Airports Council International (ACI) World, a representative of the world’s airports, has entered an agreement with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to boost airport safety and certification, mainly in Latin America.
The two have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) that is expected to facilitate the sharing of resources, knowledge and data for aviation safety, security and overall sustainability of aviation systems.
Under the MoC, the two organisations have agreed to offer assistance to Latin American airports for the achievement of a high level of compliance with the applicable regulatory framework for enhanced Aerodrome Certification in the region.
Both ACI World and EASA have also agreed to provide technical support and advice on aerodrome-related matters, such as compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices, implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS), and focus on the development and promotional activities of aerodromes.
Besides this, they have agreed to advance ACI World’s Airport (APEX) safety programme by extending its suggestions to include ICAO Standards as well as integrating EASA aerodrome regulatory material and best practices, where applicable.
ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: “This is a major step forward for the enhancement of safety in Latin America. As the global aviation system is highly interconnected, enhancing safety in a region benefits and strengthens the whole system.
“We are proud to partner with EASA and leverage our collective resources and expertise to support both airports and states in Latin America and beyond.
“We are also glad to see ACI’s APEX programme, which provides onsite airport reviews led by industry peers and experts and has helped over 150 airports around the world, will be a part of this arrangement.”
