proposal on hold

Pacific Unified Airspace proposal on hold

A PROPOSAL for a Pacific Unified Air space management jL, will not be considered until key issues involved in the process are studied.

This was one of the decisions made by the Forum civil aviation ministeri al meeting in Nadi, Fiji last month.

The ministers considered a report, proposing a Pacific Upper Airspace Management organisation, which con firmed the benefits to be gained from a unified air traffic management sys tem.

But they decided that further con sideration of key issues was needed before a specific proposal for manage ment of a unified upper airspace in the Forum region could be considered.

To do this, the ministers requested that a working group be set up to address the outstanding issues and report back by July 2000.

In the meantime, the ministers resolved that, where appropriate, for mal arrangements needed to be estab lished between Forum Island Coun tries and air traffic service providers to address some of the anomalies that currently exist.

They further directed that arrange ments be implemented where the value of the contribution of Forum Island Countries to overflight services be established and recompensed. The ministers said that these arrangements should be included as part of any future arrangements for the coopera tive management of a unified upper airspace.

The ministers recommitted them selves to enhancing competitiveness within the aviation sector and their national economies. In particular, they

Aviation ministers confirm benefits to be gained from unified airspace but decide further consideration of key issues needed before a specific management proposal can be considered

agreed that there was a pressing need to facilitate air services on the east-west axis of the region in order to encourage multi-destination tourism.

They also agreed that the develop ment of an internal market may help FIC airlines become more competitive.

However, given the realities of smallness and vulnerability in the region, they agreed a gradual approach to liberalisation was desirable and could be based on the differential liber alisation of market segments, aviation freedom rights and on spreading the adjustment over a number of years.

It was further agreed that countries would proceed with drafting a Forum Island Country multi-lateral single avi ation market agreement so that mem bers could fully consider the implica tions.

The draft multi-lateral agreement would contain provisions that address

the concerns of member states includ ing the need for an adequate phase-in period; competition/dispute resolution and safeguards as well as ownership and control of airlines operating within a Forum Island Country single aviation market.

The Forum aviation officials will consider a draft agreement in the sec ond half of 2000 before making recom mendations to aviation ministers and the Forum.

Last month’s meeting was to review the progress in implementing the 1998 Forum Civil Aviation Action Plan.

The ministers considered a number of reports from officials that had been prepared over the last year examining the issues involved in achieving a uni fied airspace; effective safety oversight and liberalisation of air services.

They recognised the need to contin ually improve aviation safety oversight and regulations in line with the Interna tional Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) safety oversight programme.

In a joint statement released after the meeting, they said that further discus sion and dialogue was needed on the establishment of a collaborative safety oversight programme.

They said that an effective regional safety oversight programme had to be based on ICAO’s agreed principles of collaboration.

The Steering Committee will contin ue investigating the options in associa tion with ICAO and submit recommen dations for alternative mechanisms within twelve months.

The next ministerial meeting is in Apia, Samoa next year to again review progress in the implementation of the Aviation Action Plan and make further recommendations. ■