OFFICE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION OO 27 April 2020 Ref: DIR: 1.10.18 Ms. Fang Liu Secretary General International Civil Aviation Organization 999 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard Montreal, Quebec Canada, H3C SH7 My dear Secretary Generel, SUBJECT: ADHERENCE TO RELEVANT ICAO ANNEX 9 — FACILITATION STANDARDS The State of Papua New Guinea (PNG) acknowledges ICAO State Letter Ref: EC 6/3 - 20/46 dated 18 March 2020, relating to the above subject matter. In light of your requirement to provide ICAO with our actions taken to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) by air transport to protect the health of air travelers and the aviation personnel, we have provided our response below. Adherence to Annex 9 — Facilitation provisions a) Establish the National Facilitation Committees in line with Annex 9 ‘Standard 8.19 - National Facilitation Committee The National Facilitation Committee which has not been meeting for two years has been resurrected and held its meeting on 9" April 2020 with representatives comprising of all relevant groups from the aviation industry, airport operators, customs, quarantine and the civil aviation authority and taking account that cross-sector collaboration at the national level is essential. The meeting discussed ICAO Annex 9 ‘standards relating to our response to communicable diseases of international concern such as COVID- 19 and other matters relating to policy coordination with relevant stakeholders and government agencies. The draft Term of Reference will be further discussed in its second meeting on 4 June 2020 with further discussions on the draft National FAL Programme. b) Adhere to Annex 9 Standards 4.7 and 8.8 Standard 4,7 - Air Cargo In that regard and in relation to ICAO Annex 9 — Facilitation provisions to expediting the release and Clearance of goods carried by air, with focus on Standard 4.7, regarding the use of modem screening or examination techniques for examination of goods, PNG has applied as far as practicable, in order toimprove efficiency, modern screening or examination techniques at the airport and through its certified Civil Aviation Rule Part 147 Regulated Air Cargo organization. This processes will be used to facilitate the physical examination of goods to be exported or imported and will remain as the approved methodology. Standard 8.8 - Relief Flights following natural and man-made disasters which seriously endangt human health or the environment, and similar emergency situations where UN assistance required. PNG has in place approved policies, procedures and processes for the facilitation of entry, departure and transit of aircraft engaged in relief flights and to implement all measures to facilitate the receipt of aid, including overflight and landing rights and necessary privileges and immunities for relief units, in our efforts to avoid disruption. PNG has also ensured that personnel and articles arriving on relief flights referred in Standard 8.8 are cleared without delay after due process is completed by the respective agencies, ¢) Taking into account the guidance material in relation to screening measures Screening Measures: PNG has implemented entry screening for air travelers. While evidence has shown that entry screening ‘may miss infected cases, PNG is not relying solely on it as a stand-alone measures and other screening measures are being used as part of a muttlayer strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19, d) PNG actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 The actions taken by PNG to reduce the spread of the coronavirus by air transport aiming at protecting the health of air travelers and aviation personnel is described below. i) National Government Actions On 14" March 2020, the Minister for Health and HIV/AIDs made a declaration that the novel coronavirus COVID-19 be a quarantinable disease under the Quarantine Act 1953 and an infectious disease under the Public Health Act 1973, being satisfied that an emergency in relation to the global spread of COVID- 29 has arisen that requires action to be taken not otherwise authorized by the Quarantine Act 1953. The measures incidental to quarantine, necessary or desirable for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a quarantinable disease being COVID-19 directed a first port of entry for aircraft being Port Moresby for the time period of 90 days, establishment of a temporary quarantine station for the performance of quarantine, and a designated point of entry for the purpose of Article 20(1) of the Intemational Health Regulations (2005) The declaration banning aircraft from entry at a port of entry in PNG which is not declared a first port of entry under Section 12(a) of the Quarantine Act 1953. The Minister for Health further declared listed countries and regions that have been infected with a quarantinable disease being COVID-19 making an order that no person is permitted to board an aircraft or ship bound for PNG from any of foreign point of departure or airport if that person has been in a proclaimed place or transited through a proclaimed place in the past 14 days prior to the day the vessel or aircraft departs on its journey to PNG. Persons boarding military aircraft were exempted. ‘The PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority administer the Migration and Citizenship Act and are responsible for assessing and issuing visas to foreign nationals and passports to PNG Citizens. Foreignnationals seeking to travel and enter PNG cannot be granted a visa or entry to PNG if they represent a serious public health risk to the PNG community. The Authority issued a supplementary Health Questionnaire Form to inbound passengers to complete to enable appropriate assessment of persons under the PNG