In some cases in which flight inspection services are supported by cross border flights (international flight service operations), a number of specific issues have been encountered:
requirements for special authorization to access aerodromes that would otherwise be closed to all traffic;
requirements for special authorization for crew access to country;
requirements for quarantine on crew arrival to destination and return to base;
difficulties in ensuring avoidance of contact between crew and ground personnel at destination (e.g. due to custom/immigration controls); and
suspension of ground maintenance activities.
These issues were largely unexpected, due to the situation being effectively unprecedented, and were not taken into account in the original inspection schedules. They have required ad-hoc adjustments, negotiated bilaterally on a case-by-case basis by the entities involved. This has typically led to scheduling delays. However, notwithstanding the delays, cross border flights have remained largely feasible, if less efficient, thanks to the commitment of all the parties to the flight inspection requirements.
In the process, the need for international recognition in pandemic situations of the special status and needs of flight inspection as a key element of the safety-critical air navigation infrastructure has been highlighted. Future work by ICAO will address the development of guidance to States on facilitating cross-border flight inspection operations in pandemic situations, including development of an advisory health safety protocol to minimize interaction between crew and ground personnel.
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