On 28 April 2014 in Montreal began the Committee Phase of the 202. Session of the Council of International Civil Aviation Organization which ended on 16 May 2014. The meetings were participated by a Polish representative. Prior to the commencement of the Committee Phase important meetings, including the meeting of the Environmental Advisory Group (EAG) were also held.
The EAG meeting took place on 23-24 April 2014 which was the third meeting of the Group established after the 38th Session of the ICAO Assembly, during which it was decided to develop the system GMBM to reduce CO2 emissions. During the two-day meeting a discussion was conducted on the Strawman proposal with the intention of its amendment. The meeting was attended , among others, by representatives of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The next meeting of the Group was held on 14-15 May 2014.
On 30 April 2014 a meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of Technical Co-operation Committee (TCC) was held. At the meeting participants discussed a proposal for an oral report that is to be presented to the Council. After discussing the issues arising from the Group tasks, participants considered the proposals made by the Polish permanent representative on the Council of ICAO, Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska – who has raised important issues by noting the need for guidance material that briefly informs a State on how to obtain assistance from TCB being made available, and more details being provided in the reports by the TCB to the Council.
On May 5 a briefing of the Council of ICAO was held, during which the Air Navigation Bureau Director Ms. Nancy Graham presented an "Air Navigation Work Programme” and Mr. Farid Zizi - President of the Air Navigation Commission presented the presentation "Air Navigation Work Programme – The Tool." The presentations have described the ICAO Global Plan and methods of their implementation and the priorities of the Organization. Mrs. Nancy Graham and Mr. Farid Zizi later in the meeting presented the changes that were made after the crash of Flight AF447 and the work underway to improve safety and facilitate the search of the aircraft during similar events. Recommendations, which have been taken by ICAO were among others: activities related to change the time of work of the Flight Data Recorders ULB locators, the possibility of transmission of basic data from the FDRs from a distance during the flight, enabling recording devices in the cockpit which could capture the image of indicators, changes in search and rescue regulations, the introduction of new aircraft training requirements of upset prevention and recovery training which can prevent the loss of control in flight. The participants have also raised the main topics to be included in the agenda of the "High Level Safety Conference 2015”.
On May 6, there was a meeting of the Human Resources Committee, during which participants discussed issues related to the human resources of the Organization, including the change of the ICAO Code.
On May 7, there was a meeting of the Unlawful Interference Committee. The discussion consisted among others a schedule of meetings in the field of security in civil aviation in 2015 and the work program of meetings for the years from 2016 to 2018. The Universal Security Audit Program - Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP - CMA) was also presented. The Polish delegation posed a question whether the conditions contained in an agreement concluded between ICAO and the EU in 2008 (Memorandum of Cooperation between ICAO and the European Community regarding Security Audits/Inspections and Related Matters) would apply to the new USAP-CMA program. In response, the chairman of the committee announced that the renegotiations were concluded in this case and the Memorandum will apply to the USAP - CMA program.
On 8 May a briefing of the Council of ICAO on Cargo and Mail Security was held. The meeting was conducted by the Mr. Boubacar Djibo, and representatives of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the European Commission. The main objectives to be achieved in the CARGO security were presented as well as the ways to achieve them. Also a need for dialogue with the aviation industry for consultation of new solutions and sharing information was stressed. In order to make it easier for the industry and regulators there is a necessity to establish harmonized procedures and to reduce costs.
Simultaneously, on 7 and 8 May the 2nd ICAO Symposium on Air Transport was held. It was organized by ICAO in cooperation with the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS). The aim of the symposium was to present the current regulatory system, which is to be introduced for air transport. Challenges to the sustainable development of air transport were also presented and the issues relating to: market access, taxation and fees, consumer protection. Each day consisted of 4 sessions, which included presentations and panel discussions were raised.
On 9 May a briefing of the Council of ICAO was held at which the Ethics Officer presented the results of a comparative survey conducted in January 2013 and 2014. On the same day there was a meeting of the Joint Support Committee. During the meeting, the participants discussed the issues related to the ISAVIA project and issues related to the provision of air navigation services and air traffic management in Iceland.
On 12 May there was a meeting of the Technical Cooperation Committee (TCC) and the Finance Committee (FIC). During the meeting a discussion has been conducted on the Report on the Development of the Technical Cooperation Programme and Update of Administrative and Operational Services Cost (AOSC) for 2014. Discussion regarded also the contents of the Interim Report of the Technical Cooperation Committee’s Ad-hoc Working Group on Technical Cooperation Program Development.
The Polish Delegation made a speech on the contents of the draft report and pointed out the need to conclude more details into the Fall reports about the projects, among others regarding the time frame of projects and additional information regarding the achievement of the project’s objectives. The Polish representative pointed out that the purpose of the changes is not micro-management of the projects but to allow the recipients to obtain the report with more readable data illustrating the impact of the Technical Cooperation Programme in the global civil aviation and whether respective identified deficiencies are being met. They were given examples of additional information that should be included in the report on the basis of exemplary projects (e.g. in the field of Air Traffic Services).
The Polish representative has indicated the need to create a link on the ICAO website which would facilitate Member States to obtain assistance from the Technical Cooperation Bureau. She added that the twin tab that describes how to create or amend an ICAO Standard and Recommended Practice (SARPs) or Annex works very well and creation of similar page would provide equal opportunity to the assistance of the Bureau to all ICAO Member States. The proposals have met with the approval of the participants and the TCB Director.
On 12 and 13 May there was held a multidisciplinary meeting of ICAO on Global Airline Flight Tracking. The need for the organization of the symposium in this field has been caused by the recent disappearance of the Malaysian airlines aircraft. This event required action in order to identify opportunities to improve the finding location of the aircraft and improving Search and Rescue operations in the similar cases. At the meeting the participants discussed to what extent such systems should be independent from other aircraft systems and\or systems used for observation by air traffic services . Participants got acquainted with existing technologies serving to trace the route of flight.
On May 14, during a meeting of the Air Transport the participants discussed the issues which will be raised at 8th Facilitation Panel (FALP/8). The date of the symposium was changed from May 2015 to November 2014, after the suggestions of Poland and other countries, due to the need to accelerate work in this area. Later in the day the first part of the fourth meeting of the Environment Advisory Group (EAG) was held. During the meeting a presentation regarding the Clean Development Mechanism ( CDM), the experience of air carriers in the Voluntary Carbon Offsetting and the CAEP Capabilities Available to Support Global MBMs were made. Each presentation was followed by a session of questions and comments of participants of the meeting.
On May 15, the second part of the EAG meeting was conducted, during which a document was presented containing proposals for amendments to the Strawman proposal. After the reported remarks and discussion there were established that all the remarks will be given in writing. The next meeting of the Group is scheduled for 6 June 2014.
On the last day of the Committee Phase of the 202nd Session of the ICAO Council a meeting of the Finance Committee was held. During the meeting documents related to the budget of the Organization were examined, revenue generating activities and the Appointment of Members of the Evaluation and Audit Advisory Committee (EAAC). The participants also accepted the Work Program of the Finance Committee for the 203rd Session.
The Council Phase of the 202nd Session of the ICAO Council will begin on 9 June and will last until 27 June 2014.
