On Monday, 3 March began the Safety Week during the council phase of the 201. Session of the Council of ICAO. The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland on Council Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska participates in the meetings. Prior to the meeting of the Council there has been held a coordination meeting of the EU. During the meeting participants discussed the results of last week's Council meetings. There was also agreed EU position with regard to the documents that will be presented at the meetings of the Council during the "safety week".
During the fourth meeting of the Council there were presented the resolutions passed during the 38. Session of the ICAO Assembly on safety and capacity and efficiency of air navigation. The Assembly endorsed strategic frameworks for safety and air navigation through the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) and the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP). These Global Plans are comprehensive and will drive the work programmes in safety and in air navigation for the next three years. They also incorporate a life-cycle approach to keeping the Organization focused on risks and priorities based on sound analysis of data. A key issue in this regard remains the maintenance of a work programme that is traceable to identified priorities and the optimization of the use of limited resources to ensure its achievability. Furthermore there was presented a progress report on the implementation of the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA).
During the meeting, council members approved the amendments to the Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in Chicago on 7 December 1944, as proposed by the Air Navigation Commission (ANC).
The Council members have adopted the Amendment 172 to Annex 1 Personnel Licensing. The amendment relates to raise of the age limit for pilots engaged in international commercial air transport operations, the introduction of provisions regarding upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) for aeroplane pilots including editorial changes to remove outdated provisions from the language proficiency requirements and an extension of the transitional measures related to the powered-lift category. The amendment to Annex 1 allows two pilots aged 60-64 years and engaged in international commercial air transport operations to be simultaneously at the controls. According to existing research , analysis and experience of air carriers, the two pilots in controls at the presented age range will not affect flight safety. Data from major airlines in a number of different regions does not indicate that performance falls substantially between 60 and 65 years, and should an individual pilot have difficulties this would be identified by routine simulator and operational checks. Furthermore, amending the 65 year upper age limit for co-pilots from a Recommendation (2.1.10.2) to a Standard is to ensure recognition by States of 65 years as the co-pilot upper age limit. The Air Navigation Commission, taking into account the technical circumstances connected with the amendment, considered an expected date of its entry into force in July 2014 and the date of implementation for 13 November 2014.
The Council also adopted an Amendment 38 to Part I , Annex 6, Amendment 33 to Part II, Annex 6, and Amendment 19 to Part III of Annex 6. Changes included: upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT), procedure design criteria and charting requirements to support performance-based navigation (PBN) as well as helicopter point-in-space (PinS) approach and departure operations, harmonization of provisions, electronic flight bags (EFBs), dangerous goods, head-up displays (HUD) and visions systems, fuel use provisions and flight recorders. Council members approved in addition: Amendment 58 to Annex 4, Amendment 6 to Volume I and II of Annex 14, Amendment 38 to Annex 15 concerning helicopter point-in-space (PinS) approach and departure operations. Amendment 11 to Annex 16, Volume I concerning the development and application of Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for aircraft noise certification and to develop operational procedures to reduce aircraft noise. The Amendment of Volume I, II and IV of the Annex 10 concerning the technical requirements for GNSS systems, ADS -B and surveillance system. The Amendment 8 to Annex 16, Volume II concerning the provisions regarding the stringency of emissions Standards and address technical issues arising from the application of demonstration schemes and related guidance for aircraft engine emissions certification.
There was also presented ANC work programme for the 196th Session.
On 6 March will be held the first meeting of the Environment Advisory Group(EAG).
On Tuesday, March 4, will be held the funeral ceremony of Dr. Assad Kotaite, President Emeritus of the ICAO Council, who passed away on 27 February 2014. According to the decision of the Secretary General of ICAO, the ICAO flag will be flown at half-mast at the ICAO Headquarters and Regional Offices and no other flag will be flown, as a mark of respect for Dr. Assad Kotaite.