Feb. 15, 2005

Strengthening Aviation Security, One Nation at a Time

Consortium Led by the GW Aviation Institute Hosted International Summits and Conferences to Improve Aviation Safety and Security

By Matt Lindsay

International aviation is more safe and secure thanks to three years of international summits conducted by a consortium of universities led by The George Washington University, with the participation of George Mason University, and in partnership with the US departments of transportation and state, as well as the Transportation Security Administration.

Between 2002 and 2005 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded the consortium, led by GW’s Aviation Institute, $9 million to develop an executive-level program to assist foreign civil aviation authorities in meeting aviation safety and security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In early February 2005, the last of the summits held under the cooperative agreement between the consortium and the FAA wound to a close. However, the legacy of these summits will live on through the improved regional cooperation and organization that the programs fostered among the participating countries.

More than 130 participants, from more than 45 countries and organizations, attended the final Global Summit on Regional Aviation Safety Oversight in Washington, DC, Feb. 1–3. The consortium hosted 14 previous summits and six regional sessions in Costa Rica, Hawaii, Jordan, Poland, South Africa, and Turkey during the three-year cooperative agreement between GW and the FAA. More than 450 senior officials from 100 countries participated in these programs.

“When it comes to aviation safety and security, countries must think globally but act locally,” said Vahid Motevalli, director of the GW Aviation Institute and associate professor of engineering and applied science. “The choices available to every country are increasingly limited in terms of distributing resources and meeting requirements of ICAO. We aim to show summit participants how regional cooperation allows countries to share resources for mutual benefit and provide an overview of the key components involved in creating regional organizations.”

The summits have shown that political commitment at the highest level of government to aviation safety and security is essential to improve the oversight system; continued technical training and technical assistance is essential for developing countries; and regional cooperation is necessary for many countries in the world.

The GW consortium promoted the concept of developing regional oversight organizations and made sure from the outset that this was an important part of the summit program. In October 2004, the 35th Assembly of ICAO endorsed regional cooperation and developing approaches toward that goal.

Several countries and regions have developed new policies and procedures based on their experience at the summits. For example, the East African Community, which includes the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, has embraced the concept of regional organization and started down that path due to their participation in the summit.

Another tangible benefit is the improved relationships between foreign aviation officials and US officials. The summits provide senior officials from foreign countries with the opportunity to exchange ideas with aviation experts and US government representatives and gain a more thorough understanding of the legal framework, the latest safety and security practices, procedures and materials, and the technical and human resources needed to implement and maintain effective aviation safety and security oversight programs.

Motevalli said that foreign officials have nearly unanimously provided positive feedback to the GW Aviation Institute, FAA, and US Department of Transportation about the summits and how they have helped them improve civil aviation organization, processes, and overall safety oversight in their home countries.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu