Page 20 - InterPilot 2020 Issue 1

NEWS & NOTES PAGE 20

The Aerodrome and Ground Environment (AGE) Committee met in Algiers, Algeria at the kind invitation of
Syndicat des Pilotes de Ligne Algériens (SPLA). Eleven members from six countries joined the meeting. Recent
initiatives at ICAO were discussed, including the progress on taxiway naming conventions and developments
related to runway distance remaining signage.

Extensive discussion was held on risks of operations over remote areas and the need for aerodromes there
to be able to handle diversions and emergencies. The issued was brought up by ALPA-I who had presented
a whitepaper on risks to operations in the far north of Canada and the US. Concerns raised in the paper were
found to be equally relevant to operations in remote areas in other parts of the world. The Committee agreed
to continue working on this important topic and to raise their concerns with ICAO.

Ahead of the meeting, the second Runway Safety Team Coordinator course was hosted by SPLA. This course
brought together pilots, air traffic controllers, airport operators, and representatives from the regulators from
the region. It provided information on runway safety topics and highlighted the importance of runway safety
teams to address hazards at airports. The AGE Committee reviewed the feedback from the courses in Bangkok
and Algiers to continue to develop the material.

The elections for positions of vice-chair were held with the following results: Vice-Chair ASIA/PAC Focus
Captain Hari Ram Ganeish, Vice-Chair AFI/EUR Focus FP Sven Graßmück, and Vice-Chair NAM/SAM Focus
Captain Jeff Sedin. The next meeting will be held in Bangkok, Thailand at the invite of THAIPA in October 2020,
meeting information will be available on the IFALPA Hub as it becomes available.

Photo:
AGE Committee
Chairperson,
Captain
Heriberto
Salazar presents
a certificate of
appreciation to
SPLA President
Captain Karim
Seghouane, with
Captain Sabri
Salaa (RVP AFI/
North) and
IFALPA Technical
Officer Gordon
Margison.

In November 2019, reps from 5 Member Associations and IFALPA representatives met in Chicago,USA to
review and discuss current matters in Administration, Membership, and Finance (AMF).

The AMF Committee was briefed that the Executive Board has launched a new strategic initiative with
the working title “IFALPA NEO”, to increase the efficiency and relevance of IFALPA and grow the PGA, or
Industrial side of the Federation’s work. A Staff survey, a new approach towards increased services in Training/
Professional Development, implementation of a third director position (PGA Director), more project-based
work, and a new Conference format are just a few aspects that are currently and will be further reviewed
by different internal working groups and – where decisions by Conference are required - presented to the
2020 Conference. The implementation of these changes will go along with necessary changes to the relevant
IFALPA guidance Manuals which are to be developed before Conference.

The ALPA Japan Scholarship Fund is rarely requested. One conclusion by the Committee is that the name is
misleading and prevents potential candidates from applying. This initiative has meanwhile been taken to ALPA
Japan and the Executive Board, and a renaming will hopefully encourage more pilots to apply for a grant to
support participating in one of IFALPA’s Professional Development programs.