Dave Reynolds, NZALPA Technical Officer provides an overview of recent International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) activities that will have implications on current and future rule-making.

The NZALPA Technical Sub Committee is the Association’s conduit to technical rule making and standards at ICAO. We have a constant stream of updates on ICAO’s technical and safety-related activities through IFALPA and members of our Technical Subcommittee attend meetings involving matters such as Accident Investigation, Airfield Operations, Aircraft Operations, Air Traffic Services, Licensing, and Dangerous Goods and Security.

Flight Operations Panel

The Flight Operations Panel (FLTOPSP) looks into issues from cold and hot temperature corrections through to developing information for vision systems for pilot stations. They are currently developing a concept of operations for using Visual Prescribed Track (VPT) with RNAV and guidance for standardised processes.

Work is also underway for the development of operational requirements for information on volcanic ash hazards, transition from magnetic North to true North and security concerns in regard to chemical, biological and radioactive (CBR) threats.

Carrying Dangerous Goods on Airlines

Members of IFALPA recently discussed draft guidance material with Flight Operations, Dangerous Goods, and Airworthiness experts, to assist with risk assessments on hazards within a cargo compartment.

Members suggested that these guidelines should become mandatory for airlines in 2020.

The guidance is designed to help regulators oversee risk assessments that airlines perform to ensure cargo, mail, passenger baggage, and other cargo compartment contents are carried safely

Accident Investigation

The Accident Investigation Panel (AIGP) discussed several topics including accident investigations involving Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and Commercial Space Transportation investigations.

Another area of focus related to concerns over the protection of flight data being shared via the digital storage “cloud”. Guidance material on new ICAO provisions relating to Flight Crew Machine Interface Recordings are currently being developed.

Separation and Airspace Safety Panel (SASP)

The SASP is looking into several proposed reductions in separation such as Advanced Surveillance Enhanced Procedural Separation (ASEPS) and also revised contingency procedures for Oceanic airspace.

In addition to finalising the proposed amendments to Procedures for Air Navigation Services Air Traffic Management (PANS-ATM), guidance material is being developed for the implementation of these changes in the form of information circulars.

The Panel is also looking at the status of space-based ADS-B, high altitude balloons, commercial space launch and re-entry operations.

Electronic Personnel Licence Task Force (EPL-TF)

Twenty-seven participants from ICAO states and international organisations recently attended the first meeting of the Electronic Personnel Licence Task Force (EPL-TF).

The task force discussed some of the challenges that need to be addressed including cyber security, mutual recognition and privacy protection.

IFALPA will remain involved in the work of the EPL-TF through to the development of ICAO Annex 1 (Licensing) provisions and the related Guidance Material. When this becomes a reality IFALPA plans to publish a briefing leaflet on the topic for member associations.

The Safety Management Panel (SMP) Working Group

IFALPA has recently submitted a generic Flight Data Analysis Programme (FDAP) Agreement for consideration on data collection.