Migration, Quarantine and Health Acts, On 23 March 2020, the Government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic dectared a National Emergency lockdown to restore public order and security in PNG for a period of 14 days for the purpose of preventing, detecting, containing and mitigating the effects of the global COVID-18 pandemic in PNG and enable the implementation of all measures necessary and practical to manage the spread of COVID- 19, and its eradication in PNG. This resulted in the cessation of all domestic air operations, no international air operations inbound to Papua New Guinea except for out bound and inbound flights to Brisbane, Cairns and Singapore. These flights were for the purpose of carriage of cargos and medical supplies inbound to support COVID-19. In meeting Article 15 of the Chicago Convention, PNG aerodromes were all open to public use under uniform conditions to the aircraft of all the other Contracting States subject to the provision of Article 68. ‘Aerodromes that were needed as alternate for overflights remained open. Overflights through the Port Moresby Flight Information Region (FIR) airspace was not restricted. The Minister for Civil Aviation and Minister for Transport continued to meet with the PNG Aviation Industry to ensure that the industry fully understood the Government's decision and intent when approving the State of Emergency — basically to restrict the movement of people since the coronavirus is spread through people contact. The need for compliance with PNG legislation and proper approval process through the Secretary for the Department of Transport for non-schedule flights was emphasized ii) Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Papua New Guinea The actions of various levels of government to stop the spread of COVID-19 evolved rapidly and CASA. PNG was conscious that the aviation industry will face many challenges in the months ahead. In recognition of these difficulties and the severe restriction on travel, CASA PNG stood down non- essential staff and directed to work from home and to be on-call when needed. In respect to the aviation industry, various general exemptions were issued to proportionally manage safety risks while providing relief on the organization air operator certificate, exercising the privileges of their licences for various disciplines and the issue of an Emergency Directive on the expiration of medical certificates. The aim of the travel restrictions is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in PNG by reducing contact between people to the bare minimum and stopping all but essential travel. CASA PNG submitted their Business Continuity Plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst its staff and to ensure the continuity of regulatory service without disruption, maintaining the same service despite the reduction in aircraft operations. iii) Air Navigation Service Provider In respect to Annex 11 — Air Traffic Services, PNG ASL (Air Navigation Service provider) reviewed their Contingency Plan and implemented it to reduce the risks of the spread of COVID-19. The Contingency plan is consistent with ICAO requirements stated in Annex 11 Appendix C where potential risks need tobe identified and appropriate plans developed to prevent and minimize the likelihood of disruptions and unavailability of airspace for aircraft operations. In accordance with Annex 15 — Aeronautical Information Services, a NOTAM was issued advising the international air operators of the single port of entry into Papua New Guinea being Port Moresby as directed by the Government. Further NOTAMs were issued notifying the industry on the reduction of hours at other ATS units. The reduced hours are in response to the COVID-19 situation and in particular in relation to increased ‘concerns for the safety and security of operational staff. The temporary arrangements are also an effort to reduce staff contact and thereby reduce the threat of any spread of the virus. Port Moresby international aerodrome remained open without disruptions. The airport operator also issued NOTAM advising airline operators of the reduction of certain services and maintained on a need basis. PNG ASL also submitted their Business Continuity Plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst its staff and to ensure the continuity of service without disruption, maintaining the same service despite the reduction in aircraft traffic numbers operating through the FIR. Coordination between the rt Operator, Law Enforcement A‘ ‘and Quarantine and Immigration. Following the declaration of the State of Emergency for 14 days, the National Airport Corporation work together with the various stakeholders at various airports to secure staff safety and security of properties. Non-essential staff were stood down and retumed home to self-isolate, but were still on-call when required The airport Emergency Operations Centre was activated and manned throughout the COVID-19 emergency period and the aerodrome operator continued to engage with the Department of Health to ensure that messages relating to personal hygiene was conveyed. cies, Health Dey ‘The National Airport Corporation also submitted their Business Continuity Plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst its staff and to ensure the continuity of service without disruption, maintaining the ‘same service despite the reduction in aircraft traffic movement at the international airport. (On 2% April 2020, the Government of Papua New Guinea further extended the State of Emergency for a further 2 months until 2" June 2020 with a curfew being imposed. The various measures stated above still applies during this period. | trust the above meets with your satisfaction. Yours sincerely, ee WILSON ban, ose, Director of Civil Aviation