Handing over the baton – key achievements of the Training Task Force – 2018-2024
September 2024 — Departing chair, Nina Smith, offers some reflections on the key activities that have marked her six-year mandate.
"After six years as chair of the ECAC Training Task Force (TrTF), I had the honour of chairing my last task force meeting on 12-13 September 2024, before handing over the baton to a new chair.
During this time, I have seen the group – comprised of a range of highly experienced technical experts from both ECAC Member States and observers – go from strength to strength.
One of the pivotal moments of my time as chair was the COVID-19 pandemic, where the group worked efficiently to develop topical and urgent guidance on how to support our workforce, such as how to deliver training remotely, as the aviation world around all of us changed rapidly in a way we had never seen before.
The group has never shied away from complex tasks and I saw members rise to the challenge in a variety of fast-paced areas. Whether it was developing guidance around screener certification, how to train staff to use rapidly evolving new technology, or supporting the increased awareness of human factors and security culture. We recognised together that building capacity at national level was the key foundation for States and required accessible and usable support – delivered by the TrTF for Member States through projects such as the 2023 screener certification workshop and the upcoming human factor workshop in November 2024.
TrTF members have to balance their day jobs with the work to support the group, and the success of our work over the years is down to the dedication and commitment to the wider mission of ECAC. It was a pleasure to have been able to lead our work.
My time as a chair has come to an end and it is time for fresh eyes to step into the chair role. I know I am leaving the group in good hands and that it will remain a leading force in the years to come."