Mexico City (July 20, 2017) - States of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and members of industry/international organizations who form the Regional Aviation Safety Group - Pan America (RASG-PA) are seeking new ways to further strengthen the group and advance regional aviation safety.

On the occasion of the 8th Pan American Safety Summit, hosted by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), the RASG-PA members are re-affirming their commitment to ensuring that safety remains the number one priority for the aviation community in the region. On a number of levels, ICAO regional safety initiatives are being combined with RASG-PA safety enhancement initiatives to analyze safety trends to further reduce the risk of accidents to commercial aircraft.

Mr. Melvin Cintron, Regional Director, ICAO North America, Central America and Caribbean Regional Office, was unequivocal in his support for the mission of the RASG-PA. "No one entity can take full claim or credit for the positive accomplishments in aviation safety the Pan American region has seen over the past few years. However, it is an undeniable fact that groups like the RASG-PA, with the support of ICAO, its industry partners, civil aviation authorities and other stakeholders, we will not rest until we reach new levels of safety because we believe that with the strength of each we can eliminate the weaknesses of all."

To reach its goal of reducing fatality risk 50% by the year 2020, the group is re-focusing its activities on training, employing data analysis tools and technology to reduce high risk events, and seeking collaborative approaches to safety between pilots, air traffic controllers, operators and other users of the aviation system to mitigate risk. A key component of this strategy is effectively employing the use of experts to assist states in implementing risk analysis strategies and the creation of national safety teams. Mexico, as well as other states in the Pan American region, has pledged its support to this effort.

Mr. Juan Pedro Irigoin, National Administrator, Administracion Nacional de Aviacion Civil (ANAC) Argentina, and Mr. Carlos Cirilo, Director, Operations and Safety, International Air Transport Association (IATA), have been tapped to lead the RASG-PA group as state and industry co-chairs, respectively, for the next three years. Also, the membership has recently approved eight Pan American states and eight members of industry/international organizations to represent its interests on the RASG-PA executive steering committee. they include: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, ALTA, IATA, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), Embraer, Boeing, Airbus, ATR and the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF).