Providing in-country safety and security services to support Pacific Member States’ aviation compliance as regional travel restarts is the strategic focus of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) for 2022.

The PASO Council of Directors also recognised the importance of continued regional collaboration and coordination via PASO at their virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, 11 May 2022.

Demonstrating collective support for PASO and regional aviation collaboration, all 13 Members of the PASO Council attended the AGM with representation from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The AGM also considered PASO’s performance and endorsed PASO’s annual financial audit and annual report, new corporate processes and policies, and organisational progress against key performance indicators.

PASO Council elections

The PASO Council unanimously chose to maintain existing Council office bearers with Member State Samoa re-elected to Chair the PASO Council. Mr. Magele Hoe J. Viali, is the main representative for Samoa on the PASO Council of Directors.

Niue was re-elected as Deputy Chair of the PASO Council and Chair of the Operations Sub Committee with Mr. Bill MacGregor, Director of Niue Civil Aviation remaining in this role.

The Cook Islands was re-elected as the Deputy Chair of the PASO Council and Chair of the Corporate Sub Committee with Mr. John Hosking, Secretary of Transport for the Cook Islands Ministry of Transport continuing.

“It is gratifying to see strong engagement and participation from all our membership at our Annual General Meeting, which indicates a strong interest in working together to elevate aviation matters regionally and internationally,” said the PASO Council Chair, Mr. Magele Hoe J. Viali.

“Prudent fiscal management and the continued financial support from our Members, the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and the World Bank, means PASO has increased technical capacity and resourcing to support our Members with their international aviation obligations.”

The PASO Council endorsed the 2023 PASO Hosting Agreement for formal submission to the Government of Vanuatu, with appreciation conveyed for the continued hosting of PASO’s headquarters in Port Vila.

PASO Member State Samoa was re-elected to Chair the PASO Council. Mr. Magele Hoe J. Viali is the main representative for Samoa on the PASO Council of Directors.Credit: PASO.aero

 PASO’s operational performance

The PASO Council noted an operational record for PASO’s service delivery with a total of 683 audit workdays completed in 2021 on behalf of Member States, compared to 239 audit workdays in 2020 and 519 audit workdays in 2019.

“As we re-open our borders around the Pacific, the critical importance of aviation safety and security compliance as a positive enabler of air connectivity and a catalyst for our economic recovery cannot be overstated,” said Mr. Viali.

The PASO Council noted the organisations’ plans to progress operational systems and deliver an increased program of in-country auditing and inspections between PASO Inspectors and Member States’ civil aviation counterparts.

“We are excited to return to in-country operations and planning to get every one of our Inspectors into Member States over the next 12 months,” said PASO’s General Manager, Mr. Andrew Valentine.

“Through the pandemic, PASO has been able to ensure effective regulatory aviation safety and security outcomes for our Members. This has been primarily delivered through our offsite safety policy and procedures approach which has served the region well.”

Future directions

The PASO Council supported increased training and development activities starting with an online governance training program for the PASO Council and pursuing opportunities to increase Pacific Islanders’ aviation inspector capacity.

“Training and development is a key pillar of the Pacific framework of aviation endorsed at last year’s Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM1) and something dear to our heart,” said Mr. Viali.

“The PASO Council supports advancing and investing in holistic capacity building for the long-term development of our people by building career pathways in all areas of aviation.”

The Council noted PASO’s effective regional engagement as secretariat for the next Regional Aviation Minister Meeting (RAMM2) which is being virtually hosted by the Government of the Cook Islands in June to progress the Port Moresby Declaration on Aviation Safety and Security.

In 2022 PASO will also participate in regional and international forums to elevate and progress Pacific aviation matters including at the next Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s 57^th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation for the Asia Pacific Regions in Korea in early July.

“In the next 12 to 18 months PASO plans to embed all the positive organisational initiatives of the last two years, and progress new opportunities to strengthen aviation in our region,” concluded Mr. Valentine.

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The Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) and the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) have committed to work together in 2022 to enhance regional aviation development for the benefit of the people of Pacific region.

