From 18 to 29 November 2013, the council phase of 200th Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization Council was held in Montreal. It was the last meeting of the Council under the Chairmanship of Roberto Kobeh González, who held the office continuously since 1 January, 2006. The Session was attended by Poland’s Permanent Representative on the Council of ICAO - Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska who actively participated in the Council’s work and several times made an intervention.
On November the Council elected a new President who will replace Mr. Roberto Kobeh González. The new President - Dr. Benard Olumuyiwa Aliu from Nigeria was elected by acclamation. Dr. Benard Olumuyiwa Aliu will start his work on 1 January 2014. Later in the day the members of the Air Navigation Commission (ANC ) were elected. In accordance with Art. 56 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation the Air Navigation Commission consists of 19 members elected by the Council from among persons nominated by the Contracting States. Members of the Committee elected by the Council: Adel H. Alaufi , Simon Christopher Molai Allotey , David C. Behrens , Manoel da Costa Araújo Júnior , James Inglis Dow , Mervyn Gerard Fernando, Declan Fitzpatrick , Paul D. Fleming , Oscar Rubén González , Moussa Halidou , Javier Herrero , Alexander Aleksandrovich Korsakov , Rolf Monning , Hyang - gyu Park, Feng Tai , Andrew Herbert Tiede , Samuli Vuokila , Haydar Yalçin , Hajime Yoshimura , Farid Zizi. Members of the Commission are appointed for a three-year term. Persons appointed as members of the Commission shall be entitled to serve in that capacity until the end of the next session of the Assembly at which a new election of Council members takes place and thereafter until the Council appoints their successors or until the Council or the Assembly makes other provision.
On 19 November, a meeting of 194th Session of the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) was held. The Commission meeting was held with participation of members chosen on November 18. The participants of the meeting discussed, among others issues in the field of accident investigation, including proposed amendments to Annex 6, Part I, II and III relating to the requirements for the carriage of flight recorders.
There also was presented a report of the thirteenth meeting of Airworthiness Panel Working Group of the Whole (AIRP/WG/WHL/13). In the field of meteorology, Chairman of the Commission presented a report of the eighth meeting of the World Area Forecast System Operations Group (WAFSOPSG/8). Later the Directives for Panels of the Air Navigation Commission were presented. On November 19 there was also held a meeting of the Working Group of Governance and Efficiency (WGGE) with the participation of the Polish Permanent Representative on the ICAO Council, Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska. During the meeting, the work program of the Council and its Committees during the 201th Council Session was presented. The committee phase of the Session will be held from 13 to 31 January 2014, while the council phase will be held from 24 February to 13 March 2014.
On November 20, the Council members considered a number of documents. The participants discussed among others the convening of the Twenty-fifth Meeting of the Aviation Security Panel (AVSECP/25) from 17 to 21 March 2014. An oral report on unlawful interference with international civil aviation was also presented. In addition, there was presented a report on amendment 24 to Annex 9 - Facilitation to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska made an intervention, asked a question and had reservations concerning regulations on passengers needing assistance. As a part of the Council meeting participants discussed the inclusion of the World Customs Organization in the list of organizations that may be invited to attend suitable ICAO meetings as an observer and an annual report of the Evaluation and Audit Advisory Committee (EAAC) was presented.
On November 22 the proposed work program of the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) during the 195 Session of the Commission was presented. The Secretary General also presented the results of the meeting of the Steering Group of the Committee for Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). Participants considered and approved the establishment of the Environment Advisory Group (EAG). Ms. Małgorzata Polkowska presented a position of Polish delegation: “We are in principle in favour of creating a group, and then, we shall have a more informed discussion when we have the work plan in front of us, and in this fashion we will be able to avoid repetitions of the work already completed, as this would only delay the process” – she stated, but also added: “In all cases, the ICAO Council should be regularly informed on the progress and consulted, so that it can provide policy input as necessary.” Also issues relating to human resources were raised.
On 27 November the meeting on the planned changes of using portable electronic devices (PED) on board the aircraft was held. Changes planned by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) was presented by Mrs. Daniel Defossar, EASA Rulemaking Air Operations Section Manager. During the meeting Mrs. Defossar presented the planned changes to the EASA guidance on the use of electronic devices such as tablets, smartphones, e-readers and mp3 players. The proposed regulations allow the use of the above mentioned devices in flight mode during all phases of flight. The current EASA guidance allows the use of PED on board the aircraft except during critical phases of flight such as taxiing, take-off and landing. Bulky devices such as laptops for safety reasons will still need to be placed in the overhead compartments during taxiing, take-off and landing. These changes will be applicable to aircraft operated by European airlines. According to the new guidance, an air carrier, following its assessment, will be able to allow passengers to use their electronic devices in all phases of flight. In the longer term, EASA plans to allow the passengers to make calls using mobile phones on board aircraft. The Agency recognizes the prevalence of this type of equipment and the desire of passengers to use their devices without restrictions. At the end of October the Department of Transportation of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also announced the release of guidance on the use of personal electronic devices during all phases of flight. According to FAA guidance airlines should assess the risks of potential PED-induced avionics problems for their airplanes and specific operations during critical phases of flight. Each airline will determine how and when they will allow passengers a broader use of PEDs.
On 29 November 2013 the last meeting of 200th Session of ICAO Council was held. It was the last meeting of the Council under the Chairmanship of President Roberto Kobeh González. After the meeting of the Council the Farewell reception took place. Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska and other Permanent Representatives of the Council congratulated and thanked Mr. Roberto Kobeh González for his long and successful work for the Organization and development of international civil aviation. During the Council meeting, the new President of the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) was appointed by acclamation. The new President of the Commission - Mr. Farid Zizi from France will begin the one-year term from 1 January 2014. In the framework of the Council, the Delegation of Japan made a statement on the freedom of flying over the high seas and in air defense identification zones (ADIZ). The Secretary General of ICAO - Mr. Raymond Benjamin clarified some legal issues presented by the Delegation of Russia, regarding a UN-ICAO Management Services Agreement which is managed as the project of Technical Co-operation Bureau (TCB).
Dr. Malgorzata Polkowska presented a position of the Polish Delegation related to the technical assistance offered by ICAO and third parties. The Polish Delegation requested the Secretariat of ICAO to prepare statistics showing the number of projects which, despite full scope of references and part performance have not been completed. According to the request the statistics shall include the reasons why the project has not been completed as well as any costs incurred as a result. The Polish delegation considers this matter to be very important and will be raised during the next Council meetings.
The next 201st Session of the ICAO Council will be held next year and will be divided into two phases. The Committee phase will take place from 13 to 31 January 2014 and the council phase from 24 February to 14 March 2014.