Isavia participates extensively in international collaboration. This is partly because the bulk of the airspace managed by the company either belongs to other countries (Greenland, the Faroe Islands) or extends over ocean areas managed by it under delegation from ICAO. Keeping abreast of the rapid technological progress and developments in air navigation is also essential for Isavia.
Our international collaboration can be divided into the following categories:
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION (ICAO)
As mentioned, the bulk of the airspace served by Isavia is outside Iceland’s territorial limits. This calls for close collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), in particular its Joint-Finance Committee, which supervises international agreements governing such services. As part of this co-operation, Isavia attends a number of meetings with the Committee annually. In its support role to the Icelandic Transport Authority, Isavia has also attended meetings of the ICAO General Assembly.
In addition to its work at ICAO’s Montreal headquarters, Isavia plays an important role within the North Atlantic Systems Planning Group (NAT SPG), which handles regional planning within ICAO North Atlantic (NAT) Region. In recent years, the group’s work has been divided into two areas: (1) implementation of improvements under the direction of the NAT Implementation Planning Group (NAT/IMG) and (2) oversight of the operation of the air navigation system under the direction of the NAT Safety Oversight Group (NAT/SOG). Isavia works within the former group and co-operates closely with the Icelandic Transport Authority, which works within the latter one. Both parties take part in the work of NAT/SPG.
A number of expert groups work under the IMG. This includes the Procedures and Operations Group (POG), the Technology and Interoperability Group (TIG) and various working groups handling temporary projects.
NORDIC COUNTRIES AND OTHER NEIGHBOURS
Isavia takes part in extensive co-operation between Nordic air navigation service providers and other members of the Borealis Alliance.
BOREALIS ALLIANCE
The Borealis Alliance is a forum for co-operation between air navigation service providers in the Nordic countries, Estonia, Latvia, Ireland and the UK. Its primary objective is to develop a common approach to increasing efficiency and the members‘ influence on the future development of air traffic management.
CANSO
The worldwide trend towards separating air navigation service providers from oversight of the establishment of such operators created a need for a forum where they could confer amongst themselves. The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) is such a forum, of which Isavia is a member.
OTHER INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
In addition to the above activities within ICAO, Isavia’s employees have participated in ICAO’s technical work, both representing the company and, in one case, representing the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers‘ Associations (IFATCA) on ICAO’s Separation and Airspace Safety Panel (SASP).
Isavia has taken part in numerous technical projects conducted by other international organisations, including AIRE and CRISTAL. It has also taken part in developing the next generation of data communications systems under the auspices of RTCA/EuroCAE.