In July 2012, the Government consulted on its strategy for aviation, the draft Aviation Policy Framework. This final Aviation Policy Framework will fully replace the 2003 Air Transport White Paper (Cm.6046, ISBN 9780101604628) on aviation, alongside Government decisions following the recommendations of the Independent Airports Commission, established September 2012. The Aviation Policy Framework is underpinned by two core principles: (i) Collaboration: achieved by working together with industry, regulators, experts, local communities to identify workable solutions; (ii) Transparency: decision making based on clear, independent information and processes. The Framework Policy covers the following areas: (1) Supporting growth and benefits of aviation; (2) Managing aviation's environmental impacts, such as climate change and noise pollution; (3) The role of the Airports Commission; (4) Other aviation objectives, including: protecting passenger' rights; competition and regulation policy; airspace; safety; security and planning.

Every ten years ICAO holds a worldwide air transport conference. The most recent such event - the 6th Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf/6) - was held in Montreal from 18 to 22 March 2013. The questions posed by this book are: are the “clerical and administrative tasks” for ICAO which were decided on by ATConf/6 (and other preceding conferences) sufficient to meet the needs of the people of the world for safe, regular, economical and efficient air transport? Should ICAO not think outside of its 67-year-old box and become a beacon to air transport regulators? In other words, shouldn’t the bottom line of ICAO’s meaning and purpose in the field of air transport be to analyze trends and guide the air transport industry instead of continuing to merely act as a forum for global practitioners to gather and update information on their respective countries’ policies for air transport? Shouldn’t ICAO provide direction, as do other agencies of the United Nations? This book addresses ICAO’s inability, unlike most other specialized agencies in their missions, to make a tangible difference in air transport development, through a discussion of key issues affecting the air transport industry. It also inquires into the future of air transport regulation. ​