Presentation by
Enobong Otoyo
INTRODUCTION
Aviation, being a global business, is governed by international regulations. These regulations are formulated, administered and monitored by international agencies and organizations created for that purpose. This presentation examines some of these agencies and organizations along with their roles in civil aviation.
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION (ICAO)
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations agency, established to help countries share their skies to their mutual benefit. ICAO assists the 193 Contracting States to the Chicago Convention as they cooperate to adopt standards, practices, and policies for international civilian flights. Industry and civil society groups, in addition to relevant multilateral organizations, contribute importantly to these ICAO outcomes as ‘Invited Organizations’.
The ICAO Secretariat is funded and directed by States to provide technical, legal, and administrative support for their air transport cooperation. It also develops programs, guidance materials, and closely integrated auditing, training, and implementation support initiatives to help countries benefit and prosper from their improved compliance with global norms.
The result of these combined multilateral efforts by States and ICAO is the worldwide alignment of air regulations and procedures, and a truly global aviation network to connect and unite the world.
FUNCTIONS
🔹 Define protocols for air accident investigation.
🔹 Supervise standards and practices for international civil aviation.
🔹Prevent unlawful interference, and facilitates border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation.
🔹 Maintain an administrative and expert bureaucracy (the ICAO Secretariat) to support diplomatic interactions.
🔹 Research new air transport policy and standardized innovations as directed and endorsed by governments through the ICAO Assembly, or by the ICAO Council which the assembly elects.
INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA)
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association of the world’s airlines founded in 1945. In addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organizes tariff conferences that serves as a forum for price fixing. Consisting, in 2023, of 300 airlines, primarily major carriers, representing 117 countries, the IATA’s member airlines account for carrying approximately 83% of total available seat miles air traffic.
IATA supports airline activity and helps formulate industry policy and standards. It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada with executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland.
FUNCTIONS
👉 provide a good and efficient service for both passengers and airline companies.
👉 provide specialty in high speed, eligibility, safety, productivity.
👉 work through a membership program, using seminars and meetings organized at specific periods to resolve various issues of member countries.
👉 define the standards of air transportation.
👉 create a fair competition among airline companies.
👉 designate the cargo transportation procedures.
👉 define the standards for terminal designs and its management.
👉 take up a role in the standardization process of the utilized equipment.
AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL (ACI)
Airports Council International (ACI) is an organization of airport authorities aimed at unifying industry practices for airport standards. Established in 1991, its headquarters are based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and its members operate nearly 2000 airports.
Major programs include Safety Enhancement and Airport Service Quality Awards, based on passenger satisfaction ratings. Other initiatives cover economics, operational security, carbon accreditation and passenger transportation. Next Experience in Travel and Technologies (NEXTT) coordinates the movement of passengers, cargo, baggage and aircraft by using processing technology and interactive decision-making.
FUNCTIONS
ACI World contributes to the safety, security, and sustainability of the global aviation industry by advancing the collective interests of airports and the communities they serve and by promoting excellence in airport management and operations.
These, ACI achieves by:
🔸promoting industry excellence, providing members with innovative tools and expertise;
🔸 supporting the capacity of airports to provide safe, secure air transportation;
🔸 representing the interests of airports to international and national policymakers;
🔸 fostering collaboration between airports, governments, industry stakeholders, and international organizations;
🔸 maximizing cooperation and assistance between airports; and
🔸 increasing public awareness of the social and economic importance of airports.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the agency of the United States Department of Transportation responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation within the U.S., as well as operation and development of the National Airspace System. Its primary mission is to ensure safety of civil aviation.
The FAA was created on August 23, 1958, and replaced the former Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA). Later, it became an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters.
Its powers include air traffic control, certification of personnel and aircraft, setting standards for airports, and protection of U.S. assets during the launch or re-entry of commercial space vehicles. Powers over neighboring international waters were delegated to the FAA by authority of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Along with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), FAA is one of the two main agencies world-wide responsible for the certification of aircrafts. The Headquarters of the FAA is in Washington, D.C.
