The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced that the recently-established Task Force on Risks to civil aviation arising from Conflict Zones (TF RCZ) will be convened for its first meeting Aug. 14-15 at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal.
The Task Force was agreed to at a special high-level meeting on 29 July, hosted by ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu and ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin. They were joined on the occasion by the Directors General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airports Council International (ACI) and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO). The findings of the Task Force are to be submitted to a special meeting of the ICAO Council within weeks.
The July 29 meeting was held in light of the recent downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and to ensure greater clarity on the respective roles and procedures relating to conflict zones and civilian airspace.