The recommendations and technical guidance provided by CART aims to address the specific
needs and challenges of stakeholders in the aviation industry to facilitate restart and recovery. Industrywide and international cross-sectorial cooperation has been a fundamental component in the development
of harmonized, cohesive and comprehensible guidance. Accordingly, the guidance provided in the TOGD
and the Manual is therefore consistent with, or can feed into, the ongoing work and frameworks of United
Nations’ organizations, especially the WHO, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), as well as other
partner organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Aviation safety-related measures. Differences for temporary departures from ICAO
Standards filed under the COVID-19 Contingency Related Differences (CCRD), or any other COVID-19-
related regulatory alleviations granted by States, were intended to be temporary in nature. Prolonged
differences and alleviations, such as those related to personnel certification and licensing, could result in an
elevated operational safety risk. On 23 December 2020, State letter 20/136 was issued to request States to
plan a transition back to normal compliance, i.e. not to extend alleviations (both core and extended CCRDs)
beyond 31 March 2021, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
In light of the unexpected duration and magnitude of the crisis, it has been acknowledged that
a number of States still require alleviations to enable service providers and personnel to maintain the validity
of their certificates, licenses, and other approvals during the pandemic. To support these States in the
transition to normal operations and, if necessary, in the event of unforeseeable circumstances, a new
Targeted Exemptions (TE) system will be launched, replacing the CCRD system from 1 April 2021 with
a three-month transition period. Only the “approval to operate” information submitted by States to the
CCRD will be migrated to the TE system. States that have issued alleviations with temporary differences
are encouraged to return to normal operations as soon as possible, and if circumstances do not allow them
to do so, to enter their targeted exemptions into the TE system.
The TE system will remain operational for at least one year with the view that States should
resume international operations without exemptions as soon as possible. A least a three-month advance
notice will be provided before the system is closed down. The need for the TE system will be assessed using
the COVID-19 Alleviation Status Dashboard and by continuously monitoring of operational safety risks
reported by States.
States are strongly encouraged to refer their operators to the ICAO Operational SafetyMeasures and the Roadmap to OPS Normal websites for up-to-date guidance on safe and orderly
resumption of flight operations. The website contains links to guidance documents developed by ICAO,
Airports Council International (ACI), Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), International
Air Transport Association (IATA), International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations
(ICCAIA), and others.
Recommendation 12 (Revised)
Member States should plan to put in place the necessary measures
to mitigate risks associated with prolonged regulatory alleviations,
and to avoid extending alleviations (both core and extended
COVID-19 Contingency Related Differences (CCRDs)) beyond
31 March 2021. States that are in need of alternative actions to
enable service providers and personnel to maintain the validity of
their certificates, licenses, and other approvals during the
COVID-19 pandemic should use the Targeted Exemptions (TE)
system from 1 April 2021. In addition, States are encouraged to
facilitate cross-border access to medical and training facilities,
including flight simulation training devices used for flight crew
(national and foreign) and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) to
maintain their certifications, recency of experience, and
proficiency.
Implementation of Public Health Corridors (PHCs): States are strongly encouraged to
consider PHCs as a useful way to structure a collaborative approach to managing cross-border health risks.
For example, exchange of information through PHCs will enable States to mutually recognize their
respective public health risk management frameworks and to establish temporary and exceptional bilateral
or multilateral arrangements within which air travel can be resumed. To support States in the establishment
of PHCs, ICAO has developed: a) targeted assistance in the ICAO Implementation Package (iPack); b)
general tools published on the ICAO PHC Website; and c) a new App featuring a PHC arrangement
template and online builder to facilitate discussions between two or more States and/or a region.
Recommendation 14 (Revised)
States considering the formation of a Public Health Corridor
(PHC) should actively share information with each other to
implement PHCs in a harmonized manner. To facilitate the
implementation, the ICAO Implementation Package (iPack) on
establishing a PHC is available to States, in addition to PHC-specific tools published on the ICAO website and the App
providing a template PHC arrangement between States.
COVID-19 vaccine safe, quick and efficient transport by air. Vaccination is a key element
in efforts to overcome the public health crisis and to enable the recovery of economies worldwide. In this
regard, the aviation industry is playing a vital role in ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines and other essential
medical supplies are transported safely and quickly around the world as an integral part of a complex multimodal supply chain. States should be aware of the challenges that may slow the distribution of COVID-19
vaccines, especially those linked with the significant increase in the volume of vaccines to be transported
worldwide on a timely basis despite reduced air connectivity.
Specific areas related to the transport of vaccines on commercial aircraft require attention and
action by pharmaceutical manufacturers, operators and regulators. The amendments to the Technical
Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284; Addenda Nos. 1 and 2)
were
made to ensure that these vaccines will be safely accepted, handled and transported. The transport of
vaccines must comply with the detailed provisions of the Technical Instructions when the vaccines are
classified as dangerous goods, or the vaccines are shipped with dry ice as a refrigerant, or data loggers and
cargo tracking devices powered by lithium batteries are included in packages or attached to packages or
overpacks. The amount of dry ice needed to transport vaccines may exceed limits currently specified for an
aircraft type. Guidance on increasing these limits is contained in the safe transport of COVID-19 vaccineson commercial aircraft website. In addition, a specific allowance permits alcohol-based sanitizers and
alcohol-based cleaning products to be carried aboard an aircraft for use during the flight or series of flights
for the purposes of passenger and crew hygiene.
