Policy and Standardization
Safety Monitoring
Implementation
New and Emerging Activities
Emergency Response
Technical Cooperation and Assistance Projects (TCB)
New and Emerging Activities
Cargo Safety — Ban on Lithium Metal Batteries on Board Passenger Aircraft
New safety requirements forbidding the transport of lithium metal batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft, unless an exemption is granted by all States concerned (States of Origin, Operator, Transit, Overflight and Destination), were developed for inclusion in the 2015-2016 Edition of the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284). The prohibition addresses risks associated with the potential for damaged or improperly packaged, handled, designed or manufactured lithium batteries to overheat and lead to a fire. It also addresses the ineffectiveness of halon, the fire suppressant agent commonly used in cargo compartments equipped with smoke or fire detection systems and built-in fire suppression systems, to control a lithium metal fire. Background information can be found in the reports of the Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP), the Second DGP Working Group Meeting on Lithium Batteries, and the First and Second International Multidisciplinary Lithium Battery Transport Coordination Meetings. These reports are available on the DGP website at http://www.icao.int/safety/DangerousGoods/Pages/DGP.aspx.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)
Demand for use of RPAS continues to grow dramatically around the globe. Regulatory authorities and air navigation services providers are facing increasing pressure from RPAS operators for access to airspace, while manufacturers and related industries are demanding clear regulations for certification and operation.
In consideration of this situation, the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Panel (RPASP) was established and held its first meeting in November. The RPASP has assumed the work programme initiated by the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Group (UASSG). The focus of the panel is to develop the regulatory framework that will facilitate access of RPA to non-segregated airspace while maintaining the existing level of safety for manned aviation.
The UASSG drafted the Manual on Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) (Doc 10019) which has been approved by the Secretary General and is available in an unedited version on the ICAO-NET. The manual will serve to educate States and industry on RPAS-related matters while SARPs are being developed.
Next Generation of Aviation Professionals
The Second Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Symposium and Exhibition, the theme of which was “Celebrate the past, prepare for the future”, was held in Montréal on 3 and 4 December in conjunction with ICAO’s celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the Chicago Convention. The symposium, which was attended by 327 participants from 58 Member States and ten international organizations, including hundreds of young potential next-generation aviation professionals, provided participants with opportunities to share information relating to best practices and educational tools. Aviation human capital executives also explored selection and recruitment processes and important linkages to the development of agreed global competencies for specific international aviation professions.
