Print Header

Air Standardization Agreement

Deputy Chief of Air Force (DCAF) AIRCDRE Steve Moore heads up the ASIC National organisation. OH-08-0030-03.
AIRCDRE Steve Moore.

By WGCDR Brendon Pett

The Air and Space Interoperability Council (ASIC) was set up in 2005 and, as its name suggests, its focus is on interoperability within coalition forces.

This focus is enhanced by the Working Group (WG) structure which is based on six primary war-fighting functions. These functional WGs are:

  • Agile Combat Support (ACS)
  • Air Mobility (AM)
  • Command and Control (C2)
  • Force Application (FA)
  • Force Protection (FP)
  • Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR)

ASIC addresses all of the capabilities and effects we encounter during deployed coalition operations. Two areas not included in the functional model are the development and management of aviation fuels and aerospace medicine. However, the National Directors have approved the formation of the ASIC Fuels Group (FG) and the Aerospace Medicine Group (ASMG).

Interoperability deficiencies are identified from lessons learned from current operations and exercises and a specially structured interoperability survey addressed by the five member nations every two years. Once identified, these deficiencies can be prioritized and redressed.

Where full interoperability can be achieved, the output from the project will be an Air Standard (AIR STD). These are endorsed by members and must be implemented into national orders or procedures.

Where interoperability cannot be achieved, but may be achievable in the future, the project output will be an Advisory Publication (ADV PUB). ADV PUB show national procedures or standards so that coalition partners are aware of how each nation will operate in a particular set of circumstances. The aim is to upgrade ADV PUB to AIR STD.

Where an interoperability deficiency is identified but the size and shape of the problem is not clearly defined, the output will be an Information Publication (INFO PUB). This is a summary of the information exchanged between the nations in an attempt to scope the interoperability deficiency and find suitable middle-ground where partial or full interoperability may be achieved in the future.

The ASIC National Directors are one and two-star officers responsible for formulating policy and directing activities. They meet annually and agree a list of projects that define WG or dedicated Project Group (PG) activities for the following year. NZ National Director, AIRCDRE Steve Moore, met with his counterparts in Newcastle, Australia, in June this year and an outcome was approval and publication of the 2008/09 ASIC Task List. The Task List is a series of Project Directives, addressing a specific interoperability deficiency. Approval of the Task List is the authority for WG, PG and appointed subject matter experts (SME) to commence work on their projects. Simple projects can often be achieved via email and video conferences. It is usual for these projects to involve at least one face-to-face meeting.

The following is a list and brief background for the major projects approved for the next year. Each project is identified by a project number – the first letters identify the WG that will manage the project, the two-digit number is the year the project is approved and the final letter shows the project’s priority within the block allocated to each WG (A = highest). The RNZAF SME appointed to the project is also shown.

