Can Safer Skies (Canada, Netherlands & ICAO) end the scourge of civil airliners being shot down?
A high level international conference, the third Safer Skies Forum, was recently convened by Canada, the Netherlands and ICAO. The focus was the MITIGATION OF AIRSPACE RISKS OVER OR NEAR CONFLICT ZONES. Participants includedexpert partners from states, international organizations, and the civil aviation industry. This event is another in a series of well-intentioned efforts in a long line of ICAO attempts to deter and then avoid these tragedies.
The history of civil airliners being shot down is long (first in 1938) and tragic (even the US has unclean hands). In response to the KAL 007 crash, ICAO held an emergency meeting at which an amendment to Annex 13 (13 biz) was put into effect to try1 to avoid a repetition of these tragedies. In 2014 after the destruction of MH17, ICAO established a conflict zone risk information repository.
Five years thereafter, the following concerns were expressed:
The policy involves the constantly changing confluence of
- highly sensitive security intelligence,
- the vagaries of diplomacy,
- the level of security clearance assigned to airlines (particularly “national” carriers) and
- concerns about the ability of an airline to retain the critical warning without being disclosed.
Those factors likely were the reason why the ICAO Conflict Zone website failed. The Reuters’ characterization of the current situation as being “patchy” must be based on an assumption that perfect knowledge by all carriers on a real time basis. Such a standard is unrealistic; because of the variables enumerated above.
The history of the airlines’ knowledge since MH-17 show an improving, yet imperfect track:
ICAO Must Respond NOW To The DSB MH 17 Recommendations On Air Space Risks
The Flaws Of ICAO’s Conflict Zone Information Repository Are Acknowledged
EASA Posts A Highly Credible Conflict Zones Website
Four Years After MH17, Where Is Aviation On Conflict Zones?
Dutch Reopening The MH17 Record May Have MAJOR Diplomatic Impacts
Greater Confidence In International Aviation Awareness Of CONFLICT ZONES!!!
Sadly, the best that the international aviation community can do is raise awareness and develop internal risk management tools. The immutable problem is that there are rogue organizations that care nothing about protecting innocent human beings. The UN was established to create global peace, a goal too far, so far.
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Governments of Canada and the Netherlands co-host the third annual Safer Skies Forum
From: Transport Canada
Canada and its international partners are united in their continued commitment to improve the safety of air travel over or near conflict zones since the senseless downing of MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT MH17 BY RUSSIA in July 2014 and UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FLIGHT PS752 BY IRAN in January 2020, which took the lives of all 176 innocent people on board, including 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents, and many others with ties to Canada.
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, in partnership with Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management for the Netherlands, officially opened and addressed the third Safer Skies Forum. Canada and the Netherlands are co-hosting the event, the only international forum dedicated to mitigating airspace risks over or near conflict zones. It brings together expert partners from states, international organizations, and the civil aviation industry.
The third Safer Skies Forum will include discussions on how to better protect civil aviation from the risks posed by conflict zones in a more proactive way. Participants will also share views on current issues in global aviation and the way forward for the Safer Skies Initiative.
The Safer Skies Forum is a key part of the Government of Canada’s Safer Skies Initiative, first announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in February 2020 to improve the safety of air travel worldwide. The Safer Skies Initiative commits Canada to working with international partners to address gaps in how the civil aviation sector contends with conflict zones.
During his address, Minister Alghabra announced that Canada’s working paper requesting that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) prioritize a review of the ICAO Risk Assessment Manual for Civil Aircraft Operations Over or Near Conflict Zones was universally supported at the organization’s 41st General Assembly. He also announced that the Manual was submitted to ICAO for official review in January 2023, and that a status update on the review of the document will be provided by the ICAO Secretariat at the Forum.
Quotes
“I was proud to participate virtually today in the third Safer Skies Forum and want to thank the Government of the Netherlands for hosting this year’s Forum in person in the Hague for the first time. The next two days will be an opportunity to discuss best practices to protect civil aviation operations, manage risks and keep passengers around the world safe. To safeguard the future of civil aviation, we must take proactive action. Canada is committed to the Safer Skies Initiative, and to continue collaborating with ICAO and the international civil aviation community to advance this important work.”
The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport
“It is an honour to host the third Safer Skies Forum in the Netherlands, together with Canada. Sadly, the Netherlands are only too familiar with the risks to civil aviation of flying over conflict areas, following the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014, which had 196 innocent Dutch victims on board. We recognize the importance of international collaboration to improve safety for all passengers. I am glad so many stakeholders have gathered in The Hague to address this important issue.”
Mark Harbers
Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Netherlands
Associated links
- Safer Skies Initiative
- Remarks by the Council President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, to the Opening Session of the Third Annual Safer Skies Forum
Contacts
Nadine Ramadan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
Nadine.Ramadan@tc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Transport Canada
media@tc.gc.ca
613-993-0055
