Videoconference with experts on MH17 (with reports)

28 January 2016

On Thursday 28 January the House of Representatives held a public hearing and a videoconference on the Dutch Safety board's MH17 investigation report. Several international civil aviation experts were heard.

Reports (unauthorized draft version)

• Verbatim report of the public hearing of Mr Patrick Ky, Executive Director European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
  
  The authorized vesion of this report will be available within a few weeks via this link
• Verbatim report of the videoconferences (see below for schedule of experts)
  
  The authorized version of this report will be available within a few weeks via this link

IATA's follow-up note

During the hearing, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) promised to provide the following information:

1. The weaponry control proposal:

a. Statement mentioning the weaponry control proposal that was issued jointly by the aviation industry associations before the first “summit” of the associations was held with ICAO;

b. A joint statement issued by the industry associations together with ICAO at the conclusion of the summit, noting that the industry continued to urge appropriate changes to international law for this purpose;

c. A letter from the Secretary General of ICAO to the Secretary General of the United Nations noting the industry’s recommendation.  ICAO informed IATA in January 2015 that the recommendation was referred by the UN Secretary General to the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.  IATA has received no further information from any UN agency.

2. The official IATA response submitted to the Dutch Safety Board on 13 January 2016

Answers from Eurocontrol

• Subsequent answers from Joe Sultana, Director Network Manager of Eurocontrol.

Schedule

The experts work for the organizations EUROCONTROL, IATA en ICAO.

1. EUROCONTROL is the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. EUROCONTROL currently has 41 member states.
2. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association of the world’s approximately 250 airlines, primarily major carriers. It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
3. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Schedule

1. 18.00-19.00 uur: David McMillan, (former) Chairman Task Force on Risks to Civil Aviation arising from Conflict Zones (TF RCZ), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
2. 19.00-20.00 uur: mr. Joe Sultana, Director Network Manager, Eurocontrol
3. 20.00-21.00 uur: International Air Transport Association (IATA):
   
   - Nick Careen, Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security Division (APCS), IATA
   
   - Gilberto Lopez Meyer, Senior Vice President, Safety, Operations and Infrastructure, IATA
   
    supported by:
   
   - Carolina Ramirez Taborda, Global Director, Security and Facilitation, IATA
   
   - Jeff Shane, General Counsel, IATA
   
   - Mike Comber, Director, Member and External Relations with ICAO, IATA
   
   - Russell Vieco, Head, Aviation Security, IATA

MH17

On 17 July 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was downed. The plane crashed in Eastern Ukraine. All 298 passengers were killed, 196 of whom were Dutch nationals. On 13 October 2015 the Dutch Safety Board published its MH17 investigation report. On 8 December 2015 the Dutch Cabinet sent its response to the Tweede Kamer.