The two Pacific organisations signed a joint communique virtually on Thursday, 27 January 2022 to formally strengthen their regional collaboration and coordination including addressing the serious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry and economies of most Pacific Island States.

In the lead up to the next Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM2) in June 2022, PASO and PRIF committed to working together to support and advance the ‘Port Moresby Declaration on Aviation Safety and Security’ for the advancement and improvement of the aviation sector for Pacific Island States.

PASO and PRIF also formally recognised the RAMM endorsed ‘Framework for Aviation in the Pacific’ which articulates how the Pacific region and aviation stakeholders will collaborate to realise an enhanced aviation system to benefit the Pacific.

The joint communique articulates each organisations responsibilities, including recognition of PASO’s role as the RAMM Secretariat, as well as regional aviation regulatory oversight, and PRIF’s role providing technical assistance support for aviation development.

“The Joint communique is an expression of our commitment to work together so that the RAMM deliverables are implemented. Our new partnership will address all aviation sectors, such as commercial, regulatory and operations for the progress of aviation in the region,’ said Mr Andrew Valentine, PASO’s General Manager.

“Our communique is a first for PASO and PRIF, and I am glad that we have ventured down this path to execute the Regional Ministers’ goals for regional aviation,” said Mr Valentine.

“We welcome the opportunity to assist PASO implement the RAMM deliverables. Our partnership provides an opportunity for PRIF to contribute to Pacific regional aviation recovery, which is a priority of our development partners,” said Mr Sean O’Sullivan, PRIF Coordination Office Team Leader.

A key focus of the new collaboration is producing a COVID-19 impact and recovery assessment for aviation in the Pacific. At the 2021 Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting, Ministers expressed concerns over the impacts of COVID-19 and tasked officials to conduct the impact assessment. PRIF is funding this assessment and is now working in collaboration with Landrum and Brown with the support of PASO.

The COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Assessment for Aviation in the Pacific will be presented to Aviation Officials consideration at their next meeting in April.

Download the PASO and PRIF Joint Communique.

Pacific Aviation Safety Office Council of Directors welcomes ICAO Secretary General and ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Director

PORT VILA: Stronger dialogue and closer working relationships between the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to support Pacific aviation safety and security was emphasised at the PASO Council of Directors’ recent meeting.

The PASO Council Meeting on Wednesday, 24 November 2021 was attended virtually by representatives from nine signatories of the Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety and Security Treaty (PICASST) and three Associate Members, together with ICAO and the World Bank.

PASO Council representation included: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

In a landmark for PASO, the ICAO Secretary General, Mr Juan Carlos Salazar, and the ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Director, Mr Tao Ma, addressed the PASO Council virtually.

The ICAO Secretary General acknowledged the unique challenges and circumstances facing PASO Member States compliance with ICAO’s aviation safety, security and sustainability requirements and highlighted ICAO’s key initiatives to support them and PASO.

The ICAO Secretary General, Mr Salazar said:

“ICAO is very much aware of what the pandemic’s disruption to air connectivity has meant for Pacific States, and to your many citizens and communities who depend so strongly on air travel and tourism for their basic livelihoods.”

He pledged that “ICAO will assure more responsive and effective teamwork with States, industry, and international partnering organizations going forward, and will lead the global air transport community in reuniting people, societies, and economies again.”

The ICAO Secretary General expressed appreciation to the Government of Vanuatu for generously hosting and resourcing PASO’s Port Vila headquarters since inception in 2007, and acknowledged the Governments of Australia and New Zealand for directly supporting PASO financially to enable technical assistance for Pacific States.

PASO Council Chairperson, Mr Magele Hoe J. Viali welcomed and thanked the Secretary General for ICAO’s continued support and collaboration with PASO. Credit: PASO.aero

The PASO Council Chairperson, Mr Magele Hoe J. Viali welcomed and thanked the Secretary General for ICAO’s continued support and collaboration with the Pacific and recognised the significance of this dialogue as a way to strengthen relations and establish stronger bonds between ICAO and the Pacific.

