aircraft1

The United Nations (UN)’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has unveiled plans to create a senior-level task force to tackle the civil aviation and national security aspects.

The task force will comprise state and industry experts, and deal with security aspects, especially on how information can be effectively collected and disseminated.

The move follows the Malaysia Airlines plane crash over Ukraine that killed 298 passengers on-board, earlier this month.

ICAO, the airline industry and other aviation groups said in a statement: "The downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 is unacceptable.

"We recognise the essential need for information and intelligence that might affect the safety of our passengers and crew.

"This is a highly complex and politically sensitive area of international coordination, involving not only civil aviation regulations and procedures but also State national security and intelligence gathering activities."

The parties have agreed that the ICAO plays a key role in working with the aviation industry and other bodies within the UN, to ensure the right information reaches the right people at the right time.

"It is essential that airlines receive clear guidance regarding threats to their passengers, crew and aircraft."

The ICAO was also called on to tackle fail-safe channels for threat information to be made available to civil aviation authorities, and the need to incorporate into international law, measures to rule the design, manufacture and deployment of anti-aircraft weaponry.

International Air Transport Association director general and CEO Tony Tyler said: "It is essential that airlines receive clear guidance regarding threats to their passengers, crew and aircraft.

"Such information must be accessible in an authoritative, accurate, consistent, and unequivocal way. This is the responsibility of States. There can be no excuses.

"Even sensitive information can be sanitised and still remain operationally relevant."

ICAO is set to conduct a high-level safety conference with its 191 member states in February 2015.

Image: The task force will deal with security aspects such as how information can be effectively collected and disseminated Photo: courtesy of Suzanne T.

Defence Technology