ICAO Will Be The Focal Point For Coordination

ICAO, the United States DOT, the EU and the International Air Transport Association have formally agreed to create a Global Safety Information Exchange (GSIE) to help reduce the risk of accidents and improve the overall level of aviation safety worldwide. The announcement was made on the opening day of the Organization’s triennial Assembly.

“The more effective and widespread sharing of safety information by regulators and industry can help to better identify existing and emerging risks in air transport operations, making it possible to take action before safety issues result in accidents,” said Raymond Benjamin, ICAO Secretary General, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the four parties on establishing the GSIE.

While all four bodies currently gather and analyze their own safety information, notably through accident reports and safety audits, this information is not readily accessible to the other parties or to other aviation stakeholders.

The new GSIE framework will identify the information that will be exchanged and establish procedures for sharing the information multilaterally. This will be done in the most efficient and secure manner possible, taking into consideration existing confidentiality legislation and agreements. ICAO will act as the focal point for coordinating the collection, analysis and exchange of aviation safety information among the members of the GSIE and for disseminating pertinent information to the global aviation community. In addition, criteria will be established to allow additional parties to join the GSIE.

FMI: www.icao.int