  • ACS08A Aircraft Maintenance Assistance for the C130. This project seeks to redress the lack of recognition of other nation’s competencies in performing maintenance activities. This will increase flexibility in coalition operations, improve interoperability and reduce national footprints in-theatre. SQNLDR Brent Hopley.
  • ACS08B Vehicle Operator Qualifications. There is currently a lack of understanding and agreement on national driver training, licensing and qualification procedures. This limits the opportunity for vehicles belonging to one coalition partner to be operated by members of another, both on and off the flightline. The aim is to produce a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the establishment of interoperable procedures. WOFF Rob Service.
  • ACS08C Petroleum Handling Equipment – Couplings. This project will review and consolidate the wide range of GSE design requirements and standards for the delivery of POL products into the aircraft. Mr Mark Knight.
  • ACS08D Aircraft Self-Protection Systems Countermeasures Field Test Procedures. There is currently no agreement allowing specialist technicians from one nation to field test Defensive Electronic Warfare Systems (DEWS) of another. This leads to duplication of effort and inefficient use of specialist expertise. The objective is to produce a handbook of DEWS testing procedures and techniques. FLTLT Ian Fowler.
  • ACS08E Standardization of Site Survey Checklist. Each nation employs different checklists for site surveys and data collection during planning for deployed operating bases. This limits interoperability and leads to duplication of effort. The aim is to publish an AIR STD defining a common site survey checklist. WGCDR Colin Marshall.
  • ACS08F Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) of Highly Infectious Individuals. This project will address the lack of understanding among ASIC nations of the capabilities and limitations to the conduct of AE of highly infectious patients. This project will be an information exchange aimed at collecting the data necessary for the later production of a handbook. WGCDR Peter Hurly and SQNLDR Jude Telford.
  • ACS08G Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) Synthetic Fuels Approval and Certification. The objective is to coordinate national processes for approving and certifying synthetic fuels containing F-T materials as acceptable blending components to maintain interchangeability. Mr Mark Knight.
  • ACS08H Bio-Diesel Contamination Limit for Aviation Turbine Fuel. This project will produce an AIR STD defining the limits of bio-diesel contamination in standard aviation turbine fuels to maintain interchangeability. Mr Mark Knight.
  • AM08A Loading/Unloading Marshalling Signals and Related Procedures. After many years of operating alongside of one-another, it will probably come as a surprise that ASIC air forces do not comply with a common set of loading and unloading marshalling signals. This will deliver an agreed set of signals published in the Air Mobility Missions Handbook. FLTLT Simon Thorpe.
  • AM08B Air Transport Security Checks. Although each nation conducts security checks for pax/cargo, there is no common checklist that allows interoperability. The objective is to produce two ADV PUB, the first will address Air Transport Pax Security Checks and the second will address Cargo Security. SQNLDR Dave Brenssell.
  • AM08C NVG Loading/Unloading Procedures. Of the five ASIC nations, only UK and US conduct NVG loading and unloading of Air Transport aircraft. This project will review current RAF and USAF documents and procedures and produce an AIR STD defining common procedures. FLTLT Simon Thorpe.
  • C208A Integration of UAS/UAV into Coalition Battlespace. As Unmanned Aerial Systems/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAS/UAV) operations continue to evolve there is a requirement to maintain a clear and unified approach to minimizing battlespace clutter and enhancing safety while maximizing operational effectiveness. This project addresses the integration of UAS/UAV into military airspace. WGCDR Nick Olney.
  • C208B Tactical Data Link Interoperability. This project will address the lack of an agreed coalition standard on tactical data link (TDL) management. WGCDR Steve Alexander.
  • C208C Common Data Formats. There is currently no agreement on future non-text message common data formats (CDF). Phase 1 of this project, due for completion this year, will review national and NATO standards for data collection, processing and dissemination. In subsequent years the outcomes of Phase 1 will be used to identify which CDF types will be suitable for development as a standard (Phase 2) and production of an agreed standard (Phase 3). WGCDR Steve Alexander.
  • C208D Shared Coalition Information Exchange Requirements. There is a lack of an agreed information exchange requirement (IER) for coalition operations. This has resulted in information interoperability shortfalls and will continue until rectified. WGCDR Steve Alexander.
  • C208E Theatre Level Air Component Collaborative Tools. The aim of this project is to identify collaborative tools. WGCDR Steve Alexander.
  • C208F Interoperable Mission Planning Tools. The requirement for interoperable mission planning tools is paramount in coalition operations, but there is limited understanding within ASIC nations about developments in this area. This information exchange will aim to identify both current and future mission planning tool development with a view to providing advice to member nations to enable informed planning decisions for the introduction of future planning capabilities. WGCDR Steve Alexander.
  • C208G Combined Mission Planning Cell Operations. During JRTC 08-01 the ASIC validation team observed that participating nations were conducting independent mission planning. This resulted in inefficiencies, duplication and interoperability shortfalls. The team will adopt combined mission planning cell procedures for air mobility missions. FLTLT Andy Cant.
  • FP08A Force Protection Capability Handbook. There is a lack of understanding between ASIC nations of force protection capabilities and concepts of operations. The purpose is to produce a handbook that describes the contemporary, deployable, force protection capabilities of member nations. SQNLDR Kevin Shanley.
  • FP08B Opening an Airbase – FP Checklist. This project will redress the current lack of a standardized Force Protection checklist for opening an expeditionary Airbase. WGCDR Tony Millsom.
  • ISTAR08A Digital Motion Imagery Standard. The aim of this project is to publish an AIR STD that will define an agreed standard for digital motion imagery. WGCDR Brendon Pett.
  • ISTAR08B Non-Traditional, Alternative Tasking and Evolving ISR Capabilities and TTPs. This project will commence as an information exchange to identify national intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP). In the longer term it is hoped to develop common ISR TTPs that will allow more effective and efficient use of ISR capabilities. WGCDR Brendon Pett

A full ASIC Task List 2008 is on the NZDF Intranet at RNZAF/RNZAF Corporate/ General/ ASIC Resource Kit. The Task List and background foundation documents are under the heading: Management Publications. For input to any of the projects outlined please contact the SME listed or SQNLDR Vaughan Paul, the ASIC National Programme Manager.

Image Gallery - Issue 97