Secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, (ICAO), Dr. Fang Liu and the director general of Airports Council International (ACI), Angela Gittens have formalized a new agreement supporting their agencies’ future cooperation on airport training. Th e two air transport leaders signed a special memorandum of understanding covering their new training partnership, and which will see their organizations collaborating on joint airport training programmes and specifi c courses focused on airport management, airport economics, environmental protection, operational safety, security procedures, and other subjects as identifi ed.
“ICAO is strengthening its collaboration with ACI and reaffi rming its commitment to providing targeted assistance in training and human resources capacity building to ICAO Member States. This new partnership is a perfect example of what our two organizations can achieve when we join forces and capitalize on our respective strengths, and through these joint training activities we’ll be able to increase global awareness of ICAO Standards and Policies while enhancing competencies of current and future airport professionals,” said.
On her part, Gittens said the signing highlighted the alignment of both organizations regarding investment in training and succession planning, which are essential ingredients of sustainable growth. Airports need a range of skills that must be continually evaluated and refreshed, and the urgency in the aviation business is driven both by changes in market conditions as well as the signifi cant growth in global demand.
Th e MoU will build on ACI’s Global Training suite of skills development programmes in specifi c disciplines, with diploma-level courses, in the classroom, on-line or at the worksite,” she said. IATA calls governments to support production of sustainable aviation fuelsTh e International Air Transport Association (IATA) 73rd annual general meeting has approved a resolution calling for governments to implement policies to accelerate the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Th e Resolution also reaffi rmed the industry’s commitment to work with governments to implement the Carbon Off setting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) global carbon dioxide emissions agreement. “Th e CORSIA agreement is a vital part of our strategy on combating aviation emissions. We are committed to carbon neutral growth from 2020 and to cutting net emissions to half 2005 levels by 2050. While off setting is critical to managing emissions in the short-term, in the long-term we rely on clean technology improvements to achieve our goals. Sustainable aviation fuels are an integral part of our comprehensive strategy but at the moment they are not being produced in enough quantity at a competitive cost,” the director general and chief executive offi cer of IATA, said Alexandre de Juniac.
Th e Resolution calls upon governments to implement policies to accelerate the deployment of SAF, including the creation of the appropriate regulatory framework to expedite the development of production facilities. Such policies could include easier access to fi nance, including loan guarantees and capital grants, supporting demonstration plants and supply chain research and development, putting SAF on an equal footing with automotive biofuels through equivalent public incentives, and legislative certainty over an extended period of time to give investors confi dence to fi nance new production facilities.
“Drop-in alternative fuels are technically ready to go and can deliver up to 80% reduction in carbon emissions. Governments have a role in providing incentives to make SAF commercially viable, just as they do with supporting the solar power for homes or electricallypowered cars. Investing in SAF capacity will help to reduce emissions and create new opportunities for economic growth,” said de Juniac. Th e Resolution also made clear the industry’s commitment to ensuring SAF conform to robust sustainability standards. IATA plays a leading role in an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) working group which will defi ne globally-harmonized sustainability requirements for SAF in the context of the CORSIA agreement. “It is important that people are reassured that CORSIA-compliant sustainable aviation fuels will be held to the highest environmental standards. Our resolution makes clear our determination that we will only use SAF that conserve an ecological balance, and avoid the depletion of natural resources,” said de Juniac.
