The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has entered a Corporate Partnership with ICAO's TRAINAIR PLUS Programme, as a result of an MoU between the two organizations that was signed in Montréal on 20 December 2019.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, TIACA and ICAO will collaborate in course development and implementation consistent with the provisions of the Chicago Convention, the standards and recommended practices in its Annexes, and relevant ICAO guidance material and programmes.

The significance of this new partnership is being reflected in the development of a first training course to be launched in 2020. Entitled "Safe Supply Chain Course", the course will cover key aspects of air cargo safety, global market overview, and key drivers in supply chain trends.

"Air cargo is already delivering key contributions to global sustainable development, and these contributions are forecast to increase dramatically in tandem with the anticipated growth in the industry," remarked ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu. "The importance of TIACA's accession to the TRAINAIR PLUS Programme will help underpin the safety, security and sustainability of this growth. Given that just a decade remains to achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, this is crucial."

"This cooperation in regards to training is a logical but important next step in our partnership with ICAO. We can deliver excellent solutions to the market", highlighted Mr. Steven Polmans, Chairman of TIACA Board of Directors. "As with aviation in general, air cargo is an import enabler for sustainable development, and TIACA is proud it can support ICAO and industry efforts towards efficiency and sustainability."

The TRAINAIR PLUS Programme is a cooperative network of training organizations and industry partners working together to develop and deliver ICAO-harmonized training packages.

Contributed by ICAO