Security
Global Aviation Security Plan
The Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP) replaces the ICAO Comprehensive Aviation Security Strategy (ICASS). The shift from an ICAO-focused strategy to an ambitious goal-based plan that commits ICAO, States and industry collectively to significantly improve aviation security by 2030, is consistent with the direction provided by the 39th Session of the ICAO Assembly.
Efforts to raise global awareness of the GASeP in 2018 included regional events in Portugal and in Panama. All ICAO Regions now have their unique “regional roadmaps” promoting shared accountability for regional priorities, taking into account regional challenges, the threat and risk picture and regional mechanisms. These successful events helped inform the Second High-level Conference on Aviation Security, held in Montréal, Canada in November 2018, which strongly supported the GASeP. The Conference also took note of the regional roadmaps and global initiatives aimed at assisting States to advance work on the GASeP’s targets and formulate conclusions and recommendations to be considered by the Council in preparation for the ICAO 40th Session of the ICAO Assembly.
Developments pertaining to Annex 17 — Security
and related guidance
On 14 March 2018, the Council adopted Amendment 16 to Annex 17 —
Security and prescribed
16 November 2018 as the applicability date of the Annex amendment (C-DEC 213/8). By way of State letter
AS 8/2.1-18/45 Confidential dated 13 April 2018, States were notified of the Annex amendment, and were requested to notify compliance or differences with Amendment 16 to Annex 17. Replies were received from 80 States and two Special Administrative Regions (SARs). Sixty-one States and two SARs have reported no differences and indicated compliance.
Amendment 16 to Annex 17 includes new and revised provisions on information-sharing, measures relating to passengers and cabin baggage, measures relating to cargo, mail and other goods, and cyber threats. During the drafting of Amendment 16 to Annex 17, account was taken of possible implementation issues and the impact assessment; however, this review indicated a positive impact on the enhancement of aviation security and facilitation. In terms of cost impact, each State’s risk assessment will determine mitigation strategies to be implemented, and the overall impact on resources will depend on the threat and risk assessment and types of measures applied.
In 2018, the Tenth Edition of the ICAO
Aviation Security Manual (Doc 8973 — Restricted) was published in all remaining languages following the English version which was published in September 2017. The latest edition provides aviation security authorities with improved and up-to-date guidance to implement Annex 17 provisions, including those introduced by Amendment 16 to Annex 17.
The following new and/or updated guidance material is now available to stakeholders via the ICAO-NET, as per Electronic Bulleting EB 2018/27: the newly issued
Risk Assessment Manual for Civil Aircraft Operations Over or Near Conflict Zones (Doc 10084); and the updated
Aviation Security Manual (Doc 8973), Chapter 11 and Appendix 28 —
Recognition of Equivalence of Security Measures — One Stop Security; Appendix 3 —
Model Clause on Aviation Security; Chapter 7 —
Quality Control; and Appendix 44 —
Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Incidents.
Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP)
A total of 25 USAP Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) on-site and four documentation-based audits were conducted in 2018. In addition, an ICAO auditor participated as an observer in an Appropriate Authority Inspection conducted by a European Commission inspection team.
Over the course of 2018, three USAP-CMA seminar-workshops were conducted in Kiev (Ukraine), Nairobi (Kenya) and Cairo (Egypt) in order to familiarize States with the USAP-CMA process and methodology, and with the various types of audit and monitoring activities. A USAP-CMA auditor training course was delivered in Trinidad and Tobago from June to July, during which 13 new auditors were certified and one existing auditor was recertified, representing 11 Member States.
During 2018, eight preliminary Significant Security Concerns (SSeCs) were identified in four States. Of these, one SSeC was addressed by the State concerned, with the assistance of ICAO, prior to being published on the USAP secure portal. Meanwhile, one other State was able to satisfactorily mitigate their outstanding SSeC. Thirteen unresolved SSeCs in five States remain posted on the USAP site.
In 2018, the Secretariat continued the review of the USAP-CMA, its objective and methodology, in consultation with the Secretariat Study Group (SSG) on the USAP. The results of this exercise, together with the associated recommendations, the action plan developed to address the recommendations, and additional information regarding the evolution of the USAP-CMA, will be presented to the 217th Session of the Council for onward presentation to the 40th Session of the ICAO Assembly in 2019.
Legal issues relating to unruly passengers
AVSEC Week 2018
ICAO’s AVSEC Week at ICAO Headquarters began with an Industry Engagement Day, followed by the Second Global Aviation Security Symposium (AVSEC2018), where over 700 industry, academic and government experts collectively addressed security innovation and implementation priorities. ICAO’s Second High-level Conference on Aviation Security (HLCAS/2) ensued, where over 500 delegates representing 107 Member States and
22 international organizations finalized the recommendations for new security Standards and strategies.
