the Joint Civil-Military Air Traffic Management System was set up in Ukraine. Established with the aim to improve the air traffic safety and to make the use of airspace more flexible, the Joint Civil-Military ATM System represents a unique institution not only in the post-Soviet area. Two other European countries – Germany and Sweden, can be proud of the System. The approach applied to develop the civil-military co-ordination brings essential advantages in co-ordination and planning flights, formal proceedings facilitating, servicing civil and military airspace users.
The fact that such high-level event was conducted in Ukraine substantiates great importance of the Ukrainian experience in civil-military co-ordination and confirms the Ukrainian Air Navigation System to be an important element of the European Air Navigation System.
In Ukraine special attention is paid to the European airspace structure and effectiveness of improvement, harmonisation of ATC systems and procedures, communication frequencies sharing, aeronautical information exchange, etc.
Since the Euro-Atlantic integration is significant component of foreign policy of Ukraine, Ukrainian experts highly appreciate teamwork with NATO Committee that promotes further development of the national Air Navigation System, intensification of civil-military co-ordination in our country. It should be mentioned that the results obtained as of today represent our readiness to move to the new quality level of co-operation with NATO in the field of Air Traffic Control and in the context of the European airspace integration.
The press conference was participated by:
- Mr Javier Criado, Head of the NATO Air Traffic Management Committee;
- Mr Antonio Pilotto, Italian Air Force Air Staff;
- Mr Carlos Perez de Uribarri, Spanish Air Force;
- Mr Giorgio Cioni, NATO;
- Mr Fred Pease, Policy Board on Federal Aviation, Department of Defense, USA;
- Mr Sergiy Klimov, Air Force of Armed Forces of Ukraine, lieutenant-general;
- Mr Viktor Nastasienko, Deputy Chairman, State Aviation Administration;
- Mr Viktor Bereza, expert on civil-military co-ordination in ATM, major-general.
Mr Javier Criado, Head of the NATO Air Traffic Management Committee, in his speech to Ukrainian journalists underlined the success of the organisation in holding the NATMC Plenary Session in Ukraine: “More than 36 NATO Member and Partner Countries has participated in this meeting. And now members of the Committee in Kyiv meet together in this press conference: Italian member, USA member and Spanish member, to share this international community. We had very fruitful 3-days meeting. In such forums we share information, we share our experiences, we try to solve problems faced. And we completed this program successfully.
Apart from our technical discussions in the meeting, our stay here in Kyiv has been complemented by 2 visits: the one to the Antonov Design Bureau and the second to the Area Control Center in Kyiv. We had much use of it. During this visit we could test, we could check the state of the industry in Ukraine, the aeronautical industry, and we could also yesterday check what is the level of ATM in Kyiv, which is in fact one of the highest in Europe.
In conclusion I would like to highlight the closest relationship between NATO nations and Ukraine in particular. We had fruitful co-operation, and we have to say that there is a lot of meetings planned this year, a lot of work to do between NATO and Ukraine. I want to conclude, and more of it, congratulate Ukrainian authorities! We are grateful for welcoming and support during this meeting. And we wish all the best to Ukraine in future”. |
| Source: UkSATSE |
|
