The aim of the RTF policy is to reduce workload in the air and on the ground, through the development of simple, clear and standard procedures. These procedures, considered as basic for adoption in the event of RTF, should be collated and issued in a single ICAO document. Any other particular procedures for local application should be published in state AIP in conformity with an approved ICAO model, taking into account the necessity to produce a standardised format in single terms for both pilot and controller.

Today’s situation is quite different, and the recent ATS airspace classification’ has further need for clarification, hence the reason for this item on the work study programme.

Although RTF cannot be considered as a “normal” situation, it should neither be assessed as an emergency in any case.

As far as ICAO represents all contracting States’ interests, the tables encompass situations and considerations that could be referred to the widest possible operational context, for that excluding any national/multinational peculiar needs or requirements.

Due to the airspace classification, ATC is becoming more involved in handling VFR flights as controlled flights, thus requiring an effort to exactly determine the operational organisation of ATS units and their jurisdictional airspace classification.

There is a necessity to minimise operational impacts on ATC in order to improve safety while maintaining enhanced ATM capacity, thus signifying the need for a rapid solution of the RT failure (i.e. restore RT capacity or land as soon as possible without affecting the major flow of traffic).

There is a requirement for the widest implementation/application of digital G/A/G data links in order to provide ATC and users with further, alternative communications means.

There is a need for standardisation and harmonisation not only in systems implementation and ATC operational behaviour, but also in procedures to correctly determine the airspace management context, thus avoiding lack of continuity in classification, regulatory assets, civil-military co-ordination, etc.