Neha Jain: http://canadaaviationnews.blogspot.com/15

1. India to support ICAO's endeavors to promote peace amongst nations.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi on Monday reaffirmed India's commitment and support to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) towards fulfillment of its vision of a safe, secure, orderly and sustainable development of international civil aviation by promoting consensus and cooperation amongst the members of ICAO.

Inaugurating the Regional Aviation Security Conference (RAVSECC) here, Ravi said: "India will continue to fully support ICAO's endeavors to promote understanding, friendship and peace amongst the nations and people of the world besides promoting economic development, trade and tourism throughout the world."

"Aviation security has been identified by ICAO as one of the three major strategic objectives. We have noted that during recent times ICAO is instituting organizational reforms to increase its effectiveness and efficiency to enable the organisation to face new challenges of technological, economic, social and legal nature," he added.

Ravi, who is also the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister, said the member states of ICAO have greatly benefited from modernized aviation security standards laid by ICAO, which are audited and enforced across the globe.

"Through audits and technical assistance ICAO has provided a basic platform to build a robust aviation security framework. We wholeheartedly welcome these measures and commit to extend necessary support to ICAO in implementing these reforms," said Ravi.

"We also support USAP and commit to fund all aviation security programme through ICAO. India has done well in the first USAP audit conducted by ICAO. The second round is under way," he added.

Ravi further said over the years aviation has become a soft target for terrorists and extremists.

"Any attack on aviation generates a lot of media interest and helps the terrorist groups to achieve their objective of getting maximum publicity. Securing aviation, as you all will agree is a complex business. The dichotomy of stringent security measures vis-Ã -vis the demand for efficient passenger facilitation needs to be managed properly. While fully sympathetic to the demands of the industry and passengers for better facilitation we need to place the security of aviation as our top most priority," said Ravi.

Appreciating the huge potential of aviation as a key driver of economy, the minister said: "Development of infrastructure, generation of employment, promotion of tourism, establishing international and domestic connectivity, movement of cargo etc. are some of benefits of aviation which have just started positively impacting our economy. The last thing we want is any disruption or interference in the orderly operation of domestic and international aviation in this region."

"Aviation Security unlike aviation safety is an extremely dynamic entity. The threats, risks and challenges change and grow very fast leaving us with very little time to react and put corrective measures. The only way to hope for a secure aviation is to think ahead in this game, plan and be prepared for any and every eventuality," he added.

Asserting that India is fully cognizant of the fact that terrorism is not restricted by national boundaries, Ravi said: "We are keen to develop mechanisms within ICAO States to share security related information especially at regional level in an appropriate manner. All of us present here recognize this and that is why we are here today."

The objective of the conference, which is being organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is to endorse the declaration on security adopted in the 37th International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly and also to review the developments taking place in the field of aviation security in the countries of this region.

Delegates from 16 countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India International Organizations like Airport Council International, European Commission, International Air Transport Association, Department of Transport-UK, Transport Security Administration, USA are attending the Conference. (ANI)

2. India to host regional aviation security conference

Top aviation security experts from various countries would gather here on Monday to discuss changing threat perceptions to the sector and review whether aviation security activities were being carried out on the lines recommended by the global aviation body ICAO.The Regional Aviation Security Conference, to be held under the aegis of UN body International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), would evolve an aviation security roadmap which can be used by countries to proactively and jointly counter and prevent acts of unlawful interference against global civil aviation, an official spokesperson said.The four-day conference would review the compliance by various nations on the Security Declaration made in the 37th ICAO Assembly last year and carry out a risk overview of the recent developments in aviation security.The Declaration had laid out a comprehensive aviation security strategy, focusing on seven key areas, including ways to address new kinds of threats, efficient security approaches, promoting sharing of information amongst nations and improving the human factor and security culture.The detailed declaration also recommended mutual recognition of aviation security procedures followed by different countries, apart from standardising the security approaches.The conference would be attended by ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin, who earlier headed ICAO's Aviation Security branch, besides representatives from International Air Transport Association, Airports Council International, European Civil Aviation Conference, US Transportation Security Administration and Department of Transport of the UK.Delegates from several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Bhutan would be attending the meet.The conference will be followed by a two-day Aviation Security Training programme for senior executives of the Indian aviation industry.

3. HAI to Offer Heliport Design Workshops at HELI-EXPO
Monday, February 14, 2011 - HAI

Two workshops related to heliport design are planned for HELI-EXPO 2011 in Orlando, Fla. These will focus on the design of private use (PPR) and hospital heliports in the U.S. and general aviation heliports designed to meet the requirements of the international ICAO Annex 14 Volume II – Heliport Design.

The first workshop, scheduled for Sunday, March 6, will consist of a review of the tranche 1 ICAO Annex 14 Volume II requirements issued in 2009 and the proposed tranche 2 changes. A comparison with the US/FAA AC150/5390-2B and an outline of the additional changes to the annex and the associated Heliport Manual being considered by the ICAO HDWG as part of the future activities will also be included. The workshop will focus on the ground size and airspace requirements for operations under Visual Flight Rules. The workshop will begin at 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to adjourn at 12:30 p.m. Dr. John Leverton, the IFHA Representative to ICAO AP and HDWG, will present the session.

The second workshop, scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, and based on last year’s successful format, will address the FAA Heliport Design Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5390-2B. It will include an overview of 14 CFR Part 157, Notice of Construction, Alteration, Activation, and Deactivation of Airports, including FAA Form 7480-1 (which outlines the notice requirements to establish a heliport), presented by the FAA Airports Division. Following this overview, Dr. John Leverton, HAI heliport design focal point, will provide a review of the design requirements embodied in the 2004 FAA AC, with particular reference to private use heliports and hospital heliports, and will also present a review of the changes to the AC currently being considered by the FAA. The workshop is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. and to adjourn at 12:00 noon.

The merits of using a Touchdown/Positioning ‘circle’ marking, detailed in Annex 14 Volume 11 but currently not included in the FAA AC, will be discussed at both workshops.