New take-off guidance seeks to safely reconnect the world: Iata

Dubai - The take-off guidance published by ICAO Council's Aviation Recovery Task Force is also contributing to building confidence among governments to manage the risks of Covid-19

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) said on Wednesday that the revised take-off guidance issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation will keep flying safe through this pandemic.

Welcoming the second edition of “Take-off: Guidance for Air Travel through the Covid-19 Public Health Crisis,” the global travel body said the guidelines bring together the expertise of ICAO, public health authorities, individual member states, and industry bodies to support the need for harmonised Covid-19 testing requirements as part of a multi-layered approach.

The take-off guidance published by ICAO Council's Aviation Recovery Task Force (Cart) is also contributing to building confidence among governments to manage the risks of Covid-19 importation while removing barriers to travel such as quarantines, Iata said in a statement.

“The aim is to safely reconnect the world and these recommendations are moving us forward”, said Alexandre de Juniac, Iata’s director general and CEO.

With some countries considering the use of testing and with the availability of improved Covid-19 testing technology, there is a need for guidance material to facilitate harmonisation. “This is being developed in a “Manual on Testing and Cross Border Risk Management Measures” and will be a key enabler of Iata’s call for systematic testing before departure for international travelers.

ICAO is asking states which are considering the formation of a Public Health Corridor (PHC, more commonly-known as travel bubbles) to actively share information with each other to implement these in a harmonized manner.

While maintaining the highest standards for safety, Covid-19 has forced the industry to temporarily adopt certain regulatory processes, especially those related to staff qualification and training. Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, the Take-off guidance recommends that such alleviations should not be extended beyond March 31, 2021.

“It is essential that States consider flight crew as ‘key workers’ to benefit from PHC and are encouraged to enable access to medical and training facilities. This includes flight simulation training devices used for the flight crew to maintain certifications and proficiency for licensed personnel,” it said.

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