Page 39 - InterPilot 2019 Issue 4

ICAO ASSEMBLY PAGE 39

IFALPA submitted one Information Paper (IP) and was co-author of 10
Working Papers (WP) with other IOs and States. Our IP and WPs may
be accessed on the ICAO website at:
www.icao.int/Meetings/a40/Pages/WP_Presenter.aspx.

Our participation in all but the Administrative Commission yielded both
recognition and progress towards achieving our objectives.

The Economic Commission was largely an extension of the discussions
in the Air Transport Regulation Panel (ATRP) and IFALPA supported
States that were requesting reassurances with respect to foreign own-
ership of airlines.

The Executive Committee was the most contentious as this was where
discussions focusing on the environment occurred. A few large States
were voicing opposition to the previously ratified CORSIA agreement
because they had alternative plans to meet CO2 emissions targets.

Further discussions regarding ICAO’s whistle-blower policy also be-
came heated, though there was unified support to bring this standard
up to the level of other UN bodies in order to foster a non-punitive
reporting culture.

There were several papers requesting ICAO involvement to facilitate
the development of new concepts involving Autonomous Systems.
Within that grouping of papers was a proposal for single pilot/reduced
crew operations. IFALPA intervened here, stressing that “IFALPA believes
that our enviable safety record and culture is based upon two properly
rested, fully qualified, and well-trained pilots. Because reduced crew op-
erations carry significant additional risks over existing dual pilot opera-
tions, they will result in a serious reduction in flight safety. It is essential
to fully address these risks and safety shortfalls before the industry pro-
poses changes to the Standards which have built the safest transporta-
tion system in history.” The intervention also referred to IFALPA’s Infor-
mation Paper on Reduced Crew Operations that was submitted to the
Technical Commission https://www.icao.int/Meetings/a40/Documents/
WP/wp_426_en.pdf.