The PASO Council Chairperson, Mr Viali said:

“The Pacific region strives to deliver the best outcomes for our people. The aviation sector is one area where the economic and social benefits and contributions are not as advanced and developed as we would like, yet all of us in the Pacific have an essential reliance on a strong aviation industry and connectivity to prosper.”

“We welcome the support of ICAO to explore opportunities to engage and collaborate, whilst understanding the challenges we face and supporting each other to ensure ‘no country is left behind’,” said Mr Viali.

“With the ‘Port Moresby Declaration on Aviation Safety and Security for the Pacific Islands’, we are entrusted by our Ministers to deliver on our international obligations and achieve aviation safety and security for the region in line with international best practice.”

ICAO’s Asia Pacific Regional Director, Mr Tao Ma said assisting Pacific States to enhance aviation safety, security and capacity building is a priority for ICAO’s Asia Pacific Office. Credit: ICAO

ICAO’s support for Pacific States

ICAO’s Asia Pacific Regional Director, Mr Tao Ma, reported to the PASO Council an overview of ICAO’s plans and practical actions to support closer cooperation and the provision of targeted assistance within the region including supporting the enhancement of PASO’s Regional Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (RSOO) status.

The ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Director, Mr Tao Ma said:

“Assisting Pacific States to enhance their aviation safety, security and capacity building is a priority for the ICAO Asia Pacific Office over the next year, as well as for years to come.”

Kanton Atoll Kiribati Credit: Salote Mataitini

PASO organisational performance recognised

The PASO Council recognised PASO’s ongoing strong organisational performance and effective service delivery to Members despite the operational challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Renewed PASO corporate structuring and operational arrangements, recognition of critical development partner support, and the ongoing preparations for the next Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM2) in June 2022 were considered and supported by the PASO Council.

PASO’s General Manager, Mr Andrew Valentine, encouraged all Members to keep supporting each other and PASO to collectively navigate the COVID-19 pandemic together and enable the effective restart of Pacific aviation.

“PASO will continue to maintain our organisational effectiveness to support our Members with quality aviation safety and security Member services into 2022, including the development of a new surveillance framework for Members States,” said Mr Valentine.

A six-month schedule of PASO Council Meetings was adopted with Council to meet next in May for their Annual General Meeting.

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PORT VILA: The next Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM2) is being planned for June 2022 and will be hosted by the Government of the Cook Islands, following the success of the first Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM1) in June.

The fifth Aviation Officials Meeting convened on Wednesday, 3 November 2021 to progress collaborative regional administrative arrangements for the RAMM2.

The meeting was attended virtually by aviation officials from 13 Pacific countries from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The World Bank and the Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) attended as observers and the meeting was facilitated by the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO), who are the RAMM Secretariat.

The RAMM2 will consider the Pacific’s progress on the implementation of the Port Moresby Declaration on Aviation Safety and Security to advance important regional aviation matters to ensure there is safe, sustainable, and enhanced aviation system to benefit the Pacific.

Regional Aviation Ministers will consider amendments to the Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety and Security Treaty (PICASST), the development of a ten-year regional pacific aviation strategy, and an enhanced Pacific aviation organisation at the RAMM2. The Ministers will also consider a COVID-19 impacts and recovery assessment for aviation in the Pacific.

“Regional aviation officials are working with PASO, as the RAMM Secretariat, to progress and deliver the RAMM1 outcomes via a comprehensive work plan which provides a clear way forward to achieve results for next year’s Ministerial Meeting,” said Aviation Officials Meetings Chair, Mr. John Hosking who is the Secretary for Transport in the Cook Islands.

The fifth Aviation Officials Meeting on 3 November 2021 progressed coordinated and collaborative regional administrative arrangements for the next Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting (RAMM2) in 2022. Credit: paso.aero

Next year’s RAMM2 will build on the success of the last RAMM, which brought greater recognition of the strategic benefits of increased air connectivity through improved aviation safety and security, as well as the considerable challenges facing aviation compliance in the Pacific region.

