Aviation body: new, improved and independent

THE CABINET yesterday gave the go-ahead for the separation of the Civil Aviation Department from the state with the aim of improving its operations.

Government spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis announced the move after the cabinet meeting, saying the entire structure of the Department would be altered and a new institutional framework written that would give it complete independence, Pashiardis said.
“The change aims at flexibility in decision making, economical independence, reduction of bureaucracy and time-consuming procedures, improvement of the offered services and mainly improvement of flight safety,” he said.

“The independence of the Department of Civil Aviation from the state is a standard suggested and is supported by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Flight Safety Organisation.”

The plan for the restructuring of the department was submitted some weeks ago, and was announced by Communications and Works Minister Harris Thrassou.
Speaking on the sidelines of an international two-day conference on aviation safety in the region, he said the proposal was an essential step for Cyprus and would contribute drastically to the reforming of civil aviation on the island.

Thrassou and his Ministry, which is responsible for civil aviation issues, have come under heavy scrutiny since the Helios crash last year.

The official report by Greek investigators found that gaps in the Civil Aviation Department were a contributing, but not direct cause of the accident.

The ‘new’ civil aviation will have its own budget and income, and be overseen in line with international models and EU norms.

The proposal was closely worked out with Eurocontrol and with the EU.
A major challenge ahead for the aviation community is managing the air traffic growth, while at the same time maintaining high levels of safety. Aviation Authorities worldwide have to consider the adaptations they have to undergo in order to maintain or even increase safety

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.