Taiwan Can Help achieve ICAO’s goal of a seamless sky through pragmatic and professional participation in its activities, mechanisms and meetings, including the triennial assembly.
Taiwan is one of the busiest air transport hubs in Asia. The Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR), adjacent to the Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Manila and Shanghai FIRs, provided navigation services to some 1.75 million flights in 2018, an annual increase of 5.8 percent. In total, the number of air travelers arriving in, departing from or passing through the region reached 68.9 million last year, according to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
The country’s major gateways are connected to 149 cities around the globe via 313 passenger and freight routes operated by 92 airlines. Based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI), both headquartered in Montreal, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport ranks fifth and 11th in the world—and fourth and fifth in the Asia-Pacific—in terms of international cargo and passenger volume, respectively.
“These statistics spotlight our status as a key stakeholder in the global aviation sector,” CAA Director-General Lin Kuo-shian (林國顯) said. “They also underscore why Taiwan is seeking pragmatic and professional participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO].”
Civil Aeronautics Administration Director-General Lin Kuo-shian (Photo courtesy of Civil Aeronautics Administration)
Needless Exclusion
Established in 1944, Montreal-headquartered ICAO is a U.N. specialized agency tasked with coordinating the development of governing principles and operational standards to ensure the efficiency and safety of global civil aviation. Taiwan is not a member of the body and is excluded from its activities, mechanisms and meetings.
The largest and most significant ICAO gathering is its triennial assembly. This event brings together the 193 member states and a number of industry organizations such as ACI, IATA and the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) to establish global ICAO policy and review economic, legal and technical program work. It is next scheduled to take place Sept. 24 to Oct. 4 in Montreal. Taiwan last attended the assembly in 2013 as a guest of the council president, but was not invited to the subsequent edition three years later.
According to Lin, the nation’s exclusion creates unnecessary risks given its indispensable role in the world’s aviation network. “Every FIR should be able to obtain information on ICAO regulatory changes through direct channels so as to ensure the safety and security of global passenger and cargo transportation,” he said. Taiwan also possesses considerable technical expertise in civil aviation, and omission restricts its contributions to strengthening related practices, he added.
While the CAA is operating the Taipei FIR to the highest international standards, exclusion has prevented it from receiving operational and technical updates in a timely manner, Lin said. “As a result, we spend more time, pay higher prices and consume greater energy in meeting new requirements under ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices, known as SARPs.”
The needless burden placed on Taiwan is highlighted by an amendment to the regulations on carrying portable electronic devices in the 2017-2018 edition of the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, part of the SARPs. Formally released June 21, 2017, the revised rules require that devices containing lithium ion batteries carried in checked baggage be completely switched off.
Due to a lack of prompt access to the new regulations, the CAA had just days before they came into force July 1, 2017, to inform airlines and passengers about the change. “The delay meant it was impossible for us to respond in an efficient manner,” Lin said. “Unless we’re allowed to join ICAO activities, mechanisms and meetings, these sorts of issues will continue to arise.”
Given the country’s absence from the U.N. agency, fostering contacts through major international organizations such as ACI, IATA and IFATCA is necessary for staying informed of the latest aviation industry developments. Participation in such networks also helps boost the country’s global profile, as evidenced by Taipei’s selection as host of the 2019 International Air Safety Summit by U.S.-based Flight Safety Foundation. Set for November, the meeting is expected to draw more than 300 professionals from about 50 countries and territories to exchange information and propose new directives.
Similarly, to cultivate talent and promote exchanges in airport management, the CAA regularly sends personnel to industry events like the Passenger Terminal Expo and Conference, as well as to forums and training courses organized by ACI and IATA. Taiwan also works to conclude bilateral air service agreements, signing such deals with 57 countries and territories to date.
TTIA is one of the busiest air transport hubs in Asia. (Photo by Chin Hung-hao)
Safety Commitment
One of the major focuses for the CAA at present is ensuring compliance with new regulations in ICAO’s 2017-2019 Global Aviation Safety Plan. The rules span such areas as fatigue and risk management, pilot training, technician licensing, vehicle reliability checks and the supervision of emerging sectors like drones and ultralight aircraft.
Taiwan’s civil aviation authority is also continuing to upgrade the administrative and operational capabilities of the Taipei FIR through implementation of the communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management system (CNS/ATM) and the performance-based navigation (PBN) model in line with ICAO specifications. “And we’ve been preparing for the rollout of the Aviation System Block Upgrades, known as the ASBU modules,” Lin said, referring to another ICAO initiative to facilitate closer cooperation among neighboring regions by developing integrated plans and solutions on flight management.
The nation’s inability to communicate directly with ICAO in enacting these upgrades produces additional challenges. It creates a gap in the global aviation network, a matter of some concern for the representatives of the world’s major advanced economies. The statement released April 6 from the meeting of G-7 foreign ministers urged support for “the substantive participation of all active members of the international aviation community in ICAO forums” and asserts that “excluding some of its members for political purposes compromises aviation safety and security.”
According to Lin, this underscores strong international support for Taiwan’s pragmatic and professional participation in ICAO activities, mechanisms and meetings. The U.N. agency should recognize the necessity and legitimacy of the country’s bid to attend this year’s assembly, he said, adding that through meaningful engagement, Taiwan Can Help achieve ICAO’s goal of a seamless sky.
Write to Pat Gao at cjkao@mofa.gov.tw