“The first RAMM successfully delivered on an agreed regional way forward for aviation in the Pacific. There was clear support and direction from our Ministers for a collaborative and coordinated approach to achieve a strengthened safe and secure aviation system that will benefit the Pacific region by lifting our standards for aviation compliance and best practice,” said Mr. Hosking.

Regional Aviation Officials also endorsed a meeting program in preparation for the RAMM2. The next Aviation Officials Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 13 April 2022 followed by a final preparatory meeting in May 2022 to confirm arrangements for the proposed June 2022 RAMM2.

ENDS / 422 words

PORT VILA, Vanuatu: A partnership between the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is delivering practical capacity building for Pacific aviation agencies on international carbon offsets and reduction initiatives to address climate change.

The PASO and EASA information webinars are tackling aviation sector linkages to environmental protection and climate change and addressing the main features of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) State Action Plan for the reduction of international emissions from international aviation and the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme on International Aviation (CORSIA).

Civil aviation authority representatives from the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu participated in the PASO and EASA information webinars which started on Thursday, 30 September.

Mr. Luc Tytgat, EASA’s Strategy and Safety Management Director opened the first webinar and emphasised the EASA’s full readiness to support Pacific States to achieve carbon neutral growth.

“EASA believes supporting Small Island Developing States, and in particular Pacific Island countries, with climate change expertise is a step forward to a greener and more sustainable aviation sector in keeping with the international long-term aspirational goal of carbon neutral growth,” said Mr. Tytgat.

Mr. Andrew Valentine, PASO’s General Manager said that the partnership between PASO and EASA provides useful technical and targeted capacity building to support PASO’s Members as they start to offset and reduce their CO2 emissions from international aviation.

“We welcome our practical partnership with EASA to deliver expert awareness and thank EASA for funding this webinar program. This initiative will lead to an enhanced understanding by our membership of ICAO’s environmental protection requirements and enable us to consider how the Pacific region best contributes to the global efforts of reducing carbon emission in aviation,” said Mr. Valentine.

Adopted in August 2016, CORSIA is a global aviation offsetting scheme, whereby States, airlines and other aircraft operators offset growth in CO2 emissions above the baseline. Seven PASO Members, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, are set to voluntarily participate in the CORSIA from 1 January 2022.

PASO’s and EASA’s cooperation started in 2020 with capacity building activities to scale up the CORSIA scheme awareness amongst PASO’s membership and develop State action plans for the reduction of CO2 emissions. PASO and EASA are continuing to develop future cooperative projects on a more formalised basis.

This week’s webinar provided an overview of the linkages between the region’s environmental initiatives and the aviation sector. This included the Pacific’s long-term “Strategy 2030”, which provides a blueprint for Pacific Island country actions to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Domestic and international climate change activities to reduce CO2 international aviation emissions to achieve ICAO’s long-term aspirational goal through different tools and measures were also explored.

The second regional webinar on 5 October 2021 will focus on developing a comprehensive understanding of ICAO’s CORSIA to enable effective offsetting schemes for participating Pacific countries.

The two webinar events start a program of tailored PASO and EASA facilitated one-on-one sessions with the civil aviation authorities of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands to understand the features of ICAO’s State Action Plan for the reduction of CO2 emissions from international aviation and CORSIA requirements.

The Pacific is considered one of the most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.

Through the Pacific Islands Forum initiatives, all Forum Member States are participating and contributing to addressing the negative effects of climate change. The Pacific’s environmental integrity is a key focus of the “2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent” to protect and secure the Pacific people, place, and prospects.

Although civil aviation contributes to less than 2% of the world carbon footprint, the ICAO is further encouraging and soliciting support of all its 193 Member States to participate and further reduce aviation carbon emissions.

Ongoing efforts include using technology to reduce aircraft engine noise and carbon emissions. The development of alternative or “clean” fuels with the aim to reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels for aircraft completely in the future is also continuing.