The EUROPEAN REGIONAL RUNWAY SAFETY SEMINAR ATC Global - Amsterdam RAI, 8 March 2012 – 9:00-16:00
ICAO (EUR/NAT) and ATC Global are working in partnership to organise, in collaboration with EASA and EUROCONTROL, an important one day regional seminar on Runway Safety. The European Regional Runway Safety Seminar (ERRSS) is aimed at giving the first feedback on the progress made in terms of runway safety best practices one year after the ICAO Global Runway Safety Symposium held in Montreal.
Runway Safety is an aviation top priority, for the events related to it consistently constitute the largest accident category at global level: 59% of all accidents accounting for 29% of all fatal accidents and 19% of all related fatalities reported to ICAO between 2006 and 2010.
Successful introduction of Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) in the eastern part of the ICAO European Region - the project EURASIA RVSM
Paris (France), 17 November 2011 - Tonight at 00:01 UTC (time of switchover), the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan successfully implemented the RVSM between FL290 and FL410, but also the ICAO tables of cruising levels as outlined in ICAO Annex 2 (Flight Level Allocation Scheme) in their entire airspace. Mongolia (using the Metric RVSM Flight Level Allocation Scheme implemented in China) and Afghanistan (partially implementing the RVSM between FL320 and F410) which were also part of the EURASIA RVSM project, reported their successful RVSM implementation today as well.
EUR/NAT to have a leading role in the implementation of the new approach of the ICAO USOAP programme
Paris (France), 11 November 2011 - The Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) of ICAO is transitioning to a Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA), under which ICAO will monitor, on a continuous basis, the safety oversight capabilities of its Member States.
ICAO State Safety Program: 19 officials from the Portuguese CAA successfully completed the SSP Course provided by ICAO EUR/NAT
Lisbon (Portugal), 30 September 2011 – Nineteen State officials from the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority, Instituto Nacional de Aviacao Civil (INAC), successfully completed the ICAO State Safety Programme Implementation Course held in Lisbon, from 28 to 30 September, by the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office.
Cooperative Arrangement for the Prevention of Spread of Communicable Disease through Air Travel (CAPSCA) - FIRST MEETING IN EUROPE
Paris (France), 20-22 September 2011 - The First European meeting of the Cooperative Arrangement for the Prevention of Spread of Communicable Disease through Air Travel (CAPSCA) was held in the ICAO EUR/NAT offices in Paris, France, 20-22 September 2011. The meeting was chaired by Dr Anthony Evans, Chief, Aviation Medicine ICAO Headquarters, in collaboration with Mr Thomas Hofmann, AREA Coordinator IHR of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, Mr Michiel Vreedenburgh Deputy Regional Director of ICAO North America, Central America & Caribbean and Dr Jarnail Singh, Technical Advisor, CAA Singapore.
ICAO SMS Course, Ohrid, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 13 – 15 September 2011
- To assist the Western Balkan States in their Safety Management implementation efforts, and particularly in implementing a State Safety Programme (SSP), ICAO was invited to conduct under the framework of the EASA-IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) Project and in coordination and cooperation with Egis Avia, the ICAO SSP training course for these States. The training session took place from 13 to 15 September 2011 in Ohrid, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, thanks to the kind invitation from the Civil Aviation Authority of this State. It was attended by 13 participants from Civil Aviation authorities of the Western Balkan States, 1 participant from EASA and 1 participant from Egis Avia.
45 Professionals from 12 States trained by ICAO in Ukraine to implement Performance Based Navigation
Kiev (Ukraine), 8 July, 2011 - An ICAO Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Airspace design workshop was conducted on 4-7 July in Ukraine in cooperation with Eurocontrol and FAA. This workshop –chaired by the European and North Atlantic Office Regional Director, Luis Fonseca de Almeida- was followed (on July 8, 2011) by a workshop on operational approvals organised in cooperation with EASA. Both workshops - attended by 45 participants from 12 States and IATA - have succeeded in providing the PBN implementers with hands-on training and methodology to assist in PBN deployment, specifically in terminal areas. The material provided will allow to further promote implementation of the ICAO Assembly Resolution 37-11 on global PBN objectives, enhance safety and significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Kyiv (Ukraine), 22 July 2011 - To assist the East European Air Operators and States in their Safety Management implementation efforts, the ICAO EUR/NAT Office, following the initiative of the World Food Programme, Aviation Safety Unit of Sharjah, held the ICAO SMS training course in Russian for States’ and air operators representatives who will lead SMS implementation in their organizations.
