The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) convened the first Global Forum on Planning and Implementation Regional Groups (PIRGs) and Regional Aviation Safety Groups (RASGs). The objective of the Global Forum was to bring ICAO, States, International Organizations and the Industry together for multilateral discussions to identify future strategies that will improve ICAO’s global and regional aviation planning and implementation structure and help ensure the effective implementation of the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP).
The Global Forum made significant progress in developing a way forward to further improve the effectiveness of its main Regional Planning and Implementation and Aviation Safety Groups. This constitutes a major step forward in assisting States to enhance their aviation systems in support of their economies and to respond to the current and future challenges of an increasingly fast changing environment.
ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, noted the importance of the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) as the highest level strategic implementation guidance for States. He also highlighted the importance and benefit to States and all Stakeholders of their participation in the working structure of PIRGs and RASGs, the primary ICAO coordinating bodies for national, regional and global coordination that is essential to aviation’s future sustainable development.