The Presidency of ICAO and what it portends for the International Aviation community and Nigeria civil aviation. Ignorance can be very expensive and destructive especially when it is allowed to permeate the political space in an international playing field where the rules and standards are universal and accolades rarely given to the undeserving. The aviation industry is one such where mediocrity can be disastrous and complements are hard to come by as the exacting standards that need to be maintained are unforgiving in the least and often times fatal when they are ignored or sidetracked for less than honorable considerations. Having said that , it is necessary to state that the United Nations body The ICAO or International Civil Aviation Organization is the global forum for civil aviation. ICAO works to achieve its vision of safe, secure and sustainable development of civil aviation through the cooperation of its Member States. The main focus is Safety, Security and Sustainable development of Civil aviation in all its member states and through their cooperation. The functions : It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. The ICAO Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, its infrastructure, flight inspection, prevention of unlawful interference, and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation. ICAO defines the protocols for air accident investigation followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). The Air Navigation Commission (ANC) is the technical body within ICAO. The Commission is composed of 19 Commissioners, nominated by the ICAOs contracting states, and appointed by the ICAO Council. Commissioners serve as independent experts, who although nominated by their states, do not serve as state or political representatives. The development of Aviation Standards and Recommended Practices is done under the direction of the ANC through the formal process of ICAO Panels. Once approved by the Commission, standards are sent to the Council, the political body of ICAO, for consultation and coordination with the Member States before final adoption. The council has 192 members with most countries of the world represented but its instructive to note that Nigeria is in a very crucial position in the governing council of the ICAO. This is in addition to now Presiding over the council with election of Dr Aliu, a significant elevation not just administratively but a testament to the transformation going on in the aviation sector, improving standards, safety and infrastructure , an effort which is not lost on the discerning minds of the experts and aviation professionals world wide. Nigeria belongs to the states which make the largest contribution to the provisions of facilities for international civil air navigation, a vital component to achieving improved air safety. The Governing Council is elected every 3 years and consists of 36 members divided into 3 categories. The present Council was elected on October 1, 2013 at the 38th Assembly of ICAO at Montreal. The Structure of present Council is as follows: PART I – (States of chief importance in air transport) – Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States. All of them have been re-elected. PART II – (States which make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for international civil air navigation) – Argentina, Egypt, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain and Venezuela. Except Norway, Portugal and Venezuela, all others have been re-elected. PART III– (States ensuring geographic representation)- Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Libya, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Poland, Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates and United Republic of Tanzania. Bolivia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Libya, Nicaragua, Poland and United Republic of Tanzania have been elected for the first time. The Council has numerous functions, notable among which are to submit annual reports to the Assembly; carry out the directions of the Assembly; and discharge the duties and obligations which are laid on it by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944). It also administers the finances of ICAO; appoints and defines the duties of the Air Transport Committee, as well as the Committee on Joint Support of Air Navigation Services, the Finance Committee, the Committee on Unlawful Interference, the Technical Co-operation Committee and the Human Resources Committee. It appoints the Members of the Air Navigation Commission and it elects the members of the Edward Warner Award Committee. Another key function of the Council is to appoint the Secretary General. As one of the two governing bodies of ICAO, the Council gives continuing direction to the work of ICAO. In this regard, one of its major duties is to adopt international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and to incorporate these as Annexes to the Chicago Convention. The Council may also amend existing Annexes as necessary. On occasion, the Council may act as an arbiter between Member States on matters concerning aviation and the implementation of the provisions of the Convention; it may investigate any situation which presents avoidable obstacles to the development of international air navigation and, in general, it may take necessary steps to maintain the safety and regularity of international air transport. Certainly for nomination into the council, this is a tacit acknowledgement of the processes and procedures being undertaken by the nations aviation ministry to improve safety and security in civil aviation in the country which is still on going but more than that , the unanimous election of Dr Aliu to head the council for a re-electable 3year term would not only impact the nations aviation space positively in all the 3 key focal points of the ICAO but is a resounding testament that Nigerias reforms and activities aimed at improving vital indices in the industry locally is bearing fruit, especially in an industry as this where standards are internationally and universally set, maintained , appraised and sustained. That the Presidency of ICAO would mean better days in an already improved aviation sector locally is a no brainer, what with the various functions and capabilities of the international body which would be distilled more into the local space to give improved overall safety and standards. We can safely say that better days are in the horizon for the aviation industry in Nigeria which is already CATEGORY 1 STATUS since Abuja, 23 August 2010. Nigeria had achieved a Category 1 air safety rating from the U.S. Government under the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. This means that Nigeria complies with international air safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance. U.S. Ambassador Dr. Robin R. Sanders officially notified and formally congratulated Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at a brief ceremony in Abuja. The Ambassador said, This achievement is an important milestone for Nigeria and U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relations. It is only fitting that this coveted Category 1 rating comes at the dawn of the nations year of Golden Jubilee. The U.s. Mission, NCAA, and FAA have worked together as a team in the true spirit of bilateral partnership over the last two years to achieve this goal. Hats off to everyone for a job well-done and a rating well-deserved. The FAAs International Aviation Safety Assessment Category 1 rating is based on the results of a July FAA review of the NCAA. With the IASA Category 1 rating, Nigerian air carriers can now apply to operate to the United States with their own aircraft. An IASA Category 1 rating means a country has the laws and regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, and that its civil aviation authority equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters meets international standards for technical expertise, trained personnel, recordkeeping, and inspection procedures. The train is already moving and indeed better days are ahead.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 09:34:56 +0000
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