MEVA VIII Meeting

The MEVA/8 Meeting was held in beautiful Montego Bay, Jamaica, 24-26 May 2001, at the Half Moon Hotel.  This seemed like an improbable site for a technical meeting because of its tropical beauty, sandy beaches, excellent food, and other attractions. However, the MEVA Network participants are a dedicated lot, and during sessions of the meeting they ably directed their attention to the matters under discussion, but when the meeting ended for the day, had no difficulty in partaking of the many R&R activities available in that lush surrounding. 

Col. Torrance Lewis, Director General of Civil Aviation of Jamaica, was the chairperson of the MEVA/8 Meeting, and Mr. Raymond Ybarra and Mr. Aldo Martinez acted as secretaries.  About 40 delegates from 13 countries, territories, and international organizations attended the meeting. The MEVA Technical Management Group had held preparatory meetings prior to the MEVA/8 under the leadership of Dulce Roses, FAA, and this assisted in making the tasks of Col. Lewis and the secretaries easier. 

The Meeting agreed to the following courses of action (not in any order of importance): 

�         Development of a contingency plan for the MEVA Network � This action has been under development for a considerable length of time; fortunately, progress is being made.  The MEVA States will prepare a contingency plan taking into account the individual plans of States.  Those individual plans should be under development at this time.  The MEVA Contingency Plan should be in harmony with a wider C/CAR contingency plan, yet to be developed. 

A feasibility study should be made to determine the benefits to be derived from using the backup for the Miami ARTCC, located in Jacksonville FL.  This backup would be used as a replacement to the current MEVA backup site in Hampton, VA.  Closely linked with this task is the discussion which should take place between the FAA and SCSI in order to make a decision on a backup connectivity plan for the FAA equipment currently located in the Opa Locka Teleport.

�         Review the current MEVA Document of Agreement � This document, which was created by the original participants of the MEVA Network, should be studied with the intent of amending it, where, or if, necessary. 

�         Improvements to the AFTN circuits  -- There are several tasks under this heading, some under the responsibility of SCSI, some under the FAA, and some under the States/Territories/International Organization using the network.  One of the most important and far-reaching tasks is for the FAA to approve the use of a router in the Opa Locka Teleport for troubleshooting procedures. 

�         Analysis of MEVA Network traffic statistics � The conclusion reached on this item is for SCSI to periodically provide to the Users certain data relating to the usage of the network.  This data, such as the number of calls, duration of calls, etc. will be used for troubleshooting as well as for strategic planning. 

�         Study the impact of ATN on the MEVA Network � A technical task force was created, under the leadership of Jerry Baker, of Aerotel (Jamaica), and the task force will study both technical and financial issues relating to ATN in the MEVA Network.

�         Development of an operational procedures manual � The development of this manual is underway.  When this manual has been completed it might be one of the things which could appear on the new SCSI sponsored web site for the MEVA Network.  The web site could also post items of interest to each individual State/Territory/International Organization participating in the network, as well as the trouble shooting procedures to be adopted by the Opa Locka Teleport.  Feedback is welcome and encouraged from MEVA Users on the contents of the web site.

�         Continuation of studies on the interconnection of the MEVA Network with other CAR and SAM digital networks � Among other things an inter-regional meeting will be held, and interested CAR States/Territories/International Organizations should plan to attend that meeting.

�         Next full MEVA meeting � No specific date was set for the next full meeting of the MEVA Network.  It will be held when required.  Meanwhile, the TMG and its subsidiary task groups will continue to meet on a periodic basis.