Aviation

Paper to 2018 Transportation Research Board Conference.

Air transportation is vital for the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), connecting remote, scattered and small islands over large distances across the Pacific Ocean. Many of the PICs are developing countries or small island states, which lack the necessary funds to install and maintain modern radar-based air traffic surveillance systems. Because potential ground-based radar locations are limited and there is a lack of funds to install radar, air traffic surveillance is limited to voice based procedural control. As part of a major regional program to improve PIC aviation safety and security, the World Bank is financing the installation of ADS-B systems, which are satellite based surveillance technology. The use of ADS-B—which costs a fraction of traditional radar systems—allows developing and emerging countries to dramatically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of air traffic surveillance. This paper outlines how ADS-B based air traffic surveillance was implemented in five PICs. It explains what ground technology was installed, and what avionics upgrades were necessary in aircraft. It also touches on the regulatory aspects. The model used here is readily replicable to other developing and emerging countries.

Paper to 2018 Transportation Research Board Conference.

The aviation sector provides essential national, regional and international connectivity within the Pacific Island Countries, and onwards to Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. Ensuring that appropriate safety and security levels are met is a challenge in two areas: (i) the specialized nature of aviation places a high burden on small island states with limited human resources; and, (ii) ensuring sufficient funding for safety and security oversight and investments. This paper describes how a regional ‘Safety and Security Levy’ was implemented in five countries to improve safety and security oversight and operations. The levy is collected by airlines and allocated using an agreed disbursement framework between the regulator and the airport operator. The paper describes in detail the rationale for the regional levy, the mechanism by which it is collected, and the approach for disbursement. It has been found to be very effective and can be replicated in other jurisdictions facing similar challenges. 

Paper to the 2017 Transportation Research Board Conference.

Describes the $221 million World Bank financed 'Pacific Aviation Investment Program' improving aviation infrastructure and oversight in Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Presentation to the 2017 Transportation Reserarch Board Conference on the Pacific Aviation Investment Program, investing in aviation infrastructure and oversight in Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Presentation to the World Bank's Aviation Community of Practice on the Pacific Aviation Investment Program.

Presentation given in Wellington to the AAAE Conference on aviation with a focus on security

Presentation at the launch workshop for the TvAIP

Presentation giving an overview of the $125m Pacific Aviation Investment Program.