GASP: Global Aviation Safety Plan by ICAO

The Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) outlines the strategic vision for prolonged aviation safety improvement. It establishes a framework for the development and implementation of regional and national aviation safety plans (RASP and NASP). The GASP's mission is to continually lessen fatalities and the threat of fatalities by directing the creation of a unified aviation safety strategy.

It encourages the smooth execution of a state safety program, including the state's safety oversight system, a risk-based approach to safety management, and a synchronized methodology for collaboration among states, regions, and industries.

HISTORY OF THE GASP

The first version of the GASP was introduced by ICAO in 1997, formalizing a string of inferences and suggestions established during an informal meeting between the ICAO Air Navigation Commission (ANC) and the industry. The GASP was used by ICAO to guide and prioritize the organization's technical work program, and it was updated on a regular basis to ensure its continued relevance.

• In May 2005, a meeting with the industry identified the need to broaden the GASP to provide a common frame of reference for all stakeholders.?
• In March 2006, ICAO held the Directors General of Civil Aviation Conference (DGCA/06) on a global strategy for aviation safety, which welcomed the development of the global aviation safety roadmap and recommended that ICAO develop an integrated approach to safety enhancement initiatives (SEIs), based on the roadmap.
• The ISSG's global aviation safety roadmap served as the foundation for ICAO's 2007 edition of the GASP. The global aviation safety roadmap would establish a structure for the coordination of safety initiatives and regulations around the world.
• In 2013, during its 38th Session, the Assembly urged ICAO to complete the development of a global aviation safety roadmap in support of the GASP.?
• The second High-level Safety Conference held in 2015 (HLSC 2015) agreed on the need for ICAO to develop a global aviation safety roadmap, in collaboration with States, regional aviation safety groups (RASGs), aviation safety partners, and industry.
• The edition for 2014-2016 included an effective safety oversight system, a State safety program (SSP), and the safety prowess required to support future aviation systems.
• In 2015, ICAO established the Global Aviation Safety Plan Roadmap Group (GASPRG) to undertake necessary actions to assist ICAO in updating the GASP, particularly in relation to the development of a new global aviation safety roadmap The GASPRG was composed of subject matter experts from States, regions, and industries.?
• The 2017-2019 edition included the introduction of the new global aviation safety roadmap, developed by the GASPRG, to assist the aviation community in achieving the objectives presented in the GASP.?
• The 2020-2022 edition of the GASP introduced a new set of goals, targets, and indicators, in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2020-2022 edition of the GASP also introduced the concept of regional and national aviation safety plans, as well as the high-risk categories of occurrences (HRCs).

The GASP has significantly changed since its introduction in 1997 and has evolved through continual consultations and reviews. The 2023-2025 edition of the GASP maintains the goals and G-HRCs listed in the previous edition and contains updated targets and examples of indicators.?

ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED IN THE GASP

Organizations include entities in a State, such as the civil aviation authority, and service providers, such as aircraft operators, air traffic service providers, and operators of aerodromes.

For the 2023-2025 edition of the GASP, ICAO and the aviation community identified the following organizational challenges:

• Ensuring effective safety oversight, through the implementation of the critical elements (CEs) of a State’s safety oversight system.
• Ensuring effective implementation of a State Safety Programme (SSP)

The ORG roadmap includes safety enhancement initiatives (SEIs) to help states meet GASP goals for functional safety capabilities and SSP integration, as well as industry implementation of safety management systems.

Operational (OPS) Safety Risks

To define shortcomings and obstacles, operational interactions between individuals and technology, as well as the operational context in which aviation activities are carried out, are taken into account.

High-risk Categories of Occurences (HRCs)?

The GASP's goal is to accomplish and retain zero fatalities in commercial operations by 2030 and beyond.

To reduce the risk of fatalities, a number of HRCs must be discussed. The occurrences designated as global HRCs (previously known as "global safety priorities") were chosen based on actual fatalities, high fatality risk per accident, or the number of accidents and incidents.

The following global HRCs (G-HRCs), in no particular order, have been identified for the 2023-2025 edition of the GASP:

• ?Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)
• Loss of control in-flight (LOC-I)
• Mid-air collision (MAC)
• Runway excursion (RE)
• Runway incursion (RI)

The Bottom Line

Now, The GASP plan will provide an aspirational safety goal to achieve and maintain zero fatalities in commercial operations by 2030 and beyond.