Volodymyr Omelyan: Ukraine is working on restoring control over the Black Sea airspace in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

“Ukraine is working on restoring control over the Black Sea airspace in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),” stated Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelyan during the meeting with Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu the President of the ICAO Council and with Mr. Luis Fonseca de Almeida the Regional Director of the ICAO European and North Atlantic Office.

The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine stressed that the visit of the President of the ICAO Council to Ukraine is a significant and important event. Last time such a visit took place more than 10 years ago.

"Ukraine is taking all possible measures to ensure safe international air navigation. Ukraine has technical and operational capacity to ensure implementation of air navigation services in accordance with the ICAO standards and recommended practices in international airspace over the open sea, whereby under international treaties Ukraine is responsible for provision of air traffic services," noted the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

According to the Minister, a scenario focused on effective international treaties whereby Ukraine provides air navigation services, as the case had been before 2014, is the only acceptable scenario for normalization of air traffic in international space. The main obstacle is to illegitimate publications of air navigation information concerning international airspace by Simferopol FIR (flight information region).

"We expect to receive the official opinion based on ICAO audit in June. According to the preliminary estimates, thereby can be announced that Ukraine has passed the audit best among the Eastern European countries. The feedback of the President of ICAO is very important to us. The President stressed that Ukraine has successfully undergone the difficult years of 2014-16 and that the results exceeded expectations," said Volodymyr Omelyan.

Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu thanked leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine and the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise for ensuring aviation safety at the highest level.

The President of the ICAO Council expressed hope that Ukraine will become a member of the ICAO Council in 2019, after the ratification of the Protocol seek to increase of the ICAO Council member countries. Prior to the abovementioned however, Ukraine will consider an issue regarding the opening of a permanent representative office at the ICAO headquarters.

Moreover, the Minister of Infrastructure assured the President of the ICAO Council in its efforts regarding opening of Ukrainian office at the ICAO Council in order to address urgent matters.