FUNCTIONS
- regulating civil aviation to promote safety within the U.S. and abroad;
- encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology;
- developing and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft;
- researching and developing the National Airspace System and civil aeronautics;
- developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation;
- regulating air navigation facilities’ geometric and flight inspection standards;
- issuing, suspending, or revoking pilot certificates;
- regulating civil aviation to promote transportation safety in the United States, especially through local offices called Flight Standards District Offices;
- regulating U.S. commercial space transportation.
CIVIL AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES ORGANISATION (CANSO)
Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) is a representative body of companies that provide air traffic control. It represents the interests of Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). CANSO Members are responsible for supporting over 85% of the world’s air traffic. Through its workgroups, members share information and develop new policies, with the aim of improving air navigation services on the ground and in the air. CANSO also represents its members’ views in regulatory and industry forums, including at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), where it has official Observer Status.
FUNCTION
To create value for its members by being the global and regional voice of ATM and by facilitating and supporting improvements in global and regional ATM performance.
EUROPEAN CIVIL AVIATION CONFERENCE (ECAC)
The European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) is an international organization of States which was formed with the assistance and involvement of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and held its inaugural session in Strasbourg in 1955. The 18 Founder Members have since been joined by many others, and now total 44. The Conference has working relationships with other key European organizations which have aviation sector interests and responsibilities including European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and EUROCONTROL.
ECAC was founded to “promote the continued development of a safe, efficient and sustainable European air transport system by harmonizing civil aviation policies and practices amongst its Member States and promoting understanding on policy matters between its Member States and other parts of the world”. ECAC agrees and issues resolutions, recommendations and policy statements which are brought into effect by its Member States. Under its auspices, international agreements have been concluded.
FUNCTIONS
🔹serve as a unique European forum for discussion of every major civil aviation topic;
🔹make pragmatic and cooperative arrangements to engage other international organizations;
🔹work closely and cooperatively with other regional organizations and individual Partner States on a range of civil aviation issues of common interest, including safety, security, facilitation and the environment;
🔹conduct, at regular intervals, international conferences, workshops, seminars and training events.
EUROPEAN UNION AVIATION SAFETY AGENCY (EASA)
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Union established in 2002 by Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European parliament and the Council in order to ensure a high and uniform level of safety in civil aviation, by the implementation of common safety rules and measures.
EASA has taken over the responsibilities of the former Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) System which ceased on 30th June 2009. However, it is not a successor agency in legal terms since it functions directly under EU statute. The main difference between EASA and the JAA is that EASA is a Regulatory Authority which uses NAAs (National Aviation Authority) to implement its Regulations whereas the JAA relied upon the participating NAAs to apply its harmonized codes, without having any force of law at source. Since it is self evidently impossible to create a new Regulatory System ‘overnight,’ EASA has had to accept large parts of the JAA system as its own whilst it developed the new harmonized system required under EU statute.
FUNCTIONS
👉 give expert advice to the EU on drafting the new legislation;
👉develop, implement, and monitor safety rules, including inspections in the Member States;
👉type-certification of aircraft and components, as well as the approval of organizations involved in the design, manufacture and maintenance of aeronautical products;
👉 certify personnel and organizations involved in aircraft operations;
👉 certify organizations providing pan-European ATM/ANS services;
👉 safely analyze and research, including publication of an Annual Safety Review;
👉 draw up common standards to ensure the highest possible levels of safety and environmental protection; and
👉 promote the spread of standards worldwide.
SITA (SOCIÉTÉ INTERNATIONALE DE TÉLÉCOMMUNICATION AÉRONAUTIQUES)
Originally known as the Société Internationale de Télécommunication Aéronautiques, the Company no longer uses that long name and is now known simply as SITA. SITA is a multinational information technology company providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry. The company provides its services to around 400 members and 2,500 customers worldwide, which it claims is about 90% of the world’s airline business. Around the world, nearly every passenger flight relies on SITA technology.
Founded in 1949 with her headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, some of her services include: Airport Operations, Baggage Processing, Passenger Processing, Border Management, Communications Services, Data Services, Cockpit Communications and Aircraft Operations, Cabin Communications, Cargo Operations, etc.
CONCLUSION
Clearly, the role of these international agencies in the formulation of industry policies, administration, and monitoring is invaluable. However, this presentation has not exhausted the list of industry-related international agencies. Therefore, further reading and research is recommended.
REFERENCES
- www.icao.int
- www.iata.org
- aci.aero
- canso.org
- www.wikipedia.org