ICAO EUR /NAT meet CAA executives from seven Eastern European Countries to support the aviation section of the TRACECA Project Study Tour
Paris (France), 6 July 2011 - Following the positive outcome of the ICAO EUR/NAT Office – TRACECA Coordination Meeting held last year, Civil Aviation Authorities’ top executives from seven Eastern European States met officers from the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office today as part of the so-called TRACECA Project Study Tour. The aim of this meeting, which was held in the ICAO Paris Office premises, was to better assess the aviation-related implementation framework of this project.
EANPG Programme Coordinating Group/50: main decisions and actions
Malmö (Sweden) – 23 June 2011 – Thanks to the kind invitation of Sweden, the 50 th meeting of EANPG Programme Coordinating Group (COG) was held in Malmö from 21 to 23 June 2011. The meeting, chaired by Mr Phil Roberts (UK), was attended by 36 participants from 11 States and four international organizations.
ICAO Air Navigation Commission met EUR/NAT Executives today for a joint reviewing of implementation developments and challenges in the European and North Atlantic Air Navigation Regions
Paris (France), 4 July 2011 – The ICAO Air Navigation Commission met today the European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office Executives as part of an assessment journey aimed at better understanding the challenges Member States in the nine ICAO Regions face in implementing ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as well as its Safety policies.
In the center, from left to right: ANC President Mervyn Fernando, EUR/NAT Director Luis Fonseca de Almeida and EUR/NAT Deputy Director George Firican.
ICAO-Eurocontrol FLP2012 Task Force updates implementation plans
Paris (France), 10 June 2011 - The ICAO-Eurocontrol (Flight Plan) FPL2012 Task Force, which convened yesterday and today for the fourth time at the EUR/NAT Office of ICAO, made further progress in ensuring the safe implementation of the new Flight Plan across the ICAO European Region.
During its fourth meeting, which was attended by more than 70 participants from 31 States, 2 international organizations and from industry, the Task Force reviewed and updated the safety register, a tool that will be useful to implementation focal points (including those outside the ICAO EUR Region) as a checklist of possible hazards and risks related to the implementation of Amendment 1 to the PANS ATM.
ICAO EUR APV Workshop identified areas of improvement for better transition to a fully PBN-based global Air Traffic Management System
Paris (France), 27 May 2011 - The ICAO EUR Workshop on implementation of Approach Procedures with Vertical guidance (APV), held on 25-27 May 2011 at the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office premises successfully reviewed the current status of implementation of the ICAO Assembly Resolution 37-11 on Performance Based Navigation (PBN) and determined areas of improvement that would require a regionally coordinated effort to ensure smooth transition to a fully PBN based global Air Traffic Management System.
New Direct Route between Algeria and Tunisia -to avoid Libyan Airspace- to become operational today.
Paris (France), 23 May 2011 - Thanks to the excellent cooperation of Algeria and Tunisia, the European and North Atlantic Office of ICAO succeeded in the establishment of a new direct route allowing civil aircraft to avoid the Libyan Airspace.
Enhancing cooperation between ICAO and Euroasia Coordination Council
Baku (Azerbaijan), 19 May 2011 – The European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office of ICAO and the Euroasia Coordination Council have made further steps towards enhancing mutual cooperation.
“We will do our best to provide the required assistance to support the various Eurorasia programmes aimed at further improving international civil aviation standards in the Region in line with the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan” said Luis Fonseca de Almedia, Regional Director of the EUR/NAT Office, at the opening session of 24 th Meeting of the Euroasia Coordination Council which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 17-19 May 2011.
14th Meeting of the Route Development Group – Eastern Part of the ICAO EUR Region (RDGE/14)
Astana (Kazakhstan), 15 April 2011 - Thanks to the kind invitation of Kazakhstan, the 14th Meeting of the Route Development Group – Eastern Part of the ICAO EUR Region (RDGE/14) was held in Astana, from 11 to 15 April 2011.
Third Flexible ATS Route Management Workshop held at the ICAO EUR/NAT Office paves the way for flexible transoceanic routes allowing fuel and CO 2 savings.
