CAAM ENHANCES SAFETY, SECURITY PROTOCOLS
Revamping of documentation process will improve oversight, says Hasbi
THE Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) is enhancing its safety and security pro- tocols with a new programme. The move aims to improve oversight by revamping its documentation process.
The initiative includes updating 19 annexes in the Civil Aviation Directives (CAD) and publishing all related guidance materials as part of its Safety, Security and Quality Assurance System, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah.
CAAM is also working on its Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to enhance safety.
“The Transport Ministry, through CAAM, pledges continuous effort and cooperation to uphold aviation safety and security. This includes carrying out effective safety and security oversight and safety management activities, joining forces to share safety information, and fostering a strong and positive safety culture.
“These actions are essential for maintaining and improving safety standards in the aviation industry,” Hasbi said in opening the Malaysia Aviation Safety Seminar 2024 (MASS 2024) here yesterday.
He said the ministry supported a comprehensive approach to improving safety oversight and aviation security.
This, he said, included capacity-building and training, technical assistance, regulatory support and continuous safety monitoring, as well as security training and awareness, investment in advanced technology and infrastructure, and robust information-sharing mechanisms.
“Nineteen annexes have been promulgated into CAD, and all subsidiary Civil Aviation Guidance Materials associated with CADs were published as part of the Safety, Security and Quality Assurance System, while continuously working on CAP,” he said.
Hasbi added that as an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) member state, Malaysia supported the ICAO Global Framework and recognised the need to accelerate progress in sustainable aviation.
This, he said, included the launch of the Malaysia Aviation Decarbonisation Blueprint (MADB), which provided a strategic framework for de-carbonising the aviation sector and advancing the green economy.
Highlighting the Asia-Pacific region, Hasbi said it had become the world’s largest aviation market and held the largest share of international revenue passenger kilometres while continuing to grow with corresponding air traffic capacity, efficiency and safety challenges.
“With a 5.3 per cent annual passenger growth from 2023 to 2043, it is anticipated that more than half of the new passenger traffic will be from this region.”
In his opening speech, CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said maintaining aviation safety should be a collaborative and continuous effort.
At the seminar, it was revealed that the Boeing Company was working with CAAM and airline operators to create a digital model of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) airspace and air traffic systems to enhance aviation safety.
Boeing’s global strategic initiatives senior managing director Malcolm An said the digital model would help stakeholders better understand situations, predict outcomes and measure potential improvements.
“We are working with CAAM and the airlines to improve efficiency at KLIA. One of the tools we are using is that we are creating a digital model of KLIA’s airspace and air traffic.
“What that does is help us better understand the situation. It enables us to predict and measure potential improvements before actually implementing them.
“Improvements, (in this context), might include more flexible use of airspace, more efficient flight profiles and performancebased navigation,” he said.
He added that while there was a need to move towards digital solutions, aviation safety did not rely solely on technology, but rather on collaboration among all stakeholders.
“Aviation safety does not depend on technology alone. It truly depends on collaboration between all the parties in this room. It involves controllers with new tools, familiarisation for pilots and policies from the regulator.
“All of this collaboration will ultimately help us achieve our sustainability and safety goals,” he said.
The seminar, themed “Navigating Safety For Tomorrow: Flight to Sustainability and Resilience”, was organised by CAAM in collaboration with the United States Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing.
Some 700 delegates from 55 countries are attending the twoday seminar.