News from the Federation
Mr. Chonacki (2nd from the left) informs the Executive Board and an Austrian delegation {Mr. Schyr and Mr. Kihr) about ATC Poland.
Meeting of the Executive Board, Zagreb, 18-21 February, 1975 The customary spring meeting of the Executive Board was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, from 18-21 February, 1975. With the exception of the Editor, all members of the Board attended the meeting. Main items on the agenda were: discussion of the reports by the Officers, Standing Committees, Regional Councillors and others in preparation for the 14th Annual IFATCA Conference in Melbourne, 14-18 April, 1975; a review of all the Federation's activities including cooperation with international organisations and the organisation of the Melbourne Conference, and many other topics. Lengthy discussions took place on the reports by the President and Vice-President Administration regarding their visits to South America and possible action by IFATCA to assist the South American countries in their endeavours to improve the working environment, while on the subject of the arrangements for the Melbourne Conference, the Officers stayed in session until late at night on two occasions. The Board was invited to take a look at the new Air Traffic Control Centre at Zagreb, scheduled to start operations later this year. This is a very modern unit, equipped with a Stansaab Radar and Automation System (Stansaab are Corporate Members of IFATCA). The members of the Board were introduced to representatives of the civil and military Air Traffic Services, the Airport Authorities, the major Airlines serving Zagreb, and colleagues of ATC Zagreb, Belgrade and Ljubljana. The occasion proved a good opportunity for members of the Austrian Association to introduce a representative of the Polish Air Traffic Services to the Officers of the Federation. Mr. Jacek Chonacki, Chief of Air Traffic Services, Warsaw, explained to the Board the problems existing in ATC Poland and the conditions under which the Polish Air Traffic Controllers' Association, now being formed, could affiliate with IFATCA. The Federation offered its assistance to the Polish Authorities to realise plans for the modernisation of the Warsaw Air Traffic Control Center, and the hope was expressed that the Polish Association would soon join the international controllers' community.
During a press conference, the aims and activities of the Federation were outlined, while press coverage of the meeting and a 6 minutes TV evening broadcast featuring ATC and IFATCA achieved much publicity for the profession and the work of both YATCA and IFATCA. On the last day of the meeting, Mr. Ante Cuculic, Chief of Protocol and Secretary for International Relations to the President and representing the City Assembly, gave his respect to the Board and to controllers the world over. Mr. Cuculic said that he travelled many times by air and that he had always admired the smooth operation of airline travel. This, he believed, was an indication of the good work done by air traffic controllers. The Federation is much indebted to the Yugoslav Association, in particular to Mr. Bernard Dujmovic (President), Mr. Tomislav Karner (Secretary) and Mr. Giric Bozidar (Treasurer) for the splendid arrangements made and the warm hospitality offered.
Investigation of Aircraft Incidents and the Legal Liability of the Controller The present system for the Investigation of aircraft incidents related to the Air Traffic Control field, and the legal liability of the Controller for both such incidents and aircraft accidents, have been - during past IFATCA Conferences - the subject matter of Working Papers and studies by IFATCA's Legal Committee. Whilst a sophisticated system of accidents investigation exists with procedures established under ICAO Annex 13, no such system is in operation for the investigation of Incidents. The Federation has therefore submitted to ICAO a number of suggestions for possible adoption into ICAO Standards and/or Practices. Different States adopt different procedures for investigating such incidents generally, but IFATCA deems it essential that ICAO should undertake the formulation of procedures and practices to be incorporated in a new Annex or in Annex 13, for the purposes of safety and standardisation. Two of the points put forward are: (1) the Investigator should have the appropriate experience in Air Traffic Control, Aeronautical Engineering and other associated
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