Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand Collaborate and Share Safety Data and Information to Enhance Aviation Safety

              Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will be launching a Regional Aviation Safety Data and Information Sharing Initiative to enhance aviation safety as air travel achieves full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Asia-Pacific, the five States will collaborate and share de-identified safety data and safety information to identify safety hazards and trends and develop mitigating measures to better manage safety risks. The initiative was first mooted at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety held in Singapore in 2023. Since then, the States have worked together to agree on the list of safety data and information to share in the first instance and the principles and protocols that will govern data confidentiality.

2           On 16 October 2024, Mr Syamsu Rizal, Director of Air Navigation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Indonesia; Dato’ Captain Norazman Bin Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM); Captain Manuel Antonio Lara Tamayo, Director-General, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP); Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS); and Mr Suttipong Kongpool, Director-General, The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cement the partnership on the sidelines of the 59th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions in Cebu, Philippines. The States will work towards launching the initiative by the end of the year. 

3            Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand recognise that the cross-border nature of aviation necessitates close cooperation and collaboration amongst civil aviation authorities to enhance aviation safety and address safety risks. A collective  and coordinated approach, involving the sharing of safety data and safety information among relevant parties, will better ensure timely and effective identification, resolution and management.

4            Under the MOU, the States agree to cooperate and regularly share safety data and safety information from reports of safety occurrences to: 

              a.       Advance the Asia-Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Plan goals to reduce operational risks and enable data-driven regulatory oversight;

              b.       Support the States’ safety management activities through safety data collection, analysis, and exchange; and

              c.        Enable the validation of existing safety risks, detection of emerging hazards and risks, and facilitate effective and timely intervention

5            The shared data will come from each individual State’s mandatory reporting systems, covering scheduled international and domestic commercial air transport, based on occurrences reported by the States’ service providers, including airlines, air navigation service providers and aerodrome operators.

6           An initial list of seven categories of safety occurrences has been identified for this initiative: 

              a.       Traffic Collision Avoidance System – Resolution Advisory,

              b.       Deviations from Air Traffic Controller assigned altitude,

              c.       Ground Proximity Warning System or Terrain Awareness and Warning System activations,

              d.       Severe turbulence,

              e.       Windshear,

              f.        Bird strikes,

              g.       Dangerous goods incidents.

            The occurrence types and data fields to be shared may be revised during the duration of the MOU, subject to mutual agreement.

 7           To ensure smooth implementation, the participating States will jointly develop a “Procedural Handbook” which outlines working procedures and detail data governance protocols, including data/information security, protection, retention, and destruction. All States will contribute data for the purpose of this initiative as Data Contributors. CAAT will serve as the Data Custodian, and CAAS, the Data Analyst. Details on the respective roles can be found in Annex A.

8           Collaboration under the Regional Aviation Safety Data and Information Sharing Initiative is built on the following core principles which the States agree on: 

              a.       Safety data and safety information shall be utilised for the purpose of advancing safety goals as outlined in the MOU and shall not be used for any other purposes.

              b.       Except for the Data Contributor, safety data and safety information shared shall not be used to support investigations of accidents and incidents and shall not be used for punitive or enforcement purposes.

              c.       The findings and recommendations from analysis of safety data and safety information shared shall not be used to support investigations of accidents and incidents and shall not be used for punitive or enforcement purposes.

              d.       The sharing and exchange of safety data and safety information shall be in line with the principles of protection in ICAO’s Annex 19 on Safety Management as may be updated from time to time.

              e.       Processes for safety data and safety information handling and analysis shall be carried out with transparency and in accordance with the agreed data governance protocols.

              f.        The data governance protocols shall be determined by consensus and shall be clear to all participating States.

              g.       Findings and recommendations from analyses conducted shall always be aggregated and de-identified before being shared.

              h.       Each Data Contributor shall retain ownership of safety data and safety information which it provided.

