INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATIONS. Agenda Item: B IFATCA 14 WP No. 84

Transcription

1 INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATIONS 53 rd ANNUAL CONFERENCE Las Palmas, Spain, May 2014 Agenda Item: B IFATCA 14 WP No. 84 Report on the 38 th ICAO Triennial Assembly Presented by EVP-Technical and ANC Representative Summary ICAO held its 38 th triennial Assembly in Montreal from 23 September to 4 October, This event serves to establish the priorities, work programme and budget for ICAO for the next 3 years. The most notable outcomes for ATCOs were the adoption of the new Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP). Since the Assembly was less than a year after the 12 th Air Navigation Conference, IFATCA did not present independent papers at the event although we spoke to several issues raised during the Assembly. 1. Introduction 1.1 Preparation for the Assembly was intensive for the organization as members of both TOC and PLC as well as other technical experts active in the organization provided input and review of over 350 working and information papers submitted by States and International Organizations. 1.2 ICAO s 38 th triennial Assembly was held from 23 September until 4 October, IFATCA EVP-Technical served as Chief Observer, supported by the ANC Representative for the conference. The US MA also sent members to participate as part of the IFATCA delegation for portions of the schedule. This allowed IFATCA to have participants at each of the concurrent committee meetings, where the bulk of the Assembly work is done. 1.3 The primary focus of the Assembly for ICAO was to secure the endorsement of the Contracting States of the outcomes of the 12 th Air Navigation Conference and the 6 th Air Transport Conference, both held in the preceding year. Most notably was to ensure that State endorsement of the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP). The content of these two plans will drive the ICAO work program for the foreseeable future and without the support of the States; ICAO cannot proceed down that path. 1.4 The Assembly divided into committees, and the bulk of IFATCA s attention was dedicated to the Technical Committee. However there were issues of interest in the Legal Committee and Economic Committee. 1.5 Additional Committees included the Executive Committee and Administrative Committee, environmental issues were dealt with in the Executive Committee and while IFATCA has an interest in the operational consequences of environmental policies, the discussions were dominated by political disputes and consumed a great deal of the Assembly s time. B / Page 1 of 6

2 1.6 The process for intervention on a topic of interest to IFATCA required both preparation and planning, as well as coordination with potential supporters or opponents. In order for a position from an international organization to be carried in the report of the meeting, it must gain the support of at least two Contracting States to ICAO. Gathering this support before an intervention is to be made is critical to our effective participation. 1.7 All of the assembly working papers as well as the final report are available on line at: 2. Discussion 2.1 IFATCA Interventions Protection of Safety Information: Several working papers were introduced on the topic of the protection of safety information. IFATCA has a high level of interest in this topic particularly as it relates to specific information, including voice tapes and controller names, in accident investigations. In addition, the papers we supported opposed the expansion of the accident investigation process to include victims rights advocates and lawyers during the period where findings have not yet been determined IFATCA s intervention was; IFATCA supports the position of Australia in WP173 and also the position of both Brazil and the United States in WP102. It is imperative that the independence of the accident investigation process is maintained. While recognising the role and importance of a State's judicial system, it is essential that this does not impede the ability for the aviation industry to learn from mistakes and thus improve aviation safety, this in turn benefits all of society. Therefore IFATCA supports the proposed amendments by Australia to A37-2 and A37-3, we also support any continued work by ICAO in this area. IFATCA also supports WP280 by the Republic of Korea, and WP296 by the ITF. Just culture is an essential element to safety culture and ICAO should develop methods to integrate just culture into the safety management systems or the new Annex 19. ICAO has the capacity to develop effective guidance material in this area and IFATCA supports the ITF recommendation to convene a meeting in the next 3 years to further develop just culture Economics of Airports and Air Navigation Services: The ITF submitted a paper to promote the consultation with employees concerning changes to the provision of air navigation services, including changes to user charges IFATCA s intervention was: IFATCA supports the proposals of ITF in working paper 292. We have numerous examples around the world where the involvement of worker and professional representatives as stakeholders has served to facilitate more productive outcomes in building efficient service provision and structures. In the development of air services agreements and evaluating the systemic needs of the air navigation service providers and the costs of providing those services, the perspectives of the worker representatives add value and facilitate comprehensive analysis. B / Page 2 of 6

