OPENING CEREMONY OF THE APAC TBO PATHFINDER FF-ICE/R1 LAB DEMONSTRATION

On April 22, 2025, opening ceremony of the FF-ICE/R1 Operational Trial Demonstration Conference took place at the headquarters of the Viet Nam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM). This event is part of the Asia-Pacific Trajectory-Based Operations (APAC TBO) Pathfinder Project and follows the FF-ICE/R1 technical trial held in May 2025 at VATM. 

The Demonstration aimed to showcase and trial the pre-departure flight planning message exchanges among aviation stakeholders, while demonstrating the outstanding capabilities of FF-ICE/R1 services operating in a mixed-mode environment. This event also marks an initial step towards future demonstration and trial of FF-ICE/R2 and TBO in the next 2–3 years.

The event was attended by leaders of Work Group 2 of the APAC TBO Pathfinder Project, representatives from CANSO and IATA, and ANSPs of Pathfinder member states including AEROTHAI (Thailand), AIRNAV Indonesia, CAAS (Singapore), FAA (USA), HKCAD (Hong Kong), and JCAB (Japan).

From Viet Nam, VATM Director General Mr. Nguyen Cong Long, VATM D/Director General Ho Sy Tung and representatives from CAAV, VAA, ACV, Airlines, relevant departments and units of VATM participated in the event.

In his opening remarks, Director General Nguyen Cong Long emphasized the importance of international integration and regional coordination in the modernization of air traffic management operations. He reaffirmed VATM’s commitment to proactively participating in technical cooperation programs, capacity building, and digital transformation in alignment with ICAO’s and regional initiatives. Hosting this event provides VATM with a valuable opportunity to demonstrate Viet Nam’s proactive and responsible role in the modernization of regional and global air traffic management.

Over the years, VATM has been an active participant in collaboration programs initiated by ICAO and CANSO, and has engaged in various technical forums and working groups related to TBO, FF-ICE, SWIM, and ATFM. VATM is currently implementing elements of the ASBU roadmap in line with regional and global development strategies. Under the APAC TBO Pathfinder Project, VATM has closely coordinated with regional service providers to prepare for technical trials, data exchange, and system integration. By directly participating in the FF-ICE scenarios, VATM gains deeper insights into operational mechanisms and coordination in an advanced operational environment, enhancing its capacity for practical deployment in the near future.

Following the opening ceremony, participants engaged in technical sessions focusing on FF-ICE/R1 trials, pre-departure flight planning information exchange and collaborative operations in a mixed- mode environment using detailed scenarios.

HL