ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION FOR THE THALES ATM USERS GROUP

Transcription

1 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION FOR THE THALES ATM USERS GROUP These notes detail the articles of association of the THALES ATM Users Group. The Group s activities are conducted under the following articles ratified by the members Article 1. Name of the Association 1.1 The Association shall be known as the THALES ATM Users Group. This may be abbreviated to TUG. 1.2 With the exception of referring to specific products and this Association, any use by the TUG of the THALES ATM Users Group tradename/trademark is to be only with the prior written approval of THALES ATM. Article 2. Aim and Nature of the Association 2.1 The aim of the TUG is to establish a regular forum to discuss and exchange non-commercial, primarily technical information on the application of the THALES ATM Users Group products for air traffic control. 2.2 The TUG is a non-profit, apolitical association of users. The TUG exists to constructively discuss THALES ATM products in a friendly, open environment for the mutual benefit of the users. Article 3. Objectives of the Association The objectives of the TUG are : 3.1 To exchange non-commercial information among members on : a. features of THALES ATM products b. procedures to facilitate installation and commissioning c. products and studies developed by members to support THALES ATM systems d. technical maintenance procedures of systems e. Performance of existing equipment, including implementation difficulties experienced and any technical solutions employed or proposed.

2 3.2 To provide co-ordinated and constructive feedback to THALES ATM concerning; a. equipment performance b. future ATC systems development c. add-on products and studies d. receipt of field reports 3.3. To exchange information through the forum of Thales ATM customer service website To meet once each 18 months at Conference (as defined in article 7) to support the above objectives. Article 4. Membership 4.1 Membership of the TUG shall be either : a. User membership, or b. Temporary membership, or c. THALES ATM membership 4.2 User Membership is open to any organisation currently using THALES ATM products to provide an Air Traffic Service. User Membership entitles that organisation to : a. submit papers to the Conference Co-ordinator (as defined in article 6) b. send delegates to the Conference who : i) may individually question and discuss issues of those papers ii) may collectively either propose or second any one motion iii) may individually debate motions iv) may collectively vote on any motion v) shall receive Conference Minutes and papers and vi) may be appointed to the Conference Committee c. receive periodic bulletins/newsletters from the Co-ordinator and THALES ATM Users Group and d. become Conference Co-ordinator(s) 4.3 Temporary Membership may be granted by the Co-ordinator Chairman after consultation with THALES ATM, to any other organisation which does not qualify for User Membership eg potential THALES ATM product user, but with the exclusion of THALES ATM Users Group competitors unless previously agreed in writing by THALES ATM. Temporary membership entitles the said temporary member to :

3 a. attend the Conference b. submit papers to the Co-ordinator c. as permitted by the TUG, i) to receive copies of papers and correspondence, and ii) to take part in discussions and debate, but not vote. 4.4 THALES ATM membership entitles THALES ATM to : a. submit papers to the Co-ordinator. b. send delegates to the Conference, who : i) may individually question and discuss issues of those papers ii) may individually debate motions iii) may collectively either propose or second any one motion and iv) shall receive Conference Minutes and papers. c. receive periodic bulletins/newsletters from the Co-ordinator and THALES ATM Users Group and d. be a permanent member of the Conference Committee. 4.5 Any organisation which acts counter to the spirit of these Articles may be disqualified from future membership by a two-thirds majority vote. Article 5. Amending these Articles 5.1 These Articles may be amended only by a Conference. Proposed amendments shall be discussed as detailed in Article 7 during General Business or otherwise as agreed by the Chairman. 5.2 Amendments to these Articles a. may be proposed by any delegate present at the Conference from either THALES ATM Users Group or any organisation with User Membership of the Association b. may be seconded by any delegate present at the Conference from either, THALES ATM or any organisation with User Membership of the Association, that has not proposed the motion. c. To be ratified must be approved by at least a two thirds majority of votes at a Conference. 5.3 Each ratified amendment at a Conference shall have effect immediately following the closure of the Conference at which it was ratified, unless the approved motion specifies a date and/or time from which the amendment is to take effect. 5.4 Amendments shall not be made to be retrospective.

4 Article 6. Conference Co-ordinator 6.1 The role and responsibilities of the Conference Co-ordinator are in relation to the Conference for which it is responsible a. to select, arrange and fund the Conference venue facility, b. co-ordinate the advertising, attendance, discussion papers, agenda, the venue and correspondence between members c. receive articles from members and produce and distribute a bulletin about six months before the Conference, d. arrange any social functions for the Conference, e. copy and distribute discussion papers at least one month prior to the Conference, f. hold the Conference records to date, including the mailing list, g. provide the Conference Chairman, and arrange all the necessary secretarial and meeting support, and h. hand-over the records to the incoming Co-ordinator 6.2 Only those organisations with User Membership of the TUG are eligible to become Conference Co-ordinator. 6.3 An organisation shall not be Conference Co-ordinator for more than two consecutive Conferences. 6.4 The Conference Co-ordinator for the subsequent meeting will be elected during the current Conference and will assume his responsibilities at the current Chairman s closing address. Article 7. Conferences 7.1 Conferences will be held each 18 months at a date and venue to be determined at the preceding conference. 7.2 For a Conference to proceed, a quorum of at least three organisations of User Membership is needed. 7.3 Notices and topics for discussion are to be communicated to the Coordinator not less than two months before the relevant Conference. 7.4 Discussion papers, in Microsoft electronic format, are to be delivered by the originator to the Co-ordinator not later than one month before the relevant Conference. 7.5 Priority for inclusion of discussion papers will be given by the Coordinator so as to include papers from as many organisations as possible, and discussion of as many different topics as possible, based on the previously approved general agenda. THALES ATM may present papers in each session.

