The Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) concluded its 33rd Session on 5 October 2001 with the adoption of specific resolutions to increase the safety and security of international civil aviation. The Assembly, held at ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, began on 25 September.

A record 1130 participants from 169 Contracting States and observers from 32 international civil aviation organizations also adopted resolutions which enhance the mandate and ability of the Organization to deal with the new realities of civil aviation in the 21st century.

"The tragic events of 11 September in the United States sharpened the resolve of Contracting States and other members of the international community present at the Assembly to ensure that air transport remains the safest and most efficient system of mass transportation ever created," stated Dr. Assad Kotaite, President of the Council of ICAO.

"The decisions of this 33rd Session of the Assembly, coupled with one of the most productive periods in the Organization’s history, will indeed provide the Organization with the tools it needs to meet the complex technical, regulatory and economic challenges that lie before us," he commented.

Aviation safety and security

In the area of aviation security, the Assembly endorsed a resolution calling, at the earliest possible date this year, an international high-level ministerial conference, to develop measures for "preventing, combatting and eradicating acts of terrorism involving civil aviation".

The resolution also calls for a full review of international aviation security conventions and of Annex 17 (Safeguarding International Civil Aviation Against Acts of Unlawful Interference) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, ICAO’s charter. Annex 17 and related guidance material contain the internationally-approved Standards and Recommended Practices and Procedures (SARPs) on aviation security as they apply to international flights.

Other proposed measures include special funding for urgent action by ICAO in the field of aviation security and more stable funding through increases by States of their voluntary contributions to ICAO’s aviation security (AVSEC) mechanism.

The applicability to domestic flights of international security standards contained in Annex 17 and the locking of cockpit doors will be given high priority by ICAO’s aviation security (AVSEC) panel when it meets later this year.

The Assembly directed ICAO to consider the establishment of a Universal Security Oversight Audit Programme, modelled after the highly successful Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), to assess the implementation of security-related SARPs.

The USOAP consists of regular, mandatory, systematic and harmonized safety audits carried out by ICAO in all 187 Contracting States. Since its creation on 1 January 1999, it has proven effective in identifying and correcting safety deficiencies in areas personnel licensing and airworthiness and operation of aircraft. The Assembly approved the expansion of the Programme to include air traffic services and aerodromes, and requested a study on a further expansion of the programme to other safety-related fields, in particular to aircraft accident and incident investigation. The Assembly also requested ICAO to assist in resolving deficiencies identified by the programme through such measures as: support in obtaining financial and technical assistance; technical seminars on safety oversight; development of guidance material; and the creation of a Quality Assistance Function.

Funding

To provide States in need of assistance with the necessary resources to implement safety-related projects and to correct deficiencies identified through the USAOP, the Assembly endorsed the establishment of an International Financial Facility for Aviation Safety (IFFAS). The IFFAS is to be financed by voluntary contributions from States as well as from non-traditional sources, including contributors within or beyond the aviation community.

In light of decreased funding from the United Nations Development Fund, the Assembly also agreed to strengthen the ICAO Technical Cooperation Programme, one of the main instruments in providing support to States in remedying deficiencies identified through ICAO’s assessment and audit activities. During 2000, the Programme reached a record high of 80 million dollars. The Assembly encouraged the adoption of a structure and implementation mechanism for the Technical Cooperation Bureau that would use commercially oriented practices for cooperative partnerships with funding partners and recipient states.

Related decisions

To deal with the increase over the past few years in the number and gravity of reported incidents involving unruly passengers on board civil aircraft, the Assembly adopted a resolution calling on all States to enact appropriate laws and regulations, based on a proposed common list of offences and a model jurisdictional clause designed to ensure effective prosecution of perpetrators wherever an act may have been committed.

Recognizing the need to respond quickly and without delay to time-sensitive situations, the Assembly directed the Council to seek ways to shorten the process for the approval and adoption of SARPs considered of key importance for the safety and security of civil aviation.

Following the publication of guidance material on assistance to victims of aviation accidents and their families, ICAO was asked to look into the desirability of producing related Standards and Recommended Practices in appropriate Annexes.

The Environment

On aircraft noise, the Assembly endorsed the concept of a balanced approach to noise management, consisting of four principal elements, namely reduction at source (quieter aircraft), land-use planning and management around airports, noise abatement operational procedures, and operating restrictions on noisy aircraft. The Assembly produced a breakthrough on the difficult question of operating restrictions on the noisiest Chapter 3 aircraft. States needing to introduce such restrictions at an airport with severe noise problems will now have a process to enable them to do so. On engine emissions, the Assembly underlined the importance of further work to address the environmental impact of aircraft engine emissions, particularly greenhouse gases, as well as ground level impacts.

Report on activities

In his reports of ICAO activities of the past three and one half years, the President of the Council highlighted activities and events of particular significance to international civil aviation:

• the development of a Global Air Navigation Plan which expands the traditional regional air navigation plan into a truly global air navigation and air traffic management systems concept CNS/ATM;
• agreement by the civil aviation administrations of China and Vietnam on the creation, on a trial basis, of major new air routes and a new airspace organization in the South China Sea area, resulting in increased air route capacity and schedule flexibility, while reducing airspace congestion and flight delays.
• new routes over the North Polar region to link North America and Europe with Asia, resulting in significantly shorter flight times, cost savings to airlines, added convenience to passengers, and environmental benefits due to reduced fuel burn;
• updating of ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services to address new developments in the commercialization of airports and air navigation services;
• creation of an "ICAO-Net" for worldwide and instantaneous exchange of information with Contracting States of ICAO.
• adoption of an amendment to Annex 13 - Accident Investigation - which will strengthen accident prevention substantially and complement the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme and the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan;
• convening of a Worldwide Air Transport Conference on "Challenges and Opportunities of Liberalization", from 24 to 29 March 2003, to develop a framework for the progressive liberalization of international air transport, with safeguards to ensure fair competition, safety and security, and including measures to ensure the effective and sustained participation of developing countries.

Budget

The Assembly approved the triennial budget of the Organization as follows:

• 2001: US $56 743 000
• 2002: US $57 584 000
• 2003: US $60 456 000