PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Monday, December 7th marks International Civil Aviation Day which was was established in 1994 by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), through Assembly Resolution A29-1, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Organization, created on 7 December 1944.
In 1996, pursuant to an ICAO initiative and with the assistance of the Canadian Government, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly by resolution officially recognized 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day and listed it as an official UN day.
The purpose of the global celebration is to generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of States, and of the role of ICAO in promoting the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport.
As the UN and world nations have now adopted Agenda 2030, and embarked on a new era in global sustainable development, the importance of aviation as an engine of global connectivity has never been more relevant to the Chicago Convention’s objectives to look to international flight as a fundamental enabler or global peace and prosperity.
The theme for 2015 International Civil Aviation Day is “Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind.”
Minister of Transport & Telecommunications Irania Arrindell, would like to wish all those working in the civil aviation sector, from the staff of the Government Department of Civil Aviation, Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Airlines, SXM Airport and the various companies that provide essential services to civil aviation in Sint Maarten.
“Our country has a vibrant civil aviation sector which we must be very proud of. What our country has achieved in the past 70 years in civil aviation development is commendable. I salute those who were instrumental in playing a role in this development and wish everybody in the civil aviation field and those who support the sector a Happy International Civil Aviation Day on Monday, 7th December,” Minister Irania Arrindell said on Sunday.
Minister Arrindell added that she will work diligently to fill the required positions at the department of Civil Aviation and Shipping & Maritime Affairs, and to ensure that the staff follow the required training in order to be compliant. “Only by doing so can we achieve our CAT I status,” Minister Arrindell pointed out.
The Minister added that she will also be asking stakeholders for their assistance in achieving the required CAT I status.
With respect to the aforementioned theme for International Civil Aviation Day, the No Country Left Behind (NCLB) campaign highlights ICAO’s efforts to assist States in implementing ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
The main goal of this work is to help ensure that SARP implementation is better harmonized globally so that all States have access to the significant socio-economic benefits of safe and reliable air transport.
The NCLB effort also promotes ICAO’s efforts to resolve Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs) brought to light through ICAO’s safety oversight audits as well as other safety, security and emissions-related objectives.
In 2014, ICAO organized its first ever ICAO Council off-site strategy session. The purpose was to determine how ICAO can better communicate with and assist its Member States. One of the major points covered during these meetings was the fact that there are still large discrepancies with respect to how some States implement ICAO SARPs.
The off-site determined that ICAO should focus its activities on States with higher accident rates or security threats and review what the Organization can do to better encourage developed countries to provide more comprehensive assistance to developing countries.
It also resolved that ICAO itself should provide more direct assistance to developing countries by playing a more active coordination role between States and by helping to generate the political will needed for States to pool resources, participate in regional efforts, earmark voluntary funds and build capacity.
The NCLB campaign was endorsed to help coordinate and publicize any Organization-wide activities consistent with these priorities.