3 2.1.3 Licensing of ATS Electronics Personnel: Indonesia introduced a working paper supporting the development of competency and licensing requirements for ATSEPs. Since we are dependant upon the systems they maintain, we viewed this as a positive step to strengthen the aviation safety chain IFATCA s intervention was: The International Federation of Air Traffic Controller Associations supports the conclusions of Indonesia in working paper 151. Air traffic controllers are as dependent upon air traffic control systems as pilots are on aircraft avionics. As such the standards for installation and maintenance of the ground systems must be held to the same standard as airborne systems. As we move forward with aviation system block upgrades, the controller reliance on the automation systems will only increase. ATSEPs play a critical role in the safety chain. Between pilot and controller lies the systems on which we both rely and those systems are a critical part of the safety relationship. IFATCA believes the inclusion of ATSEPs in Annex 1 is important for the protection of that safety chain. Thank you. 2.2 Adopted Resolutions Relevant to IFATCA A38-3 Protection of certain accident and incident records 1. Urges Member States to continue to examine and if necessary adjust their laws, regulations and policies to protect certain accident and incident records in compliance with paragraph 5.12 of Annex 13, in order to mitigate impediments to accident and incident investigations, in consideration of the legal guidance for the protection of information from safety data collection and processing systems issued by ICAO; 2. Instructs the Council, taking into account the findings and recommendations of the Safety Information Protection Task Force and further work informed by those findings and recommendations, to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure meaningful progress toward the development of new and/or amended provisions in Annex 13, other Annexes as appropriate and related guidance material before the next ordinary session of the Assembly; and 3. Declares that this resolution supersedes Resolution A A38-4 Protecting information from safety data collection and processing systems in order to maintain and improve aviation safety Urges all Member States to continue to examine their existing legislation and adjust as necessary, or enact laws and regulations and introduce supportive policies and practices, to protect information B / Page 3 of 6

4 gathered from all relevant safety data collection and processing systems based, to the extent possible, on the legal and other guidance developed by ICAO; 2. Urges the Council to cooperate with Member States and appropriate international organizations regarding the development and implementation of guidance, taking into account the findings and recommendations of the Safety Information Protection Task Force and further work informed by those findings and recommendations, to support the establishment of effective safety-reporting systems, and the achievement of a balanced environment where valuable information derived from all relevant safety data collection and processing systems is readily accessible for the purposes of maintaining and improving aviation safety, while respecting principles of administration of justice and freedom of information; 3. Instructs the Council to take appropriate steps to ensure that ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices in Annex 19, other Annexes as appropriate and guidance materials on the protection of information gathered from safety data collection and processing systems (SDCPS) are enhanced, taking into account the findings and recommendations of the Safety Information Protection Task Force and further work informed by those findings and recommendations, with a view to ensuring and sustaining the availability of safety information required for the management, maintenance and improvement of safety, taking into account the necessary interaction between safety and judicial authorities in the context of open reporting culture; and 4. Declares that this resolution supersedes Resolution A A38-8 Proficiency in the English language used for radiotelephony communications 1. Urges Member States to use ICAO standardized phraseology in all situations for which it has been specified; 2. Directs the Council to continue to support Member States in their implementation of the language proficiency requirements; 3. Encourages Member States to make use of the ICAO Aviation English Language Test Service (AELTS) to verify language testing instruments; 4. Urges Member States to make use of the ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements - Rated Speech Samples training aid; 5. Urges Member States to assist each other in their implementation of the language proficiency requirements; and 6. Declares that this resolution supersedes Resolution A A38-5 Regional cooperation and assistance to resolve safety deficiencies, establishing priorities and setting measureable targets. 1. Directs the Council, in partnership with all aviation safety partners, to implement a comprehensive assistance programme that will help Member States to correct deficiencies identified through USOAP-CMA, with priority given to the resolution of SSCs; B / Page 4 of 6

