"ICAO, ACI collaborate on airport safety initiative"

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

ICAO, ACI collaborate on airport safety initiative
By Anne Paylor
Air Transport World


ICAO and the Airports Council International (ACI) have signed a memorandum
of cooperation (MOC) to improve safety standards at airports worldwide.
 
The MOC will support the development of the ACI Airport Excellence (APEX) in
Safety program, which is designed to help airports improve safety
performance, implement safety management systems, comply with ICAO Standards
and Recommended Practices (SARPs), and establish indicators and tools for
the reduction of safety incidents. Other objectives of the MOC include joint
technical assistance projects; the regular exchange of safety-relevant
information and data; mutual access to databases; exchanging experts and
providing training; and promoting regional cooperation.
 
ACI director general Angela Gittens said the MOC signaled “the official
start of a collaboration” to grow APEX. She explained: “Through APEX, we
help airports around the world identify and remedy safety vulnerabilities by
on-site peer reviews, information sharing, training, assistance with
implementation of management structures and the technical assistance in
applying the Standards and Recommended Practices of Annex 14. This
collaboration with ICAO takes global airport safety to the next level.”
 
APEX involves an on-site safety review conducted by the ACI Safety Review
Team. The review identifies safety gaps and defines an action plan for
addressing any vulnerabilities. The ACI will then also assist the host
airport to implement the action plan by providing support, training and
access to a global network of expertise.
 
Examples of areas covered by such a review include runway safety; safety
management systems (SMS); aerodrome certification;  wildlife hazard
management; markings, signs and lighting; rescue and firefighting; emergency
response; airside driver and vehicle management; improvement of AIP
documentation; management of ground handlers, contractual and legal issues;
low visibility procedure; obstacle management; winter operations;  FOD
management; movement area maintenance; movement area access; aerodrome works
safety; apron safety management; removal of disabled aircraft; and hazardous
material handling.
 
ICAO council president Roberto Kobeh González said: “ICAO and ACI have a
long history of cooperation. The memorandum … provides a framework for
enhanced cooperation between our two organizations and reflects ICAO’s
continuing efforts to take a more action-oriented approach to promoting
safety.”