Paris (France), 10 March 2011 – Over forty participants from thirteen States and eight international organizations attended the Third Flexible ATS Route Management Workshop (iFLEX/3) held in Paris from 8 to 10 March 2011. The Workshop was convened, at the initiative of IATA, with the support of ICAO and CANSO, as a wrap-up of the first two Workshops which had been held in Dakar, Senegal, from 11to 13 January and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 15 to17 February 2011.
Workshop on State Safety Oversight held by ICAO EUR/NAT in Georgia from 1 to 10 March, 2011
Tbilisi (Georgia), 10 March 2011 - Upon Georgian United Transport Administration’s (UTA) request, a workshop for Civil Aviation Department (CAD) Inspectorate was organized on site at Tbilisi. This ten day workshop –held by Mr Léon Vonlanthen (RO Safety) - served mainly the purpose of assisting the State’s inspectorate to strengthen and structure its oversight activities in order to meet efficiently the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of ICAO.
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Transfer of the TEL AVIV FIR to the European Air Navigation Plan approved by President of ICAO Council
Paris (France), 21 February 2011 – The President of ICAO Council, Mr Roberto Kobeh González , informed today the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel that the transfer of the TEL AVIV Flight Information Region (FIR) –as well as the associated facilities and services- from the Middle East (MID) Air Navigation Plan to the European (EUR) Air Navigation Plan has been approved.
This Air Navigation Plan (ANP) tranfer was requested in late November 2010 by the State of Israel and processed taking into account the recommendation from the ICAO Cairo (MID) and Paris (EUR/NAT) Regional Offices.
The EUR/NAT Regional Office will now initiate, in coordination with the MID Office, an amendment proposal for EUR and MID ANPs for transfer of TEL AVIV Fir to the EUR Navigation Plan.
Luis Fonseca de Almeida is the new Regional Director of the ICAO EUR/NAT Office
Paris (France), 5 January 2011 – Luis Fonseca de Almeida took office today as Regional Director of the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office.
“I arrived at the very beginning of this year to start a new cycle of my professional life aimed at further contributing to overcome present challenges faced by International Civil Aviation in our area of accreditation. In order to achieve this goal, I do consider continuous support to States and permanent dialogue with all aviation stakeholders as one of my top priorities,” said Mr Fonseca de Almeida.
The ICAO public website has been updated to include a section devoted to the USOAP Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA). For additional information please see: www.icao.int\cma.
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ICAO Regional Report 2010 - A New Era of Effective Cooperation - Specail State Profile : NORDICAO
ICAO 53 RD EANPG : More than 50 Safety and Efficiency related Recommendations and Proposals issued today by ICAO EUR Region Member States
Paris (France) – 1 December 2011 – States represented in the ICAO European Air Navigation Planning Group (EANPG) jointly issued today more than 50 recommendations and proposals aimed at achieving higher safety goals through improved cross-border coordination and more stringent implementation of aviation standards within national airspace.
The 22nd meeting of the COG AIM Task Force (COG/AIM TF/22) was held in the ICAO European/North Atlantic Office in Paris, France on 15-17 November 2011.
Paris (France), 17 November 2011 - The meeting was attended by 23 experts from AIS / AIM service providers / centres representing Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine, along with representatives from AERONAVIGATSIYA State Research Institute, Scientific Research Centre GEODINAMICA, INFORMAVIASERVICE of the Russian Federation, Jeppesen, Eurocontrol and ICAO.
ICAO Safety Management Systems (SMS) Course for the International Airport Group “Manas” held in Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 28 October 2011 – Thirty-six participants from both the highest management level and operational staff of the Manas International Airport Group successfully completed today the ICAO Safety Management (SMS) Course provided by the European and North Atlantic Office of the Organization.
The SMS Course was held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) from 24 to 28 October 2011 upon request from the Civil Aviation Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic and in response to a 2006 ICAO State letter proposing to States assistance in implementing the safety management systems.
EANPG Programme Coordinating Group/51: main decisions and actions
Paris (France), 20 October 2011 – The EANPG Programme Coordinating Group (COG) decided to ask member States from the ICAO European Region to consider the approval of several safety provisions related to issues such as: improved procedures related to States’ obligation in the dissemination of special air-reports, use of one radiotelephony language in the same environment, harmonization of Low Visibility Procedures, radio frequency interference events, etc.
