By Paul Ukpabio
Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Juan Carlos Salazar, has said that the Global Reporting Format (GRF) for assessing and reporting runway surface conditions will help mitigate the risk of runway excursions, which continues to be the most common form of an aviation accident.
“The harmonization of the assessment and reporting of runway surface conditions will not only benefit runway safety but also the efficiency and sustainability,” he added, “through a better planning of contaminant removal and the more effective use of de-icing and other treatments.”
Elaborating further on this, he said, “Early implementation by some pioneer states has confirmed the benefits and suitability of the GRF,” Salazar declared, noting that the operational experience gained during the upcoming winter, rainy, and monsoon seasons in various parts of the globe will provide important opportunities to review and enhance implementation.
He disclosed that, during the run-up to the applicability date, ICAO had worked closely with its member states, regional offices, and industry bodies, to ensure that the necessary capacity-building resources have been made available.
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This includes building awareness through some 35 seminars and webinars, delivering computer and instructor-led training courses, providing additional guidance and clarifications, and developing tools to help with implementation.
While implementation is still ongoing in many states, ICAO, he anticipates, will record a rollout that will accelerate in the coming weeks and months.
The organization, he added, continues to assist states to achieve progress towards the truly harmonized reporting of runway surface conditions.
