Recent research has emphasized the importance of worker training and human factors in supporting maintenance success in the aircraft sector (Hodgkinson & Johnston, 2016). Human factors have a key influence in aviation maintenance accidents. The International Civil Aviation Organization is the specialized agency of the United Nations in charge of codifying the techniques and principles of international air navigation.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) promotes the development and planning of international air transport lines in order to ensure orderly expansion and safety. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopts recommended practices for air infrastructure, navigation, flight inspection, unlawful flight interference prevention, and border-crossing procedures for international aviation. ICAO defines rules for investigation of air accidents by transport safety authorities among the signatory countries. Within ICAO is air navigation commission (ANC) responsible for technical development of recommended practices and aviation standards (ICAO, 2011).
The main sensitive area of human implication in each mode of transport is concentrated at the traffic level. The main air traffic issues are traffic control, management, and flight desk-automation. The main challenges identified by each transport mode indicate that common issues cut across all the modes of transport (Hodgkinson & Johnston, 2016). In respect to air transport, the automation of different operators is the main issue in the transport system. Modification of communication factors between different actors in the flight industry also remains the present issue. Because of an increase in information technologies, the freight system has to adopt new communication procedures and eliminate communication failures (Milman, 2016). In addition, the current aviation industry suffers the challenges of responsibility locus for the safety operation and acquisition flight equipment. In case some operations are automated by the new technologies, some uncertainties are expected to occur due to the failure to locate the responsibility locus. Those issues must be regulated appropriately. Therefore sharing of responsibility between flight operators and control panel is an issue that must be clarified.
Purpose of Study
In accordance with the ICAO annex 14, states must certify aerodromes, which are used for flight operations in accordance with ICAO specifications stipulated in the regulatory framework. The regulatory framework sets a criterion for aerodrome certification. As part of the certifying process, the management of the flight company must submit the aerodrome manual, which shows the pertinent information about the site of the aerodrome, services offered, and facilities, equipment operating procedures among other necessary information for acceptance or approval. The main purpose of this study is to analyze the process of being satisfied by ICAO and how networked are the certifications and licenses across the globe.
Literature Review
The number of operations and operators play an important role in forecasting the need for aviation services. The operator configuration is the primary requirement for aviation management. The requirement for aviation services are driven by some industrial characteristics such as turbine engines, helicopter, fixed wing, and propeller engines (Milman, 2016), domestic and foreign operations, the number of company employees and their experience, location of operations and the key determinants of the aviation management (Alfaresh, 2000). The process of maintaining the operation and maintenance staffing aims at encouraging reliability of the workforce and minimizing costs in running the system operations (Al-Simgirl, 2000). Global aviation industry requires assistance in reviewing the most recently applied work schedules and distribution of labor for the maintenance personnel. The current excessive time to cover unplanned maintenance and cover weekends must be properly considered. The aviation workforce must also account for the current seven-day maintenance requirements necessary for the effective running of the flight (Alfaresh, 2000). The significant increment in scheduled workload from the maintenance section and various changes associated with both flight schedule sand the maintenance programs.
The ICAO and TUV Personnel Certification Criteria
Amidst workforce scheduling and operation management, the qualification of an aerodrome, employees in the aviation industry must be assessed and certified by a recognized agency. The TUV in Rhineland provides the certification for the entire aviation workforce basing on the aviation stipulated requirements, qualification, and experience. The TUV certification seal provides an effective documentation for the quality of the aviation workforce. After the completion of the premium training courses and passing the workforce examinations, the TUV employment certification department provides a certificate from one of its independent personnel certification center (PCC).The main objective of the TUC certification is to demonstrate the achievements of the employee and acquiring the documentation to qualify for as part of the global aviation workforce. In addition, the certipedia seal awarded together with the certification is used to promote the aviation company and the employee as well. This helps to set the aviation company apart from the competition and gain customer confidence. In addition, the certificate award by the TUVcertification agency helps the employee’s skills to be globally recognized and this enables the employee to get an international recognition over the quality seal.
