Belarus among ICAO top ten countries with highest aviation safety level
"Belarus is in the top ten countries with the highest aviation safety level, and this ranking is made on 186 ICAO member states. Currently we are busy with setting up an international center to train specialists in aviation safety," the head of the department noted. Belarus regularly reports on its efforts in aviation safety and undergoes the relevant checks as the ICAO member state.
Vladimir Kostin stated: "The recent episode with the Belavia aircraft has demonstrated that our pilots are able to show great mental and physical stamina, self-control and make the right decision in a difficult situation."
As for the crew training, Belarusian pilots undergo the CRM course. The course is run for crews of passenger and cargo aircraft, BelTA reports.
In February 2014 Belarus hosted an educational seminar with the participation of crew members, law-enforcement officers, representatives of the aviation safety and other services of air companies and airports. Attending the event was the head of the Interstate Aviation Committee who shared the experience in the crew actions in case of hijacking.
Belarus has developed a good legal framework that regulates the order of steps civil aviation pilots take in abnormal situations. Among the fundamental documents is a state program on the protection of the civil aviation from unlawful acts, aviation rules on the actions of the aviation personnel upon the receipt of a terrorist threat on an aircraft or a civil aviation facility. The documents are regularly reviewed, at least twice a year. The events on the study of the normative documents are held as part of the qualification enhancement courses at the Aviation College.
"Being an ICAO member, we fulfill every requirement of the organization and work out solutions at both the regional and global levels," Vladimir Kostin said. The air staff underwent special training prior to the Olympic Games in Sochi and the IIHF World Championship in Minsk.
The Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) reported an attempt to hijack a Kutaisi-Minsk passenger aircraft on 10 June. The pilot in command received a written message from a passenger onboard demanding to change course to one of European countries. The place carried 32 passengers, including one child, and four crew members. Thanks to high professionalism of the pilots, the place landed at Minsk National Airport at 6:50 Minsk time.
The person detained will be charged with hijacking or attempting to hijack an aircraft under Article 311 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.