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Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, LVO, OBE, MSD, OStJ, CSM, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Civil Aviation OPENING ADDRESS ON THE OCCASION OF THE ICAO SPONSORED THIRD MEETING OF THE “ASIA/PACIFIC REGIONAL AERONAUTICAL TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATION GROUP (ATNICG/3)” Radisson Hotel, Denarau Island, Nadi Monday 5th May, 2008 Salutations: Senior Representatives of the ICAO Regional Office, The Chairman of the ATNICG The Chairman of the AFL Board, Members of the AFL Board, The CEO/AFL, The CEO/CAAFI, Senior AFL and CAAFI Managers and staff, Air Traffic Service Providers, Air Transport Regulators, Air Transport Suppliers, Participants, Invited Guests. Bula. Namaste. Good morning. “Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint” – Isaiah 40:31. For people in the aviation industry, the phrase “to soar on wings like eagles” is a recurring ambition. It can mean different things to different people! To a pilot, it may mean flying the ultimate in modern aircraft, the Airbus 380 – an aircraft that can carry over 800 passengers per flight! A big jump from the islander aircrafts with a maximum passenger of around 9. To the aircraft engineer it may stand for the ultimate aircraft design that defines comfort, beauty and speed. To the Air Traffic Controller it may mean being able to direct numerous aircrafts entering our 6.5 million square kilometres of airspace. To the air steward - flying around the world. To the airport worker - seeing the profile of his new and modern airport soaring. To the travel agents - more people travelling. You may be asking what has this got to do with ATN? I would say everything! Take for instance the fact that the common strand with all these stakeholders are their focus on aviation safety, aviation security, efficiency and the sustaining of a clean and people friendly environment. Without these elements, there is little attraction and incentive to remain actively involved in the industry. Or more so, why bother with new initiatives like the ATN? Ladies & Gentlemen, Let me digress a little here. You are all familiar with the word “Altitude”. Altitude can only be reached when aptitude and attitude synchronize. Put in another way, Altitude MINUS Aptitude EQUALS Bad Attitude. To soar like Eagles we need to encourage good attitudes amongst our workers and equally important promoting and engendering good aptitude! Again, you will be asking what has this got to do with ATN? I reiterate – everything!! In the field of ATN there is nothing more relevant than the adoption of the right attitude. A single incorrect input, a single wrong command/instruction, etc. can be disastrous. Ladies & Gentlemen, At the very outset I would like to thank the CEO AFL Ratu Timoci Tuisawau for inviting me, in my capacity as the Minister responsible for Civil Aviation in Fiji to officiate at today’s ground breaking event – the opening of the “3rd Meeting of the Asia/Pacific Regional Aeronautical Telecommunication Network Implementation Coordination Group”. Historical Background of the ATNICG The ATNICG is a taskforce group formed by the ICAO APANPIRG (Asia/Pacific Air Navigation Planning & Implementation Regional Group) of which Fiji is a member to coordinate the implementation of the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) in the Asia/Pacific region. Ladies & Gentlemen, Due to the ever evolving advancement of our own aviation industry and participation in planning and developments, Fiji was identified by the ICAO Regional Office and duly granted this opportunity to host the third ATNICG meeting for 2008. We are here at the Radisson Resort, Denarau Island - in this magnificent surrounding, to ensure that our deliberations on this important subject matter are given the importance and impact it rightly deserves. ATNICG Meeting Activities Ladies & Gentlemen, The ATNICG is essentially tasked to study and implement the (Aeronautical Telecommunication Network) ATN systems in the Asia Pacific region. The Group consists of technical experts from member states who meet and plan the best way forward in implementing the ATN. The group works hand in hand with other ICAO regional groups such as the ICAO Regional groups in Europe, NAM, and the AFRICAN region. I am advised that the ATNICG groups meet once a year and its report is tabled at the APANPIRG meeting in August of every year. ATN/AMHS Developments Ladies & Gentlemen, I cannot emphasise strongly enough the importance and significance of this meeting and the outcomes that are expected. As you all know, the ICAO has mandated the implementation of ATN as the global aviation network to communicate data for Air to Ground and Ground to Ground Application. ATN will operate at high speed and will support the new technologies that will be implemented by ICAO in future for the Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). There will be an increase in the network performance availability. Data security is also one of the major considerations in the planning of the ATN system. There are designated centers to perform the function of ATN Backbone centers in the Asia/Pacific region and Fiji is one of them. I am told that AMHS is one of the Ground to Ground ATN applications to run over the ATN network and will replace the aging AFTN network. The Asia/Pacific region is looking at 2010 to fully implement AMHS. I am told that so far there are two ATN connections in the region, that is with (i) Japan – USA and (ii) Hong Kong – Thailand. The region is also the pioneer in the implementation of the ATN system in the world with the ATN connection between Japan – USA in 2006. I have been advised that a number of states is likely to also implement AMHS this year. The ATNICG group will continue to coordinate the implementation of ATN in the Asia/Pacific region. Fiji’s Proposed ATN Plan Ladies & Gentlemen, Fiji is a designated ATN backbone center in the Asia/Pacific region and will provide the alternate ATN route to the North American (NAM) region. The proposed plan for Fiji is currently being discussed for review. I am told by the CEO/AFL that stakeholders in the aviation industry will walk away from this meeting armed with useful knowledge appreciation and direction that will assist them in the move towards implementing their national plans in line with the regional ATN plan. These qualifications I would like to add will only be useful if through careful re-adjustments of work ethics and work schedules including a fast tracked change management programme is adopted by all. The renowned evolutionist Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change”. Ladies and Gentlemen, Fiji is strategically placed in the Pacific Region. Our geography is therefore our greatest asset which if used properly through educated utilization of our air links can be the stepping stone to the establishment of trade links with developed economies around the globe. At the same time the increased traffic through our airports in terms of passengers and cargo brings with it another dimension – increased movements and corresponding risks. Someone once said that history can be rewritten but there is little one can do with geography apart from making the most of it! Ladies and Gentlemen, The manner in which we each carry out our work will decide the quality of our service deliveries. In the field of international Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) where we are dealing with advanced technology and a diverse cross culture of people who are either very familiar with the subject of ATN, international aviation safety requirements, international aviation security laws or worse totally ignorant of the same, how you manage those situations & peoples can either make or break a potential ‘aviation safety, aviation security opportunity’. Senior Representatives of the ICAO Regional Office, The Chairman of the ATNICG The Chairman of the AFL Board, Members of the AFL Board, The CEO/AFL, The CEO/CAAFI, Senior AFL & CAAFI Managers and staff Air Traffic Service Providers, Air Transport Regulators, Air Transport Suppliers, Participants, Invited Guests. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Fiji Islands, on behalf of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers I have the singular honour to declare the ICAO Sponsored “3rd Meeting of the Asia/Pacific Regional Aeronautical Telecommunication Network Implementation Coordination Group” officially opened. And I hasten to share with you my prayers that the Mighty Hand of the Living God we all worship will richly bless and guide deliberations of this meeting and that He will provide all participants and all those involved in the organizing of this course with the wisdom and understanding necessary to make this meeting a success. ------------ |
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