The ICAO personnel licensing procedure follows the standard and recommended practices stipulated in article 37 of the convention of the international civil aviation organization of 1948. Under the ICAO workforce protocol, the contracting state shall ensure that privileges are granted to the related ratings are not taken into practice unless the license holder maintains competency and meets the requirements established by the contracting state (ICAO, 2011). A contracting state should have an establishment of the maintenance competency and the recent work experience required for pilot licenses based on the systematic approach to the resolution of incidents. The licensing procedure should include analysis of current operations and risk assessment process. After issuing the license, the contacting state must ensure that other contracting states are allowed to be satisfied as to the license validity. Another criterion followed is the use of psychoactive substances. The personnel holding the license provided should not exercise the privileges under the influence of any psychoactive substance, which may deter personnel from fully exercising privileges safely (Milman, 2016).
Furthermore, the qualification required for licensing personnel can be speedily and acquired by the applicants who undergo systematic and continuous training, conforming to a planned curriculum or syllabus. ICAO license regulation policy requires language proficiency from the license applicants. All airship, airplane, helicopter, and powered lift pilots are required to demonstrate the ability to understand and speak the languages used on the radiotelegraphy communication systems. Aeronautical station operators and air traffic controllers must demonstrate the ability to understand and speak the languages used for radiotelephone communications (ICAO, 2011). The license applicants must demonstrate the knowledge and skill required for the safe operation of the applicable aircraft licensing requirements and the applicant are piloting functions.
How Interfaced and Interlinked Are the Licenses throughout the Rest of the World
In addition to defining the protocols of air accident navigation and licensing the aviation personnel, the international civil aviation organization plays an oversight role of interconnecting the licenses from all the contracting states using an electronic system. The air navigation commission (ANC) which is the technical body of the ICAO council, plays the role of interconnecting all the licenses from the global from the contracting states (Hodgkinson & Johnston, 2016).
The ANC commission is composed of nineteen commissioners nominated from the contracting states of the international civil aviation organization (ICAO) and appointed by the ICAO council. Commissioners work as independent experts representing their contracting states. Much as the commissioners are appointed by their states, they serve as independent technical experts in the aviation industry but not political agents of the contracting states (ICAO, 2011).
The development of recommended practices and aviation standards is done under the directives of the air navigation commission through the ICAO panel. Once the commission approves the license, the state standards are forwarded to the council for coordination and consultation with other member states before being adapted. Though ICAO operates independently, it works alongside other transport organizations such as trade association representing airlines, an organization for air navigation providers, international air transport association, airports council international among others (Hodgkinson & Johnston, 2016).
Conclusion
Safety and quality control in the aviation industry has been a long term goal which has resulted into the mushrooming of many aviation organizations. Based on the business relations across the entire world, it is imperative for the aviation industry to use certified personnel and maintain efficiency in the workforce structure. However, the certification requirements must comply with regulations and laws set by the certifying bodies.
References
Alfaresh, K. (2000). Maintenance work schedule for Dhahran fixed wing aircraft, project report Number14297, Dhahran: Saudi Arabia.
Al-Simgirl, A.S. (2000). Aircraft maintenance division workforce. A presentation to the aviation department management, Dhahran: Saudi Arabia.
Hodgkinson, D., & Johnston, R. (2016). The new UN deal on aviation emissions leaves much to be desired. Retrieved on March 8, 2017 from https://theconversation.com/the-new-un-deal-on-aviation-emissions-leaves-much-to-be-desired-66768
International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO (2011), Personnel Licensing International Standards and Recommended Practices. Retrieved on March 8, 2017 from http://www.theairlinepilots.com/forumarchive/al/airlaw.pdf
Milman, O. (2016). First deal to curb aviation emissions agreed in landmark UN accord. Retrieved on March 8, 2017 from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/06/aviation-emissions-agreement-united-nations