5 7.6 Priority of attendance will be given by the Co-ordinator so as to allow representation by: a. as many organisation as possible, and b. those presenting discussion papers. It is expected that the main factor limiting the number of delegates will be the capacity of the Conference facilities. As a guide therefore, it is expected that where conference facilities are limited, any organisation not presenting a discussion paper would usually have no more than three representatives at a Conference. 7.7 Conferences will follow a formal agenda, involving separate sessions, with all discussion and motions being put through the Conference Chairman. The agenda may be modified during the course of the Conference by a minimum two-thirds majority vote. 7.8 The Conference is run by its members through a committee. The elected Co-ordinator will provide the committee Chairman and he may appoint up to four delegates with User Membership status to form the Conference Committee with him and a THALES member. No organisation shall have more than one member on the Committee. 7.9 Language of the Conference. English will be the written and spoken language for all international Conference co-ordination papers and discussions. Article 8. Motions and Voting 8.1 A motion requires a proposer from one organisation and a seconder from another organisation, both present at the Conference, to be able to be debated and voted on. 8.2 A motion can not be proposed during the course of the presentation of a discussion paper. 8.3 The Principal Delegate shall be the delegate nominated by each organisation to vote on motions, and this nomination may vary to allow for absences. 8.4 The Principal Delegate only for each organisation present at the Conference with User Membership is entitled to one vote per motion. 8.5 The Conference Chairman has only a casting vote. 8.6 A majority vote will be used to decide motions, except as where notified differently herein.

6 8.7 Voting will be by a show of hands of Principal Delegates. Proxy and absentee votes will not be valid. Article 9. Commercial Aspects 9.1 The following matters are not to be included in discussion papers or discussed during Conference activities a. financial aspects of the products and services, unless THALES ATM gives its written permission for inclusion b. a product or service which does not interact with a THALES ATM product or service, and c. proprietary information, plans, reports or other documentation previously provided by THALES ATM on a confidential or Commercial-in-Confidence basis, unless THALES ATM gives its written permission for inclusion. 9.2 Thales is encouraged to marketing and sale third party products (e.g. MAESTRO) 9.3 The TUG will not be responsible for the content and accuracy of papers written and debated by its members. Each member organisation at the Conference is to be responsible for the action of its members 9.4 Members and their organisations are to comply with any copyright, handling or distribution limitation imposed by the author/originator of any paper and/or material presented and/or available at the Conference. 9.5 In dealing with any news or communications media regarding TUG activities, Members shall be restricted by the requirements of these Articles, and in particular Clauses 1.2, 2.2, 4.5, 9.1 and 9.3 above. It is expected that members would normally deal with the media of their own country only, while the Co-ordinator and THALES ATM may deal on an international basis. Article 10. Finance and Administration 10.1 There are no fees for membership. To keep costs to a minimum, Conference delegates shall pay for their own travel, meals, accommodation and incidentals associated with the Conference, including drafting of own papers and communications While it is the Co-ordinator s responsibility to fund the Conference venue, the situation may arise where Association Funds are required. In this instance, the Chairman may appoint any honorary Treasurer who will manage the funds, which will be through a specific TUG account, and with both Treasurer s and Chairman s signature for operation. The disbursement of any funds in this account at the conclusion of this Association will be decided by the Conference.

7 Article 11. Dissolution of the Association 11.1 The TUG shall be dissolved by either a two thirds majority vote among at least 18 Members or in the event that three consecutive Conferences fail to make a quorum. END APPENDIX C INTRODUCTION OF THE DELEGATES AND THEIR OGANISATION The Principal Delegate of each organisation participating for the first time will be invited to give a short verbal and written briefing on his organisation and each delegate s background. It is expected that each presentation should last about 10 minutes. The aim of this item is to introduce the delegates and their organisation to the Conference members. Delegates are requested to summarise their presentation on two or three pages, which will be copied and distributed by the Conference Co-ordinator. The following topics could be addressed, subject to security and as other limitations permit. This list is a guide only. The topics are selected to provide a basic understanding to the other organisations of your situation regarding air traffic control. Part 1. The Organisation 1. Organisation name and head office location 2. Formal Role and Mission 3. Country s population and approximate number of people in the organisation. 4. Recent highlights of your organisation s operation 5. Trends in aircraft and/or passenger movements at say your country s major international terminal up to the year Extent of your organisation s involvement in general terms, with THALES ATM products. Part 2. The Delegates 1. Name and position 2. Location of work 3. Current main tasks