5 2. Directs the Council to promote the concepts of regional cooperation, including the strengthening of RSOOs and RASGs, as well as the establishment of objectives, priorities and indicators and the setting of measurable targets to address SSCs and safety-related deficiencies; 3. Directs the Council to continue to partner with Member States, industry and other aviation safety partners for coordinating and facilitating the provision of financial and technical assistance to States and subregional and regional safety and safety oversight bodies, including RSOOs and RASGs, in order to enhance safety and strengthen safety oversight capabilities; 4. Directs the Council to continue the analysis of relevant safety-critical information for determining effective means of providing assistance to States and subregional and regional safety and safety oversight bodies, including RSOOs and RASGs; 5. Directs the Secretary General to continue to foster coordination and cooperation between ICAO, RASGs, RSOOs and other organizations with aviation safety-related activities in order to reduce the burden on States caused by repetitive audits or inspections and to decrease the duplication of monitoring activities; 6. Urges Member States to give the highest priority to the resolution of SSCs in order to ensure that there are no immediate safety risks to international civil aviation and that the minimum requirements established by the Standards set forth in the ICAO Annexes are met; 7. Urges Member States to utilize the Flight Procedures Programme, where available, for PBN implementation; 8. Urges Member States to develop and further strengthen regional and subregional cooperation in order to promote the highest degree of aviation safety; 9. Calls upon all Member States and relevant aviation safety partners, wherever possible, to assist requesting States with financial and technical resources to ensure the immediate resolution of identified SSCs and the longer-term sustainability of the State safety oversight system; 10. Encourages Member States to establish partnerships with other States, industry, financial institutions and other aviation safety partners to strengthen safety oversight capabilities, in order to better discharge State responsibilities and foster a safer international civil aviation system; 11. Encourages Member States to foster the creation of regional or subregional partnerships to collaborate in the development of solutions to common problems to build State safety oversight capability, and to participate in, or provide tangible support for, the strengthening and furtherance of subregional and regional aviation safety and safety oversight bodies, including RSOOs; 12. Requests the Secretary General to play a leading role in coordinating efforts to assist States to resolve SSCs through the development of ICAO Plans of Action and/or specific project proposals and to assist States to obtain the necessary financial resources to fund such assistance projects; 13. Requests the Council to report to the next ordinary session of the Assembly on the overall implementation of the comprehensive assistance programme; and 14. Declares that this resolution supersedes Resolution A (combined resolutions) Runway safety 1. Urges States to take measures to enhance runway safety, including the establishment of runway safety programmes sing a multidisciplinary approach, that include at least regulators, aircraft operators, air navigation B / Page 5 of 6

6 services providers, aerodrome operators and aircraft manufacturers to prevent and mitigate the effects of runway excursions, runway incursions and other occurrences related to runway safety; 2. Resolves that ICAO shall actively pursue runway safety using a multidisciplinary approach; and 3. Invites States to monitor runway safety events and related precursors as part of the safety data collection and processing system established under their State Safety Programmes A38-3 Protection of certain accident and incident records 1. Urges Member States to continue to examine and if necessary adjust their laws, regulations and policies to protect certain accident and incident records in compliance with paragraph 5.12 of Annex 13, in order to mitigate impediments to accident and incident investigations, in consideration of the legal guidance for the protection of information from safety data collection and processing systems issued by ICAO; 2. Instructs the Council, taking into account the findings and recommendations of the Safety Information Protection Task Force and further work informed by those findings and recommendations, to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure meaningful progress toward the development of new and/or amended provisions in Annex 13, other Annexes as appropriate and related guidance material before the next ordinary session of the Assembly; and 3. Declares that this resolution supersedes Resolution A In addition to resolutions, the Assembly endorsed the Global Air Navigation Plan, which is available at In addition to the resolutions, the Assembly endorsed the Global Aviation Safety Plan, which is available at 3. Recommendation It is recommended that; This paper is accepted as information material - END - B / Page 6 of 6