One sky, two systems

In 1948 Ceylon became a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Chicago Convention, which was established in 1944.In 1950, a second system of air administration was established in Ceylon with the introduction of the ‘Air Force Act of Ceylon’ in addition to the ‘Air Navigation Act No. 15 of 1950’

 As determined by the President of Sri Lanka, the Air Force may be activated:

(1) (a) for the defence of Sri Lanka in time of war whether actual or apprehended, or

(b) for the prevention or suppression of any rebellion, insurrection or other civil disturbance in Sri Lanka by Proclamation or, where the circumstances render it impossible to issue a Proclamation, by order, call out on active service the whole or any part of the Air Force.

(2) All officers and airmen of any such part of the Air Force as is called out on active service under subsection (1) of this section shall be deemed to be on such service until the President terminates such service by Proclamation.

Meanwhile, the Air Navigation Act No. 15 of 1950 was in place for two purposes:

(a) for carrying out the Chicago Convention, any Annex thereto relating to international standards and recommended practices (being an Annex adopted in accordance with the Convention) and any amendment of the Convention or any such Annex made in accordance with the Convention; or

(b) generally for regulating air navigation.

 There were 18 Annexes to the ICAO Chicago Convention pertaining to a wide range of Standards and Recommended Procedures (SARPS) of subjects as shown below

Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing

Annex 2 – Rules of the Air

Annex 3 – Meteorological Services

Annex 4 – Aeronautical Charts

 Annex 5 – Units of Measurement

 Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft

 Annex 7 – Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks

Annex 8 – Airworthiness of Aircraft

Annex 9 – Facilitation

 Annex 10 – Aeronautical Telecommunications

Annex 11 – Air Traffic Services

Annex 12 – Search and Rescue

Annex 13 – Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation

Annex 14 – Aerodromes

Annex 15 – Aeronautical Information Services

Annex 16 – Environmental Protection

Annex 17 – Security

Annex 18 – The Safe Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Air

 A nineteenth Annex was subsequently added: Annex 19 – Safety Management

 These are the systems of administration existing in the island even today. The Director General of Civil Aviation ‘owns and administrates’ the airspace in Flight Information Region (FIR) during times of peace.

 As can be seen, the objectives of the two prevalent acts are poles apart.

 Unfortunately, it seems that the new government is appointing Sri Lanka Air Force personnel to key positions of authority in civil aviation. The only justification is that they have ‘shared air space’ with their civilian counterparts. They have no exposure to administration of civil aviation and are limited only to the area within the perimeters of the island, and certainly not to international standards and procedures that need to be observed and practised.

 It might be worth a rethink as ‘militarisation’ will badly affect the civil aviation industry and kill domestic aviation which is already in the doldrums and struggling hard to operate safely, efficiently and economically.

 GUWAN SEEYA