EUROPEAN AVIATION SECTOR KEY ISSUES

1. Safety: The role of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in the field of safety. Co-ordination undertaken ahead of ICAO and other major international conferences, symposia, etc., to enable the European States to present co-ordinated and effective contributions and influence global safety outcomes (European Commission, EUROCONTROL and EASA. The second area of safety engagement is on the investigation of aviation accidents and serious incidents, a fundamentally important element to enhance aviation safety and prevent the repetition of such occurrences. Ensuring the exchange of information and good practices among the investigators’ community. Social communications associated with the air accident investigation process.

2. Security: Ensuring security measures are in place at national and airport level in addition to specific measures for securing airports, aircraft, passengers, cabin baggage, hold baggage, cargo and mail, in-flight supplies and airport supplies. Provisions on in-flight security, ATM and cyber security and the management of threats and hijackings. Co-ordinated and effective contributions to global security discussions. Security audits, vulnerability assessments and capacity building activities.

3. Facilitation: Improving the passengers’ experience and facilitating legitimate trade. Activities in the field of facilitation focus on immigration matters and handling of persons with reduced mobility (PRMs). Air cargo transport, health issues and other related topics are also part of  facilitation. Facilitation aspects of immigration issues and best practices on border control procedures and implementation matters (e.g. inadmissible passengers and deportees, air carrier liability, etc.).

4. Aviation and the Environment: Environmental impacts of the aviation sector must be mitigated if aviation is to continue to be successful as an important facilitator of economic growth and prosperity. Abatement of Nuisances Caused by Air Transport (ANCAT);  Aircraft noise; Inter-relationships between the different technical, environmental and economic factors that affect aviation and its environmental impacts; Aviation and climate change.

5. Economic Matters: Promotion of an economically efficient, sustainable and competitive European air transport sector: Economic issues of common interest to the aviation community.

6. Legal matters: Legal questions and proposals for the solution of legal issues

7. External Relations: Establishment of a framework of relations and dialogue with external partners, including major emerging aviation States: Promoting European positions and priorities at ICAO, ensuring that they are well represented; Promoting those positions and priorities similarly at other major international events; Learning from and influencings elected major aviation States and regional organisations.

8. Training: Training for safe, secure and green air transport in Europe. Promoting training for own staff and for staff of industry stakeholders (airport operators, ground handling agents, air carriers, cargo agents, etc.) to reach significant progress in terms of the delivery of satisfactory safety and security standards; Developing competency-based training for positions requiring a licence such as pilot; Establishment of an aviation culture in Europe with the objective to ensure that a uniform level of training achieved by the various entities developing and delivering training programmes; Fostering mutual recognition by establishing a common reference framework including minimum qualifications in order to facilitate the mutual recognition of competencies and qualifications, and subsequently, the mobility of people working in aviation within Europe; Anticipating new and emerging needs as a result of new regulations, new technologies or new systems.