Brexit and Aviation 37

Let’s lift our eyes up from the endless ping-pong at Westminster and look across the globe.

It’s 25C and sunny in Montréal, Canada[1]. It’s one of the best times of the year to visit the city with the kaleidoscope of leaf colours. In the heart of the city is the mountain site of Mount Royal Park. Now, it’s a beautiful place to walk and take the air. Based in that fair city, many of the world’s States have a permanent mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The city has a long association with civil aviation.

The 13^th Air Navigation Conference[2] has just opened in Montréal. Almost 1300 delegates from 110 countries and 32 international organisations are meeting at ICAO.

That includes all the European Union (EU) and all its Member States. At the Air Navigation Conference European Coordination meetings are held. Europe is presenting: 13 Working Papers and 7 Information Papers[3]. 3 of those Working Papers are from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Europe is also represented by European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) and European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL). So, you can see that coordination is of the utmost importance.

I see that Kirsten Riensema, a former UK Air Navigation Commissioner was elected Chair of the 13^th ANC. That’s a demanding role.

I was fortunate to be part of the European delegation at the 12^th ANC back in 2012[4]. These international conferences advance topics such as; the safety, efficiency, interoperability and capacity air traffic systems for the future. A united approach is the best one to bring about results.

Today, the UK is a vital part of that European delegation. It’s unclear where the UK will stand when the 14^th ANC comes around.

[1] https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/qc-147_metric_e.html

[2] https://www.icao.int/Meetings/anconf13/Pages/default.aspx

[3] https://www.icao.int/Meetings/anconf13/Pages/WP_Presenter.aspx

[4] https://www.icao.int/meetings/anconf12/pages/default.aspx