Providing guidance and assistance to the South American region

Ever since its creation in October, the South American (SAM) Regional Office of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) continues to actively support the development of air transport throughout the region, largely within the context of specific projects and close collaboration with specialised aviation organisations. The closest links are with the Caribbean/South American Regional Planning and Implementation Group, more generally referred to by its Spanish acronym of GREPECAS, in whose office is located the ICAO Secretariat. Current GREPECAS activities include planning for and strengthening the implementation of the CAR/SAM Air Navigation Plan, in line with the objectives of the ICAO’s Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP).

Particular guidance and assistance is provided to States by ICAO in the area of aerodromes and ground aids under the following two initiatives:

Emergency Plans and Emergency Operation Centres (EOC)

Between 2006 and 2008, there was an increase in the SAM Region of almost 4% and 9% respectively in the number of emergency plans and emergency operation centres. Nevertheless, important issues remain and must be addressed. They include: (a) lack of awareness on the effects of emergency plans and EOC on aircraft/airport safety; (b) lack of emergency plans; (c) outdated emergency plans; (d) lack of full-scale aerodrome drills or partial emergency drills of the plans; (e) lack of the partial emergency drills the year following a full-scale aerodrome drill with the purpose of correcting problems observed; (f) lack of implementation of EOC, EOC basic information that has not been updated; and (g) lack of EOC practices, among other issues. In November 2006 the ‘Implementation Guide for Airport Emergency Plans and Emergency Operation Centres (EOC),’ was prepared for the States in the region to provide guidance in addressing these and other related issues.

Aerodrome Certification/ Safety Management Systems (SMS)

An ICAO report presented to the ICAO Assembly in 2007 to assess the level of global implementation of aerodrome certification, including safety management systems (SMS) as required in Annex 14, Volume I, indicated that there were 1,280 international aerodromes listed in the Regional Air Navigation Plans. According to the survey, Aerodrome certification regulations had been promulgated in 67 of the 87 Contracting States. A total of 401 out of 680 international aerodromes in the responding States had been certified.

The report also pointed to Safety Management Systems having been implemented by 45 States and 258 aerodromes in those States. This represents 46 per cent of ICAO Member States. The level of implementation of both aerodrome certification and SMS as part of the certification process in at least one region has not been satisfactory.

In order to increase the level of awareness by States/Territories at both regulatory and operational levels, regarding the need to certify aerodrome operations safety and SMS implementation, it is very important for ICAO Regional Offices to have a clear picture of actual process and level of implementation on these topics.