The 51st COG meeting - held from 18 to 20 October 2011 in Paris on the premises of the ICAO Euopean and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office - was chaired by Mr Phil Roberts (UK) and attended by 38 participants from 12 States and four international organizations. Most of the Group’s activities are carried out through the coordinating and preparatory effort the ICAO EUR/NAT Office whose Director, Mr. Luis Fonseca de Almeida, serves also as the Secretary of the European Air Navigation Planning Group (EANPG) and whose Deputy Director, Mr. George Firican, serves as Secretry of the EANPG Programme Coordinating Group.
The EANPG COG was established to facilitate the on-going work undertaken within the EANPG framework and to expedite follow-up work from the EANPG and its working groups between plenary meetings.
EANPG Member States (presently 52) are expected to vote on the COG’s proposals at the Group’s 53rd meeting that will be held from 28 November to 1 December 2011 in Paris at the EUR/NAT Office premises.
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2012 ICAO Flight Plan Workshop: meeting the challenges for a smooth transition
Batumi (Georgia), 20-22 September 2011 – At the Workshop on the implementation of the new ICAO flight plan provisions held yesterday and today in the Georgian city of Batumi, 43 participants from seven States, one international organisation and several industry stakeholders took the opportunity to share information on their status of implementation whilst gaining additional knowledge on what is needed to guarantee a smooth transition to the new flight plan content and format which will become effective on 15 November 2012.
Amendment 1 to the Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Air Traffic Management (PANS ATM, Doc 4444), which introduces changes to the current content and format of the ICAO flight plan form (FPL), will affect a wide range of stakeholders, including aircraft operators, air navigation service providers, flight planning services, industry, airport operators, and more.
Italy (Rome), 21-22 September 2011
2011 - An ICAO Performance Framework workshop was conducted in Rome, hosted by ENAV S.p.A., the Italian Company for Air Navigation Services, with the aim to present and discuss with stakeholders the proposal of the European Air Navigation Plan Coordinating Group (COG) Performance Task Force on the development of a performance framework for the EUR Region.
Implementation of Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) in Eurasia: 8 States confirmed compliance by 17 November 2011 deadline and adoption of ICAO tables of cruising levels
Paris (France), 2 September 2011 – On the occasion of the Sixth meeting of the Eurasia RVSM Task Force, nine Eurasian States confirmed not only the implementation of RVSM on the 17 November 2011 at 00:01 UTC (agreed time of switchover), but also the use of the vertical separation system in accordance with the ICAO tables of cruising levels in Annex 2 (Flight Level Allocation Scheme) from FL290 to FL410 (and in some States also for their entire airspace).
ICAO Hands-on Training Workshop for States’ Action Plans on CO 2 Emissions Reduction Activities
Paris (France), 13 July 2011 – Nearly 40 delegates from 20 Member States attended the three-day Workshop for States’ Action Plans on CO 2 Emissions Reduction Activities held by ICAO, at the Paris-based European and North Atlantic Office of the Organization, from 11 to 13 July 2011.
The ICAO workshop also benefited from contributions facilitated by the European Civil Aviation Conference Secretariat concerning activities taking place to address emissions reductions through the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and the use of alternative fuels.
The ICAO Hands-on Training Workshop for States’ Action Plans on CO 2 Emissions Reduction Activities held in Paris from 11 to 13 July.
At the Chairperson’s table, from left to right: Ms Jane Hupe (Chief of the ICAO Environment Branch) who chaired the Workshop and Mr. Luis Fonseca de Almeida (Regional Director of the EUR/NAT Office)
The Workshop, the last in a series of regional training workshops to assist ICAO Member States in producing these national plans, served as an important platform to showcase the scope and feasibility of actions to reduce emissions from international aviation.
NAT SPG 47 approved many safety and efficiency-related provisions today including new vertical and horizontal limits for mandatory carriage and operation of data link in the ICAO North Atlantic Region
Paris (France), 16 June 2011 - The ICAO North Atlantic Systems Planning Group (NAT SPG) came to agreement today on a number of safety-related and efficiency-related issues including new limits of the airspace associated with the NAT Region Data Link Mandate; an ADS-B Eligibility List for the ICAO NAT Region and a NAT Fast Track Procedure for safety occurrences.
From left to right: Mr. Fonseca de Almeida, Mr. Pálsson and Mr. Firican.
