By Ariel Fernandez
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is hosting the 7th meeting of the South China Sea Traffic Flow Review Group (SCSTFRG/7) from November 5-7 at the Savoy Hotel Manila in Pasay City.
(CAAP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Thirty seven delegates from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Asia and Pacific (APAC) Member States and international organizations are participating in the said event.
CAAP Assistant Director-General for Operations Capt. Donaldo Mendoza said the 7th SCSTFRG meeting was organized by the South-East Asia ATS Coordination Group (SEACG) to review the traffic flow in the overall South China Sea airspace, air routes, and the suitability of the flight level allocation scheme (FLAS) / flight level orientation scheme (FLOS) to optimize airspace capacity and enhance flight safety in the long term; and to report the outcomes of the review and recommendations to the SEACG.
The primary group consists of China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA).
Among the attendees are South China Sea Traffic Flow Review Group Chairman Jamil Khir Bin Mohammed, ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Sub-Office Regional Officer Yan Yonggang, and ICAO Asia Pacific Regional Sub-Office Regional Officer Mior Adli Bin Mior Sallehhuddin.
The meeting aims to encourage APAC member states to move forward in its efforts to optimize the South China Sea airspace structure as well as to ensure the safe and efficient conduct of flight and aviation activities in the region.