The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) North American, Central American and Caribbean Office (NACC) conducted a workshop on the development of a business case for the implementation of CNS/ATM (Communications/Navigation Surveillance-Air Traffic Management) systems at the Jolly Beach Hotel in Antigua and Barbuda from the 28th September to the 02nd October 2009.

The workshop was conducted within the framework of Special Implementation Projects (SIPs) for the year 2009, with the objective to provide States in the NAM/CAR (North America /Caribbean) Regions with a better understanding of developing a business case for the implementation of CNS/ATM systems, using a progressive, cooperative, cost-effective approach leading to a seamless Global ATM system.

The workshop was attended by a total of twenty two participants from the ECCAA, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Montserrat, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and the USA. Mrs. Sharon Peters, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism of Antigua and Barbuda opened the workshop, while Mr. Rosemond James, Director General, Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) and Mr. Ken Hurst, CEO of Airports Authority of Antigua and Barbuda also made presentations at the opening session.

Mr. Chaouki Mustapha, Economist in the Air Transport Bureau and Mr. Hindupur Sudarshan, Regional Programme Officer, Air Navigation Bureau, of the ICAO Headquarters were the main facilitators of the workshop, and were supported by Mr. V. Hernandez, Regional Officer ATM/SAR and Mr. J. Siu, Regional Officer CNS of the ICAO NACC Office in Mexico City.

As a result of discussions, the workshop developed the following recommendations, which are to be addressed by ICAO and States, as appropriate:

1. States are to provide on a regular basis, the data required for air traffic forecasts for air navigation systems planning to the ICAO NACC Regional Office;
2. States, in the planning and implementation of CNS/ATM systems, are to consider the development of a business case using the ICAO guidance material available from ICAO; and
3. ICAO, as required, will assist States in the development of business cases for the implementation of CNS/ATM systems.