INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION BODY TO VOTE ON SAFETY RESOLUTION

INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION BODY TO VOTE ON SAFETY RESOLUTION

   International Civil Aviation Organization, the inter-government body, said that a resolution calling for an “unprecedented, high level, international conference on aviation security” will be proposed at the session of its assembly.

   Officials of the International Civil Aviation Organization are meeting in Montreal from Sept. 25 to Oct. 5.

   “The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 in the United States represent the greatest threat ever to civil aviation security,” the International Civil Aviation Organization said.

   During its meeting, the inter-government body aims to identify “the means by which we can eradicate this new threat and restore confidence in a system that remains fundamentally safe, secure and efficient,” a spokesman said.

   The resolution will direct the council of ICAO to develop an action plan urgently to address the new threat to civil aviation, including a review of existing aviation security conventions and of Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, ICAO’s charter.

   Annex 17 and related guidance material contain the

internationally-approved Standards and Recommended Practices and Procedures on aviation security as they apply to international flights.

   Until Annex 17 is revised, ICAO said that the proposed resolution suggests interim measures, including:

   * applicability of Annex 17 to domestic flights;

   * a recommendation to require cockpit doors to remain locked during flight;

   * and upgrading of provisions regarding airport security controls.

   Voting on all resolutions will take place on the last day of ICAO’s assembly, Oct. 5.