Recommendation 15
Member States are urged to implement Addenda Nos. 1 and 2 to
the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous
Goods by Air (Doc 9284) without delay in order to facilitate the
transport of COVID-19 vaccines and to permit certain dangerous
goods to be carried on board aircraft to provide for a safe, sanitary
operating environment for passengers and crew. If any State
wishes to be more restrictive, they are reminded of their obligation
to file a State variation to the Technical Instructions.
To ensure sufficient air cargo capacity during the pandemic, exceptional measures for lifting
restrictions of air cargo operations have been introduced by certain States, for example, granting temporary
“Seventh Freedom” traffic rights for all-cargo operations. While noting the importance to facilitate essential
air cargo operations and help reduce additional costs, introduction of such measures should be in line with
overall risk management strategy of the State.
Recommendation 16
Member States are encouraged to consider the temporary lifting of
restrictions to air cargo operations, including but not limited to granting extra-bilateral rights, in particular for all-cargo services,
to foreign airlines to facilitate the transportation of essential goods,
supplies and COVID-19 vaccines.
Globally accepted and verifiable testing certificates for air travel. Many States require
pre-departure testing for COVID-19 as an entry requirement. ICAO has established a minimum dataset for
testing certificates to facilitate States’ recognition and harmonization of their use for air travel. These data
sets are provided in the Manual (Doc 10152).
The solutions adopted for the verification of certificates should be secure, trustworthy
verifiable, convenient to use, compliant with data protection legislation and internationally/globally
interoperable. ICAO is developing a solution based on Doc 9303 – Machine Readable Travel Documents
specifications, incorporating the concept of Visible Digital Seals (VDS). Other solutions and trials on
mutually recognised travel and health certificates are also being conducted by the IATA (Travel Pass), World
Economic Forum (WEF)/The Commons Project (CommonPass), the ICC (AOK) and others using existing
solutions. The OECD is developing a blueprint for the verification of testing certificates in line with the
ICAO recommendations.
Recommendation 17
Member States should implement testing certificates based on the
protocol, minimum dataset and implementation approaches
outlined in the Manual on Testing and Cross-Border Risk
Management Measures (Doc 10152) to facilitate air travel. States
are encouraged to request evidence of testing that is secure,
trustworthy, verifiable, convenient to use, compliant with data
protection legislation and internationally/globally interoperable.
Existing solutions should be considered and could incorporate a
visible digital seal. This may be applicable to vaccination
certificates.
Vaccination. The WHO recommends that vaccination should not be a pre-condition for air
travel. Vaccination may play an important role in aviation recovery as the vaccinated proportion of the
global population increases over time. States are encouraged to recognize aircrew, front-line aviation
workers and aviation workers in critical safety and security positions as essential workers to ensure the
availability of air transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. They should be encouraged to be
vaccinated as an added layer of individual protection and follow the recommended vaccination
considerations and protocols as outlined in the Manual (Doc 10152). States should facilitate the vaccination
of these essential air transport workers in accordance with the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts
on Immunization (SAGE) Stage III recommendations, and as quickly as possible for air crew within these
recommendations. At such time as evidence shows that vaccinated persons would not transmit the SARSCoV-2 virus or would present a reduced risk of transmitting the virus, such individuals may be exempted
from testing and/or quarantine measures, in accordance with a State’s accepted risk threshold, national
framework, the COVID-19 situation and the multilayered risk mitigation framework described in the TOGD.
Recommendation 18
Member States should facilitate access for air crew to vaccination
as quickly as possible within the World Health Organization(WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization(SAGE) Stage III recommendations .
Recommendation 19
Vaccination should not be a prerequisite for international travel. If
and at such time as evidence shows that vaccinated persons would
not transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus or would present a reduced
risk of transmitting the virus, Member States could consider
exempting such persons from testing and/or quarantine measures,
in accordance with a State’s accepted risk threshold, national
framework, the COVID-19 situation and the multilayered risk
mitigation framework described in the Take-off: Guidance for Air
Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis.
Communication and advocacy strategy. In meeting the enormous challenges of the
COVID-19 crisis, governments face diverging and competing requests from different ministries and/or
authorities. Consequently, the immediate response prioritizes public health measures and those aimed at
limiting the overall impact on the economy, rather than the recovery of specific sectors such as aviation and
tourism. Travel restrictions are a clear demonstration of the efforts being made to curb the virus
notwithstanding the potential negative impacts on aviation and its contribution to the economic recovery.
However, as a State prepares for recovery from the pandemic, it is important that authorities responsible
for civil aviation ensure that key decision makers across government are aware of the value of the guidance
contained in the TOGD and the Manual. As the context of the crisis changes, active engagement with the
relevant national coordinating bodies and government agencies is required to make the guidance available
in the decision-making processes for possible incorporation into the State’s risk management strategy for
national recovery planning.
Recommendation 20
Member States should ensure that ICAO’s CART guidance is
taken into consideration by the wider State administration in the
decision-making processes on national recovery planning.
