Roadmap Overview
The ICAO Standardization Roadmap is a rolling timeline that reflects ICAO's assessment of globally suitable innovative technologies and processes at varying levels of maturity in support of its mandate. It serves as a key forward-planning tool by collecting insights on emerging technologies and operational developments. The Roadmap provides a dynamic view of anticipated innovation timelines, highlighting both the readiness and expected entry into service of new solutions. It also helps identify where and when new provisions updates may be required to enable the safe and globally harmonized implementation of these innovations. For more information check the ICAO Standardization Roadmap Concept Document
Purpose
The Standardization Roadmap collects information on aviation innovations to enable forward-planning for ICAO's mandate, providing a dynamic view of innovators' timelines and maturity levels, and helping to identify which new provisions might be needed and when.
Scope
Innovative technologies and processes at different levels of maturity that contribute to the Organization’s mandate.
Key Principles
The Roadmap is guided by principles of transparency, independence, neutrality, effectiveness, efficiency, equity, inclusivity, and adaptability in its processes and decision-making.
The Gate Process
What is the Gate Process?
The Gate Process is a structured and repeatable framework developed by ICAO to evaluate innovative technologies and processes. It consists of three sequential gates, each acting as a decision point to assess the maturity, global applicability, and standardization potential of proposed innovations. The goal is to help ICAO determine the right time to begin developing international provisions—such as Standards, Recommended Practices (SARPS), Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS), or guidance material—and to understand the resource needs involved.
Each gate includes a set of criteria that must be met. As an innovation moves through the gates, earlier assessments are reviewed and revalidated to ensure no information is missed and all relevant factors are considered consistently. Even when innovations are submitted at a more advanced stage, they must still undergo full evaluation against the criteria of earlier gates.
The process ensures that only innovations with global suitability—those that support technology-neutral, interoperable, and harmonized solutions for international aviation—are considered. Local or narrowly scoped innovations are generally excluded from the Standardization Roadmap.
The Gate Process ultimately produces a Standardization Roadmap, offering a clear timeline for when each innovation might enter into service. This transparency helps the global aviation community track the development and implementation of emerging technologies.
Gate 1
Ensures that the submission merits inclusion into the Roadmap for monitoring purposes.
Gate 2
Confirms the innovation has reached sufficient maturity to warrant further consideration by ICAO; particularly, whether amendments to, or development of provisions and/or amendments to the Global Plans will be needed.
Gate 3
Confirms the innovation has reached an adequate level of maturity requiring further consideration by ICAO; particularly, whether or not amendments to, or development of provisions may still be required.
Gate 1 Criteria
- The innovation fits the current scope of the Standardization Roadmap
- The innovation demonstrates potential for global suitability
- Innovation is under development; and is undergoing testing or prototyping in a relevant environment as applicable. For a technology, this is the equivalent of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5, See the Technology Readiness Levels table
- Timeframe for entry into service is understood. The submitting entity should be able to provide timeframe for planned rollout and certification, if applicable.
Gate 2 Criteria
- The innovation has fulfilled or continues to fulfill the criteria defined for Gate 1
- The innovation demonstrates global suitability in principle
- The innovation is stable in design, and under testing and/or validation. This may include flight testing, in a relevant environment, or as a component bench test for avionics equipment etc., as applicable. For a proposed procedural change, the new process has completed a proof-of-concept trial. For new technology proposals, this is the equivalent of TRL6, See the Technology Readiness Levels table
- Timeframe for certification, if applicable, and entry into service is demonstrated. Information might include an approved certification plan, operational trial, etc. Information to assess the level of maturity as defined in the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) should also be provided by the submitting entity
- The extent that the innovation is compatible with ICAO global plans, concepts, and policies, as applicable, is known
- Impact on aeronautical frequency spectrum usage, if applicable, is compatible with ICAO related strategies.
Gate 3 Criteria
- Continues to fulfil the criteria defined for Gates 1 and 2
- The innovation demonstrates global suitability
- For technology and systems, a prototype demonstration in an appropriate operational environment has been completed (equivalent of TRL7), See the Technology Readiness Levels table
- For operational changes, the new process has been satisfactorily tested in a real-world environment
- Certification and/or other approvals, if needed, are underway, for example test flight approval or equivalent
Process Flow
The Standardization Roadmap follows a structured process from submission to implementation:
- Submission: Member States or recognized international organizations submit innovation details to ICAO
- Gate 1 Assessment: Initial assessment to determine if the innovation merits inclusion in the Roadmap
- Monitoring: ICAO monitors the innovation's development and progress
- Gate 2 Evaluation: Once sufficient maturity is reached, a preliminary gap analysis is conducted
- Expert Group Assignment: The ANC designates expert groups to evaluate the submission
- Gate 3 Consideration: The ANC reviews the detailed gap analysis and decides on further actions
- Integration with Work Programme: If appropriate, the innovation is included in the AN work programme
Entities That Can Submit Innovations
The Standardization Roadmap allows various aviation stakeholders to contribute to the global advancement of aviation technology and processes through a structured submission system.
Eligible Submitting Entities
The following entities can submit applications for innovations to be considered for entry onto the Roadmap:
- ICAO Member States
- International organizations on the List of International Organizations that may be invited to attend suitable ICAO Meetings
- Innovators and startups wishing to submit innovations, that are not necessarily members of international organizations must engage with either Member States or international organizations to be able to submit an application for their innovation to be included on the Standardization Roadmap.
Roles and Responsibilities
Various stakeholders play important roles in the Standardization Roadmap process:
| Entity | Roles and Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Council | Endorses the Standardization Roadmap concept and the associated process |
| Air Navigation Commission (ANC) |
|
| Innovator | Provides the submitting entity with required information for evaluation and possible inclusion in the Roadmap |
| Submitting Entity | Makes formal submissions and provides timely updates to ICAO |
| Expert Group | Performs evaluations as assigned by the ANC and provides recommendations |
| Secretariat |
|