Grimsvötn eruption : ICAO Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan for the ICAO European and North Atlantic Regions is currently in operation
Paris (France), 23 May 2011 – Following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland in April/May 2011 which resulted, for safety reasons, in considerable disruption of air traffic in Europe and beyond, member States of the ICAO European and North Atlantic Planning and Implementation Regional Groups approved a comprehensive revision to a common document called Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan for the EUR and NAT Regions aimed at streamlining coordination among aviation stakeholders in the cited areas.
The aforementioned Plan is valid and presently being operationally implemented by States in the EUR and NAT Regions in order to manage a new Icelandic eruption (Grimsvötn volcano) which began on Saturday evening forcing the Icelandic authorities to close the country’s main airports and restrict flights over the island.
The ICAO Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan for the EUR and NAT Regions can be downloaded by following this link: EUR DOC019 and NAT Doc006, Part II.
European Regional Aviation Safety Group: EUR/NAT States approve Terms of Reference for the First Pan-Regional Air Safety Dedicated Think Tank
Paris (France), 16 May 2011 – Member States of European ICAO Region unanimously approved the terms of reference of the European Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG-EUR), a brand-new group aimed at enhancing aviation safety in a homogeneous manner across the whole region.
The RASG-EUR, which convened for the first time today at the premises of the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office in Paris, was attended by more than 60 delegates, in most cases European State Director Generals from Civil Aviation Authorities.
ICAO EUR/NAT Office welcomes its new Meteorology Officer, Mr. Christopher Keohan
Paris (France), 6 May 2011 - Mr. Christopher Keohan reported for duty to take up the position of Technical Regional Officer, Air Navigation Systems Implementation (Meteorology) in the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office.
5 th Meeting of the EURASIA RVSM Task Force: eight States committed to implement the internationally required ICAO Annex 2 based flight level system by 17 November 2011.
Khabarovsk (Russian Federation), 18 March 2011 - Thanks to the kind invitation from the Russian Federation, the Fifth Meeting of the EURASIA RVSM Task Force was held in Khabarovsk, in the Far Eastern part of the Russian Federation, from 16 to 18 March 2011.
Preparing for volcanic ash Exercise VOLCEX11/01 in the EUR/NAT Region
Paris (France), 14 March 2011 – The European and North Atlantic Volcanic Ash Exercises Steering Group (EUR/NAT VOLCEX/SG) of the EANPG COG and NAT IMG has been finalizing preparations for the next regional volcanic ash exercise – named Exercise VOLCEX11/01 – that will take place on the 13 and 14 April 2011. Exercise VOLCEX11/01 will exercise an eruption of the Grimsvötn volcano in Iceland, with a simulated volcanic ash cloud spreading south across North Atlantic and European airspace.
Courtesy of Matthew J. Roberts, scientist at IMO (Iceland, 17 April 2010) (see full-size photo)
ICAO EUR/NAT to hold “MET, serving ATM” Workshop at ATC Global 2011, in association with EUROCONTROL and UBM.
Where: Workshop Theatre, Hall 9 - RAI Exhibition & Centre, Europaplein, NL 1078 GZ Amsterdam
When: Tuesday 8 March 2011, 10:00 (Entry from 09:45) – 12:45
The ICAO European and North Atlantic Office is delighted to invite you to register to the workshop MET, Serving ATM , co-organised with Eurocontrol and UBM (the organisers of ATC Global ) on Tuesday 8th March from 10:00-12:45 at the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition & Congress centre in the Netherlands.
ICAO EUR/NAT Workshop on the Implementation of Safety Management Requirements in States.
Paris (France), 15 February 2011- More than 60 participants from 24 States and 3 international Organizations attended the ICAO EUR/NAT Workshop on the Implementation of Safety Management Requirements in States held in Paris on 14-15 February 2011.
The main objective of the Workshop was to address the matter of implementation of the ICAO Safety Management Principles both at the State (State Safety Programme) and service providers’ (Safety management Systems) levels, exchange of experience and to ensure a harmonized approach to safety management across the entire ICAO European Region.
The Workshop –organized in support of the ICAO Strategic Objective “ Safety” and in follow-up a number of the SMS and SSP courses- was highly interactive and participants expressed full support for the ICAO requirements and procedures concerning the safety management provisions of Annexes 1, 6, 8, 11, 13 and 14.
The European Air Navigation Planning Group (EANPG) is composed of the 52 ICAO Contracting States that provide air navigation services in the European Region (see map). One of the main responsibilities of the EANPG is to manage the European Air Navigation Plan – ICAO Doc 7754.
