On March 11, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and AmCham China’s Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) co-hosted a webinar on runway surface condition assessments and teporting. The event was sponsored by The Boeing Company and supported by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Sea-Tac International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Landrum & Brown and Strategic Planning Services. The participants shared their regulatory and operational experience on how to comply with new International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) airport safety requirements by November 4. Over 115 participants joined the discussion, including representatives form CAAC’s Airport Dept., Flight Standards, Aviation Safety Office, and Air Traffic Regulations Office. We also were joined by representatives from the Air Traffic Management Bureau (ATMB), CAAC Regional Administrations, Supervision Bureaus and Chinese airports. Exchanges such as this are extremely beneficial to the growing US-China aviation relationship.
CAAC Airport Department Deputy Director General Ma Zhigang, FAA Office of Airports, Airport Safety and Standards Director John Dermody, and ACP Executive Director Geoff Jackson delivered opening remarks. On the US side, representatives from FAA, Sea-Tac International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport presented on the FAA’s Global Reporting Format (GRF) Implementation Effort, the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) and Take-off and Landing Performance Assessments (TALPA). The CAAC then presented China’s plans for these topics. Participants from both countries found the 2.5-hour dialogue to be mutually beneficial.
Two previous joint workshops included discussions on airport construction planning, and the impact of COVID-19.