July 04, (THEWILL) – In this piece,ANTHONY AWUNORexamines new decisions at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council’s 223rd Session, which are geared toward the provision of support to aviation’s recovery and development globally.
At the 223rd Session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council recently held in Montreal, Canada, the international aviation body took new decisions that are expected to assist in the recovery of the ailing industry.
A specialised agency of the United Nations, the ICAO was created by governments in 1944 to support their diplomacy on international air transport matters. Since that time, countries have adopted over 12,000 standards and practices through ICAO, which help to align their national regulations relevant to aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, enabling a truly global network to be realised.
ICAO forums also provide opportunities for advice and advocacy to be shared with government decision-makers by industry groups, civil society NGOs, and other officially recognised air transport stakeholders.
Responding to a variety of recent and emerging aerospace and geopolitical developments throughout the session, which ended on June 28, 2021, the ICAO Council realised the important progress towards facilitating the aviation sector’s recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.
The decisions were geared towards enhancing the safety, security and sustainability of flights and towards improving the governance of the UN’s specialised agency for civil aviation.
The foundation of ICAO’s COVID-19 recovery strategy is assuring the implementation of the recommendations of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART), prepared in cooperation with WHO and other UN and aviation bodies. Its recommendations have been updated on a continuous basis throughout the pandemic in order to reflect the highly dynamic context, knowledge, and challenges.
At this session, the Council reviewed the implementation of the most recent ‘Phase III’ guidance, which were adopted in March 2021, and discussed means by which to ramp up the momentum. It also addressed ICAO’s preparations for its High Level Conference on COVID-19, which will take place in October. The Conference aims to promote and strengthen States’ collective efforts, including through CART implementation.
The undertaking of ICAO’s pre-COVID-19 work plan also remains crucial to aviation sectors in member states, with the negative effects of the pandemic not dampening but heightening the risks and the opportunities across the board. Of special interest to the Council this session were updates on ICAO’s activities to mitigate cyber-security risks and threats. Another aspect is on the UN agency’s efforts to ramp up the very promising achievements being realised in support of the sustainability of aviation.
Progress toward the implementation of the landmark Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) were highly appreciated, as were ICAO’s preparations in view of the upcoming 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. Assisting states with their cooperation on operational issues was also an important focus of the 223rd session.
The Council evaluated the progress on work to ensure the safety and security of flight through conflict zones, with a focus on Canada’s proposed “Safer Skies” initiative. It also facilitated the achievement of a decision in principle on the establishment of a Doha Flight Information Region and reviewed an interim report resulting from a fact-finding investigation led by the ICAO Secretariat into events surrounding Ryanair flight FR 4978 in Belarus. This investigation is ongoing, with a report expected at the Council’s next session, which begins on 13 September.
Progress towards enhancing ICAO’s own governance and operations is helping to ensure that the agency can continue to deliver its activities efficiently and effectively. This Council session marked the completion of work towards a new ICAO Ethics framework, the approval of ICAO’s 2020 Financial Statements, and the achievement of several governance decisions, including decisions pertaining to the re-organization of the Council Committees and its subsidiary bodies.
The end of ICAO Secretary-General Dr. Fang Liu’s second term also provided the Council with an opportunity to review and appreciate the Secretariat’s work towards these goals and ICAO’s Strategic Objectives. ICAO Council President Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano expressed the Council’s gratitude for the Secretary General’s end-of-term report and for her achievements throughout the six years of her leadership. The incoming Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, will assume the role on 1 August 2021.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
