Press and News
SARI Part 145: Working group members meeting in Male, Maldives
Maldives, 19th - 21st November 2023
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South Asia Regional Initiative recently held the SARI Part 145 Working Group Members Meeting in Male, Maldives. The meeting was held to discuss the latest amendment to EASA Part 145 and to integrate the amendments to the existing SARI Part 145. The objective of the meeting was to deliberate the amendments and discuss the importance of their integration into the national rules of the member states. Once the WGMs agree, the amendments are forwarded to each member state for adoption.
One of the latest amendments discussed at length was the inclusion of Safety Management Systems in AMOs. Ms. Nadia Konzaly, EASA AIR Expert, delivered the WGM meeting. The processes and tools for implementing amendments were also discussed at length during the activity, and the importance of a cross-reference matrix for ICAO/EASA rules was also highlighted during the event. The CAAs, industry, and the SARI team participated in this insightful meeting, and we are already looking forward to the next one.
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14th SARI Steering Committee Meeting
Maldives, 18th September 2023
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On 18th September 2023, the 14th Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) of the South Asia Regional Initiative (SARI) was held in Bandos Island of Maldives. The meeting was attended by delegations from six SARI member states, the EU-South Asia APP Team and the SARI Coordinator.
During this meeting, a brief recap of the previous SARI SCM was addressed, and the key accomplishments of the SARI Work Plan for 2022 were highlighted. The participants also discussed the primary challenges and obstacles encountered by the team during the execution of the SARI Work Plan.
The SARI member states, in their feedback, expressed their appreciation for the diligent efforts put in by the SARI team and extended their gratitude for the support provided by both the SARI team and the EU-South Asia Aviation Partnership Project. Additionally, they shared their success stories and offered their perspectives through comprehensive reviews of the SARI activities within the region. It was also emphasized by states to continue the SARI activities in the region to promote safety and a broader understanding of the EU regulation. In the meeting, the SARI coordinator presented the draft of the SARI Work Plan for the year 2023. After due deliberations, suggestions and recommendations by the member states for the work plan were accepted. A discussion about the future prospects and sustainability of the SARI has been brought up, as well. The member states were asked to collaborate closely and develop a comprehensive roadmap for the future.
Towards the event's conclusion, the participants appointed Mr. Abdulla Mohamed, from the Maldives to the position of the SARI Chairman, and Mr. Rayhan Wanniappa, from Sri Lanka, as the SARI Vice Chairman.
OPS Rules Development Workshop
Karachi, Pakistan, 11th September 2023
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To offer a comprehensive overview of EU Air Operations (OPS) regulations, including their structure and fundamental principles, a 5-day introductory OPS Rules Development Workshop has been organized in Karachi, Pakistan, starting from 11th September. This workshop has been arranged through the collaborative efforts of SARI with the backing of the EU - South Asia Aviation Partnership Project II.
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To promote broader industry understanding, the event's first day was open to industry participants. The response was exceptionally positive, with not only Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) officials in attendance but also senior management representatives from prominent airlines such as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airblue, AirSial Limited, Serene Air (Pvt.) Limited, Fly Jinnah, and Air Eagle.
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Over the course of this 5-day initiative, #PCAA officials and #SARI expert Peter Wilczek collaboratively formulated a roadmap for the implementation of these OPS standards in Pakistan. Additionally, specific timelines for drafting the rules were established, and a monitoring system to gauge PCAA's progress was also devised.
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During the workshop, the SARI expert shared his knowledge on drafting regulations and provided practical examples of how to create Air Operations regulations that align with European standards. Participants also had the chance to practice regulation drafting with guidance from the expert.