9           Mr Syamsu Rizal, Director of Air Navigation, DGCA of Indonesia said: “This initiative is expected to be a pioneer followed by all States in the Asia-Pacific region and provide safety learning as one of the State's references in determining accident mitigation that is more efficient and effective. DGCA commits to fulfil its role as a data contributor for this initiative. To this end, every effort has been made to ensure that the DGCA's reporting mechanism remained available and accessible to the reporter. This was done with a view to enabling DGCA Indonesia to continue its active contribution to the provision of data.”

10            As shared by Dato’ Captain Norazman bin Mahmud, CEO of CAAM, “Air transport is at the heart of global economic growth. Therefore, ensuring the highest level of safety and security of air operation and creating safer and more sustainable skies is paramount. Through this collaborative initiative by the States’ regulators of the aviation industry, the ability to address safety risks proactively while fostering sustainable aviation practices are enhanced. By sharing safety data and insights, we can ensure the highest safety standards can be achieved while contributing to a greener future for aviation. Together, we are laying the foundation for a resilient, safe, and environmentally responsible aviation sector across the Asia-Pacific region.”

11            “As we enter into this Memorandum of Understanding with our regional counterparts, we reaffirm our commitment to enhancing aviation safety through increased collaboration and data sharing. The cross-border nature of aviation demands that we work together. Through this agreement, we will collectively identify emerging trends and hazards, allowing the continuous development of proactive measures that advance safety goals across the Asia-Pacific. Together, we will ensure safer skies for all,” CAAP Director-General Captain Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo emphasised. 

12            Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS, said: “This initiative is significant in having States agree to share our respective safety data and information so that we can achieve better safety outcomes for all. This would not have been possible without trust amongst the States involved, a shared commitment to aviation safety and protocols to safeguard confidentiality. We hope that this first-of-its-kind initiative in this region will have a catalytic and demonstrative effect and we can onboard more countries to work together to ensure safer skies for the travelling public.”

13            Mr. Suttipong Kongpool, Director-General of CAAT, said: “Thailand is proud to be part of this meaningful collaboration, which reinforces our shared responsibility for the safe and efficient use of common airspace. By exchanging critical safety data and information, we are prioritising the safety of global citizens and contributing to strengthening global safety. This initiative reflects our dedication to identifying and addressing risks in a collaborative manner, working together with trusted partners to build our region into an aviation hub where safety is at the core. We remain committed to upholding higher safety standards and ensuring the long-term resilience of aviation for the benefit of all.”

Annex A - Roles and Responsibilities ↗ (opens in new tab)

About the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Indonesia
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the regulatory body for civil aviation in Indonesia. The organisation is directly responsible to the Minister of Transportation and its primary responsibilities are the formulation, implementation and oversight of policies related to the utilisation of airspace, aircraft and airports, the organisation of air transportation and flight navigation, the enhancement of aviation safety, security and quality, as well as the utilisation of supporting facilities and general aviation facilities. For more information on DGCA, kindly access hubud.dephub.go.id. 

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) is the regulatory body that is responsible to ensure efficient management of the safety and security of the civil aviation industry. CAAM's roles are to enable the growth of the aviation industry, regulate, oversee, and promote safety in the industry, provide air navigation services, and to ensure that the national and international obligations of Malaysia in matters relating to civil aviation are carried out to comply with universal safety and security standards. For more information on CAAM, kindly visit www.caam.gov.my ↗ (opens in new tab).

About the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
In alignment with the mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to promote a safe, secure and green sky while maintaining excellence in civil aviation, the organization is dedicated to the continuous development, implementation, and improvements of strategies and processes. These efforts aim to attain the highest standards of aviation safety within a carbon-neutral environment, while simultaneously contributing to the long-term viability of the Philippine economy. For further information, please visit www.caap.gov.ph ↗ (opens in new tab).

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation.

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is dedicated to ensuring standards of safety and efficiency in Thailand's aviation sector. CAAT’s mission includes overseeing and regulating the aviation industry, promoting its sustainable growth, and maintaining a safe and secure airspace for both domestic and international flights. CAAT also supports aviation training and development, strengthens Thailand’s position as a key player in the global aviation community, and contributes to the advancement of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caat.or.th ↗ (opens in new tab).

For media queries, please contact:

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Email: caas_corporate_communications@caas.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab)