Airports Council International and Aéroports de Montréal partner to improve safety at airports worldwide

Airports Council International (ACI) and Aéroports de Montréal (AdM) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), in the presence of Montréal International and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to promote excellence in airport management and operations at airports worldwide through ACI’s Airport Excellence (APEX) Programme. ACI formally launched its APEX in Safety Programme in September 2012. The Programme helps airports enhance the safety of their airside operations for the benefit of the flying public. The agreement provides the foundation for specific cooperative initiatives between ACI and AdM under the APEX Programme.

Angela Gittens, Director General, ACI stated: “The APEX Programme is strategically important to ACI and our member airports. Since relocating our World Office to Montréal in 2011, ACI has forged a closer partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to enhance safety worldwide and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with ICAO, in June 2012. We are now taking the next logical step in formalizing this cooperative arrangement with AdM so that the APEX Programme and ACI member airports worldwide can benefit from the airport’s expertize. AdM has always been very supportive of the APEX Programme and this agreement takes our cooperation to a new level.”

James C. Cherry, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal commented: “I am delighted to formalize this new cooperative relationship with ACI. It is a great opportunity for AdM to share its expertise and leading practices and for AdM staff to further improve their knowledge of global safety practices, foster greater international cooperation and a sense of community. With ICAO and ACI developing technical safety standards and recommended practices here in Montréal, it is also a great opportunity for AdM to showcase these best practices in safety and our innovations in airport operations.”

Commenting on the MoC, Stéphanie Allard, Vice President, International Organizations at Montréal International remarked: “We are also pleased to see this cooperative arrangement between ACI and AdM. We recognize the importance of ACI’s APEX Programme and its role in enhancing the safety of airport operations globally and are proud that ACI is based here in Montréal. With 10 aviation-related International Organizations, Montréal has established itself as a global aviation hub. This cooperative arrangement with AdM will also enhance Montréal’s position as a key centre of excellence in airport management and operations.”

ACI plans to launch similar programmes in the other disciplines of airport management and this MoC includes provisions for ACI and AdM to extend their collaboration to these programmes in the future.

About the APEX in Safety Programme

ACI formally launched its APEX in Safety Programme in September, 2012. The Programme aims to help airports enhance the safety of the aviation-related operations at the airport. The cornerstone of the Programme is an airport safety review – a gap analysis review of the airport’s infrastructure and operational procedures against ICAO standards and industry best practices. This is a peer review process in which ACI organises a team of experts from other airports and ICAO. The APEX in Safety Programme is designed for all airports, regardless of their size and location. More information can be obtained from: http://www.aci.aero/About-ACI/Priorities/Safety/APEX-in-Safety